Why Does the Bridge of My Nose Hurt?

If you’re wondering, “Why does the bridge of my nose hurt?” you may be curious as to what could be the cause of your unusual pain. While many people find that their nose pain is caused by something easily explainable such as the nose pads on their glasses being too tight, others may be experiencing the odd symptom as a result of an underlying health issue. 

Fortunately, there are several potential reasons you may be experiencing bridge of nose pain, some more common than others. The sinus doctors at Kaplan Sinus Relief are here to explain the various reasons why the bridge of the nose hurts and lay out what some of your treatment options may look like.

Reason 1: Trauma to the nose

When you think to yourself, why does the bridge of my nose hurt, ask yourself immediately: has your nose suffered any trauma lately? Physical trauma to the nose is the common and obvious cause of nose pain. If you play contact sports, got into an accident, or were the unfortunate victim of a fight, and the bridge of your nose is swollen, that is likely your answer.

If your nose looks crooked and swollen, you have bloody drainage coming out of your nose, or you think, “My nose is so stuffy I can’t breathe,” seek medical treatment as soon as possible as it is likely that you have a broken nose.

Before you head to the hospital, keep in mind that most doctors will want you to wait for your swelling to go down to better diagnose the state of your nose. That’s one reason why those who suspect that the bridge of their nose hurts because of trauma might be tempted to brush off their symptoms. However, if the pain in the bridge of your nose is accompanied by a fever and light yellow/clear pus drainage, then visit your doctor as soon as possible, as this fluid might be cerebrospinal fluid.

Reason 2: Sinusitis 

The pain in your nose bridge can be a sign of a sinus infection* as one of the main symptoms is facial pain. However, if we are specifically talking about the bridge of nose pain, it is more likely that you are dealing with ethmoid sinusitis, specifically. 

The ethmoid sinuses are located on either side of the bridge of your nose and are comprised of small pairs of air cells. When too much mucus backup causes these sinuses to become inflamed, one of the symptoms is pain in the bridge of the nose.

If you suspect you have ethmoid sinusitis, it’s best to seek treatment as soon as possible. Untreated sinusitis symptoms can only progress into a more serious infection, which can lead to more health complications.

*Read more about the difference between a sinus infection vs sinusitis

Reason 3: Nasal furunculosis

Nasal furunculosis is the infection of the area in your nose in which your nasal hairs are found. In addition to causing the bridge of nose pain, it is often accompanied by crusting, smelly discharge, redness, and swelling.

Nasal furunculosis can either be an after-effect of another respiratory infection or the result of excessive nose picking or nose blowing. When it occurs, it can feel as though there is a large pimple or blister inside of the nostrils. Your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics for your nasal furunculosis treatment.

The following conditions are not as likely an answer to the question, why does the bridge of my nose hurt? However, we still find that they are important to mention in case the symptoms apply to you. If they do, schedule an examination with a sinus specialist from Kaplan Sinus Relief to see what your treatment options are. 

Reason 4: Septal nose perforation

A septal nose perforation is a hole found in the nasal septum (the cartilage that “splits” your nasal passage into two separate nostrils). Apart from the obvious pain in the nose bridge, symptoms of a septal nose perforation include:

• A whistling sound when you breathe out of your nose
• Difficulty breathing out of the nose (Keep reading:I can’t breathe through my nose)
• Foul-smelling or bloody discharge
• Chronic rhinitis
• Constant nasal pressure

So, how can you get a septal nose perforation? You can get one as a result of trauma, rhinoplasty, drug use, and cancer. Check with a specialist to see what treatment options would best dissolve your symptoms. 

Reason 5: Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a rare medical condition that can affect the nose with symptoms including loss of smell and congestion. Sarcoidosis is the chronic growth of granulomas and/or lumps of inflammatory cells and is thought to be an exaggerated response on the part of the immune system to allergens and other irritants. 

The vast majority of sarcoidosis cases occur within the lungs, but there have been cases reported within the nose, which can lead to pain in the bridge of the nose. Although it is not likely that every patient, or even most patients, dealing with bridge of nose pain is also dealing with sarcoidosis, it would still be wise to have a specialist examine your nose. On the bright side, it tends to go away on its own and requires little treatment, but if you are experiencing excessive pain, seek help.

Treatment options for a sore nose bridge

There are at-home remedies that can help combat pain in the nose bridge:

• Applying an ice pack for 10-15 minutes to reduce swelling 
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers or medications to loosen mucus (stay away from aspirin as it can worsen bleeding)
• Using steam or a humidifier to help open sinus cavities and relieve tension
• Halting intense physical activity

However, the most effective treatment for nose bridge pain will be getting to the bottom of any underlying issues that may be causing pain to your nose. For this, we recommend seeing a specialist who can help you. 

A sinus doctor may prescribe antibiotics to relieve sinusitis symptoms or any necessary steroids or surgeries to combat other issues or traumas. They will create a treatment plan based on your current symptoms and medical history to stop the pain at the root. If you want lasting relief from nose pain, see Dr. Kaplan at Kaplan Sinus Relief. 

Find relief from bridge of nose pain with Kaplan Sinus Relief

Why does the bridge of my nose hurt? Why does my nose hurt when I chew? We have the answers to all of these questions and more. Pain in the bridge of your nose is difficult to ignore and can even make daily life difficult if you don’t get to the bottom of it. ​​At Kaplan Sinus Relief, we can help you discover why the bridge of your nose hurts and explore your options for finding relief.

If you are particularly dealing with ethmoid sinusitis, we would recommend looking into our balloon sinuplasty procedure. Dr. Kaplan, the pioneer of this procedure, can provide the best balloon sinuplasty Houston has to offer. This minimally invasive, virtually painless procedure only lasts around 20 minutes and can provide lasting relief from nose bridge pain and any other sinus problems you may have.

Don’t let the pain in your nose become a pain in the neck. Call 713-766-1818 or schedule an appointment online to find lasting results with Kaplan Sinus Relief.

More Helpful Articles by Kaplan Sinus Relief:

• What Does Your Sinus Infection Mucus Color Mean?
• Does a Sinus Infection Cause a Sore Throat?
• Chronic Nasal Congestion: Causes and Treatment
• Can Fluctuating Weather Make You Sick?
• Nausea From Sinus Drainage: Causes and Treatment

This article has been reviewed and approved by Michael Kaplan, MD