You can't truly "fix" a deviated septum at home because it's a structural issue needing surgery, but you can manage symptoms like congestion and poor airflow using saline rinses, nasal steroid/antihistamine sprays (if advised by a doctor), nasal strips for temporary relief, humidifiers, and nasal dilators. Don't try to manually push your septum; seek medical advice for persistent issues to explore options like septoplasty.
Deviated Septum Treatment Without Surgery | 10 Remedies To Try At Home
The short answer is: you can't permanently straighten the septum without surgery. However, you can manage the symptoms with the treatments above. Think of it like patching a problem — it makes things easier, but it doesn't fix the root cause.
Surgery is the only way to fix a deviated septum. A deviated septum that causes no symptoms needs no treatment. If allergies or sinus problems are making symptoms worse, a healthcare professional might suggest using decongestants, antihistamines or nasal steroid sprays to manage symptoms.
Symptoms may include congestion, post-nasal drip, coughing, general weakness and fever. Nosebleeds: A deviated septum may cause nosebleeds that are difficult to control.
Nasal Rinses
These small, handheld devices are filled with salt water, also called saline, that is then squirted or poured into the nose to rinse the nasal cavity. This washes away excess mucus, which may relieve symptoms caused by a deviated septum, such as a stuffy or runny nose or postnasal drip.
Balloon Septoplasty – Inflate, Deflate & Remove
Balloon septoplasty is a non-invasive office procedure to correct the deviated septum.
As with any major surgery, septoplasty carries risks. These risks include bleeding, infection and a bad reaction to the medicine that keeps you from feeling pain during surgery, called anesthesia. Other risks specific to septoplasty include: Continued symptoms, such as blocked air flow through the nose.
Can a Chiropractor Treat My Deviated Septum? Yes! Studies have shown that chiropractic care can relieve sinus pressure or head pain caused by sinusitis. A chiropractor can adjust the sinus cavities and allow for better operation by using nasal-specific techniques and light-force skull adjustments.
Nasal septum deviation is the most frequent cause of nasal obstruction, and it may have a negative effect on middle ear ventilation. The clinicians should be aware of the septal pathologies in patients with frequent otologic problems.
While nasal strips do not correct a deviated septum, they can help reduce some of its symptoms.
Unless the symptoms are very severe, septoplasty is usually not indicated in a child that is still growing, as the septum contains the “growth center” of the nose. Therefore, septoplasty is more commonly performed in adolescence or adulthood (at least 16 years of age in girls and 17 to 18 years of age in boys).
The nose and sinuses are closely linked. A deviated septum can prevent proper drainage, causing mucus to build up and bacteria to thrive. This leads to recurring sinus infections, facial pain, pressure and headaches.
When there is clearly a crooked/deviated septum, and the symptoms are severe enough to warrant intervention, the ENT specialist may suggest surgery as an option if medical treatment fails. Septoplasty is the preferred surgical treatment to correct a deviated septum.
While surgery may be necessary for severe or unresponsive cases, there are several conservative approaches that can help manage the symptoms of a deviated septum:
Only an operation can fix a bent septum, but a nose spray or drops can help treat swelling in the nose which might be making your nose feel blocked. Surgical treatment is the only way to correct the shape of the septum.
Common causes of nasal congestion without discharge
Allergic reactions to pollen, dust, pet dander, or other allergens can lead to nasal congestion as your body's immune response inflames your nasal passages.
A badly deviated septum that blocks the nose can lead to complications such as:
Being flat on your back can compound nasal congestion since mucus pools in the sinuses to block airflow. Sleeping with your head elevated will promote the drainage of mucus, preventing congestion from building during the night.