Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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You have had an operation on the nasal septum (the central partition wall) to straighten twisted cartilage and reposition it so that you can breathe more easily through your nose.
Nasal Packs
Your surgeon will avoid using these if possible. However, if packs are necessary, absorbable biodegradable Nasopore will be used in most cases. These do not need to be removed, but dissolve with regular nasal douching over the 5-10 days following your operation.
Sometimes sponge packs are inserted to support the nasal septum and to stop nasal bleeding. These are removed later on the day of surgery (after 4 – 6 hours) or on the following morning.
Nasal Splints
Very rarely, you may have “septal splints” within the nose. These are thin sheets of soft plastic which lie on either side of the septum. They are placed in the nose to prevent the septum from swelling too much and also to prevent scar tissue developing across the nasal cavity in the period immediately following your operation. These splints stay in place for one week and are removed in the out-patient department. This is slightly uncomfortable but is not usually painful.
Post-operative Medication
Following septoplasty, you may be given the following nasal treatments:
- Simple painkillers. You may take some simple analgesics such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve pain (if there is no reason for you not to take them).
- Saline nasal douching / Sinus Rinse. We recommend regular nasal douching to wash and clean the nose. Use 3 – 4 times daily and blow the nose gently to clear blood clots and mucus. Examples are Neilmed® Sinurinse or Sterimar Isotonic Nasal Spray.
- Nasal cream. Apply Naseptin cream three times daily to each side of the nose to prevent soreness and crusting around the sutures and incision.
- Antibiotics. Occasionally, your doctor may give you antibiotics for 7-10 days following nasal surgery to prevent any infection around the septal splints (if used), or within the nasal cavity.
General advice following septal surgery
The main potential complication following any surgery on the nose or septum is nose bleeds. This can be minimised by observing the following simple advice:
Rest as much as possible
but try to sit upright or lie on a sofa with your head raised to prevent the nose becoming swollen or blocked. You may wish to have a few extra pillows when you sleep in bed at night for the same reason.
- Avoid vigorous exercise for at least two weeks, e.g., sporting activity, gym training, running, fitness training, etc.
- Avoid excessive general physical activity such as bending, stooping, lifting heavy objects, etc. (This includes household tasks such as carrying heavy shopping and gardening.)
- Avoid close contact with friends, family or colleagues who are unwell
Work
We recommend you have 1-2 weeks off work so that you can follow the advice above. If necessary, you may be able to do some of your work from home; but you should avoid commuting on busy public transport; long meetings in stuffy offices; using stairs and escalators; and generally rushing about in the post-operative period.
Normal gentle activity is permitted and if you feel well enough you can go for short walks, visit friends, go to a local park or into the garden, etc. - you do not need to be completely housebound!
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Ear or nose and throat (ENT) service.
About this information
Service:
Ear, nose and throat (ENT)
Reference:
G/006
Approval date:
22 July 2024
Review date:
1 July 2026
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.