Can You Get a Deviated Septum from Cocaine?
Cocaine Use and Nasal Damage: Know the Signs, Find the Support at Purpose Healing
Getting Help for a Deviated Septum from Drug Use
It’s easy to overlook the early signs of a deviated symptom. It often starts with a little trouble breathing through one side of your nose, or maybe a whistling sound when you inhale. You might think that you are just getting sick or that your nose is a little stuffy.
But when these symptoms don’t go away after a few days, it points to more than a clogged nose or sinus infection. You may find yourself wondering, “Can you get a deviated septum from cocaine use?”
A deviated septum is one of the many ways that you can damage your nose from long-term cocaine use. Sometimes, your symptoms can be so severe that you need surgical intervention to prevent pain and allow you to breathe properly.
Outside of surgical interventions, healing a deviated septum starts with treating the underlying issue – cocaine abuse.
This guide will go over what causes a deviated septum, treatment, other nasal issues caused by chronic cocaine use, and when you should reach out to Purpose Healing for help overcoming cocaine abuse or addiction.
Nose Damage from Coke: The Effects of Snorting Cocaine
At first, symptoms from snorting cocaine are minor. You might notice that your nose runs or you have some nasal congestion the day after using cocaine. If this is an isolated incident, this should go away after a day or two.
But what happens when snorting cocaine gets more frequent? You might experience “coke nose”, a general term that describes one of the many things that can go wrong with your sinuses and nasal passageways following extended cocaine use.
How Does Cocaine Cause Nasal Damage?
Powdered cocaine is harsh, whether you’re talking about the drug itself or the ingredients it’s commonly cut with. When you inhale it through your nose, it also causes issues because of how it affects your blood vessels. Stimulants like cocaine constrict blood vessels, restricting blood flow to your nose and causing inflammation. Over time, reduced blood flow to your nasal tissues causes them to die. There’s also a risk of bacteria getting into your nose and sinus cavities.
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Deviated Septum: One of the Many Effects of Cocaine Abuse
Your nasal passages are sensitive, and cocaine is very abrasive. When you “snort” the drug, it causes severe inflammation in your septum. The septum is the thin wall of tissue between the two sides of your nostrils. If you frequently find yourself binging on cocaine, your septum doesn’t get the chance to recover from this inflammation in between sessions.
The scarring that happens over time causes your septum to misalign. As it leans to one side or develops scarring, it might cover one of your nasal passages. The scarring gets worse with time, making breathing hard (and sometimes impossible) on one side of your nose. Severe cases when a deviated symptom occurs also come along with the risk of sleep apnea, frequent sinus infections, and difficulty breathing.
Treatment of a deviated septum depends on how severe it becomes before you seek help. Your doctor might recommend steroids or other medications to reduce inflammation. They may also recommend nasal rinses or nasal strips. If scarring is so severe that milder treatment doesn’t work, you may need surgical intervention.
Cocaine Nose Hole
A cocaine nose hole is also known as a nasal perforation or perforated septum. It happens when cocaine use is so frequent that you develop a hole in your septum. Bacteria sometimes get stuck in the hole of a perforated septum, resulting in infections and foul odors. Nasal perforation can also become so severe that your nose can’t hold its shape.
Chronic Sinus Infections
The sniffles you experience after a cocaine binge might be more than just a runny nose. Many people struggling with cocaine addiction suffer from chronic sinus infections.
With irritation, these are more painful than they are in most individuals. It happens because cocaine causes open sores and inflammation. Bacteria and fungi can congregate in these areas, causing infections that are hard to heal from.
Cocaine Nosebleeds
The inflammation and irritation caused by chronic cocaine use affect the delicate tissues and mucus lining inside your nose. This lining protects it from irritation and dryness. Having a nose that constantly runs is another symptom of snorting cocaine that can lead to chronic nosebleeds. These can become serious.
Damage to Your Hard Palate
Nasal perforation aside, the inflammation caused by long-term cocaine use can cause a hole between your nasal cavity and the roof of your mouth. This means when you eat or drink, it can leak into your nasal passages and get stuck, increasing the risk of infections.
Saddle Nose
Saddle nose from cocaine use is caused by nasal collapse. The bridge of your nose and septum can no longer support its shape, leading to an indented or malformed shape that resembles a horse’s saddle. It becomes flatter and wider.
When you lose so much septum support that you experience this condition, the only remedy is nasal surgery. There are three stages of saddle nose deformities, each fixable with rhinoplasty.
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Can Cocaine-Induced Damage to the Nose Be Reversed?
When you’re dealing with cocaine nose, you might find yourself wondering if conditions like nasal perforation or frequent nosebleeds will ever heal. The good news is that when you quit using powdered cocaine, the chronic irritation you’ve been experiencing is reduced.
In cases of septal perforations, hard palate perforation, or saddle nose, however, there’s a good chance you’ll need surgery. These conditions will not reverse on their own. Problems like sinus infection, difficulty breathing, and sleep issues continue until you get help for your nasal issues.
Even if surgery is the only option, it’s still important to get help with cocaine addiction. Returning to old habits post-surgery comes with a high risk of infection that gets dangerous, fast.
Making the Decision to Get Clean
One of the most important things you can do for your nasal health is to stop using powdered cocaine. This is something easier said than done. Even knowing the consequences for physical health, many people struggle to cut back or quit cocaine when the time comes.
This is because using cocaine causes feel-good hormones to flood your brain, providing your brain with a sense of “reward” that is hard to replace without drugs.
Finding Proper Support at Purpose Healing Center
Success on the road to recovery is much easier with the right support. At Purpose Healing, we use a comprehensive approach to overcoming addiction. You won’t just be supported through detox; you’ll learn skills to help you stay sober.
This starts with our thorough intake assessment. This assessment helps us find out exactly how we can help you. Everyone’s road to recovery is unique, and respecting this individuality is a big part of what we do here. Your personalized path to recovery is created with you in mind, using proven, accredited treatment approaches.
Often, this starts with medical detox, which makes the withdrawal process more comfortable. You’ll also participate in one-on-one therapy that lets you understand and develop coping skills for your triggers. This is supplemented by structure, group therapy, and recreational activities, like art therapy, music therapy, physical activity, meditation, and more.
We also focus on helping you build habits that support recovery. This looks like getting good sleep, having healthy hobbies, and fueling your body with proper nutrition and hydration. You’ll also start to develop a routine. Following a schedule is a useful tool in recovery, preventing boredom that might lead to cravings or temptation.
We can also help you find mental health services, Narcotics Anonymous meetings, and other support in your local area. When we say we support you from start to finish, we mean it!
Find Help Overcoming Cocaine at Purpose Healing Center
Healing from cocaine addiction starts with taking one brave step – and our caring team at Purpose Healing Center, with locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale, is here to help you make it.
While you might seek help because you are dealing with nasal problems like chronic nosebleeds, sinus issues, or deviated nasal septum, you’ll quickly see how the right habits can transform your life. We can provide you with the tools to help you break away from drug habits for good, letting you heal physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Reach out with your questions today. Our admissions team is ready to verify your insurance, answer questions you might have, and talk about your next steps.
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