The symptoms of sinusitis are similar to those of a common cold paired with severe headache. It is a condition brought on by a blockage within the paranasal cavities, which might occur due to infections or polyps in the recesses of the nose. The inflammation on the walls of these air cavities obstructs the smooth passage of mucus through the nostrils. This obstruction builds up pressure, which in turn leads to severe headaches. Air cavities get inflamed due to bacterial attack, timely diagnosis is essential to prevent the situation from worsening. If the sinuses get inflamed due to a bacterial infection, the situation needs to be treated with antibiotics unlike common cold. A head X-ray decides the necessity of a surgery. The surgery is performed under local anesthesia. In severe cases, the surgery might be extensive, and might require the administration of general anesthesia. Adverse Effects Associated With the Surgery These days, the time for sinus surgery recovery is much lesser than it used to be in the past. Thanks to the advanced technology and the development of modern endoscopes, minimally invasive surgical procedures and the use of absorbable packs have made the process of recovery almost painless and much faster. The recovery period varies greatly according to the person's overall health, extent of surgery, and the use of nasal packing. Painkillers are administered, but some degree of congestion or nasal obstruction is normally experienced by all patients. Once the nasal packing or splints are removed, the discomfort goes away. Blood-tinged discharge can often be noticed during the first and second day after the surgery. This is nothing to be alarmed about and is quite normal. Nasal bleeding might continue to two weeks after surgery. If the bleeding is steady and continues, nasal spray could be applied to arrest this condition. The patient should also keep the head elevated. It may help minimize the symptoms. Other minor problems after the surgery include postnasal drainage, headaches, and fatigue which is most noticeable during the first few days after the surgery. Fatigue experienced immediately after the surgery resolves gradually, and might completely resolve over the ensuing weeks. It is natural to experience some minor problems until the healing process is complete. Patients need to avoid strenuous activities and medications that may cause bleeding (aspirin, ibuprofen, certain herbal remedies) for at least fifteen days after the surgery, or until the healing process is complete. However, the pain experienced is negligible. The postoperative care involves frequent visits to clean the sinus cavities and ensure that they are clear, healing well and without scarring. The surgeon might prescribe some medications, which may help clean the sinus cavities. However, the opinions of surgeons vary greatly when it comes to medication. Recovery Time The recovery period varies from several days to even weeks, depending on the patient's occupation and the extent of surgery. It may vary from patient to patient. You should discuss this with your physician, but it might not be possible to determine the exact time one would take to recover. Swelling or pain is normal and should not be considered as a matter of grave concern, keep the consulting physician abreast of the effects of the medications prescribed, to avoid health complications. Patients who have had significant packing can resume their work within 4 to 7 days. Mostly, people can go back to work the day after the packing is removed. Once the packing is removed, fast recovery is noticed. With the packing inside, patients feel somewhat miserable. They experience breathing difficulty and large amount of irritating nasal discharge. Some patients get a headache, but that's not always the case. If nasal congestion is severe, it is better to sleep sitting up. In some severe cases, bloody drainage may continue for weeks. A complete recovery post surgery would be somewhere between 2 - 3 weeks. You should follow the instructions of your surgeon, religiously. For easy and fast recovery, you should opt for only the treatment that is suggested by your doctor. Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only. Please consult your physician or nutritionist if abnormal situations in this matter is encountered.