Is it sinusitis or just a common cold?

This morning the pain around my eye left eye was so severe it literally felt like I had been punched in the eye. It even hurt to put eyeshadow on. It's much better but my head hurts and my neck is soar. I don't have any coughing, sneezing or a soar throat. There is only very minor congestion. Is it a sinus infection or a cold? Should I go get some antibiotics or wait it out. I read somewhere that if it last more than 10 days it's a sinus infection. I don't want to have to wait 10 days if in fact it is. That's a long time to feel miserable.

Are your sinuses swollen? Is your mucus lime green colored? Those are signs of a sinus infection. Go see a doctor if the pain is that bad. I wouldn't wait.

. Source(s): Me- lots of sinus infections in the past

The biggest way to determine a Sinus Infection is if the Mucous is green....that is a sure sign. Try using warm compresses where it seems to hurt, a hot shower to generate steam, and this may help relieve some of the congestion.....good luck - feel better
Actually either way you need to wait 7-10 days, it takes that long for any bacteria to form to treat (you can't treat a virus). If your eyes hurt, headache etc, my guess is sinus infection. When you get a cold you don't get the pain in your face, eyes, teeth like a sinus infection.
Sounds like sinusitis. try sniffing up some salt water or better still go to the beach and swim in the ocean.
OK, usually when you have a sinus infection (and this has been true of the three times I've been cursed with them), you have disgusting like, neon-green phlegm. Nasty, NASTY mucus. Extreme pain, extreme snot. Plus, I couldn't smell or taste anything.

I'm not sure what you have, a. because I'm not a doctor, b. because it doesn't sound like the sinus infections I've had. I'm not sure what your symptoms indicate, but if you have severe pain, go to the doctor and get checked out.

And as far as the 10-day bit...not always true. Yes, if you have a cold, you should be feeling better in about a week and you should be pretty much recovered after 10 days. However, I was flying one time with a serious head cold and the pressure popped head-cold-juices up into my sinuses and I had a sinus infection by the next day or so. In the middle of the 10-days-of- a-cold schedule. So don't go by days or whatever--it's not always accurate. Off to the doctor!
Take tylenol (or other pain reliever)
Take sudafed for the congestion
Use vick's vaporub at night
Use saline mist nasal spray to keep your nasal passages moist
Use a humidifer to keep your nose and throat moist
Use a warm compress on your face to help with the pain

If all this does NOT help your symptoms after 2-3 days, go to the doctor