Teeth Pain

[Aggie_Ama]

I need some serious dental work (probably a couple root canals) but I have put it off since I moved to Austin because I didn't like the dentist I have tried. Now I can't ignore my teeth are seriously hurting, I am trying to get in this week but anyone have some pain management suggestions? I tried Orajel and I am still hurting. I took 4 ibuprofen and nothing. I have been in tears off and on all weekend! :(

[oxysback]

Man, there's nothing worse than tooth pain. Earlier this year I got a crown, then a few months later I had to get a root canal on that same tooth. My dentist was able to give me something a little (ok...a LOT) stronger for the pain. I swear, it seemed like it hurt just to breathe sometimes!

Maybe you could ask you dentist to give you something to tide you over until your appointment?

[snapdragen]

**hugs** Tooth pain is one of the worst. Do you have anything stronger than ibuprofen?

[Aggie_Ama]

I have some vicodin from a previous injury but it was prior to being on anti-depressants and I don't know if I can take them together! I am hoping to get in to the dentist quick and maybe if I have to wait on the procedure they can get me something better for the pain. My doctor friend jokingly offered to numb it up for me yesterday with some shots she has at the house!

[solobiker]

I agree with how painful it can be. I had to have 2 RCs within 2 months. Talk about pain before I had them done. My dentist gave me Vicodin and it did not help one bit. He also gave me an antibiotic which seemed to help. My thoughts are with you. Too bad you couldn't come up here. My dentist is great. I am a big wimp when it comes to going to the dentist so now I will drive close to an hour just to go to him because he knows how wimpy I am.:o I wish I had some advice for you. Hang in there.

[snapdragen]

I have some vicodin from a previous injury but it was prior to being on anti-depressants and I don't know if I can take them together! I am hoping to get in to the dentist quick and maybe if I have to wait on the procedure they can get me something better for the pain. My doctor friend jokingly offered to numb it up for me yesterday with some shots she has at the house!

Aggie -- I take zoloft and was able to take vicodin.

[VeloVT]

isn't clove oil a traditional remedy for tooth pain? you should be able to find it in the health food store.

I have no experience using it so I can't offer testimonials.

Sometimes the first dose of advil doesn't help but if you take 800mg every four hours, after 2-3 doses you will feel better.

FWIW, my stomach can't take this much advil for more than 3-4 days.

[salsabike]

If it is a root canal kind of pain, topical anesthetic won't help much. Amanda, try to get an emergency appointment with the dentist. I have been through this more than once. Often even if the root canal itself can't be done immediately, they can give you some relief from the build up of pressure inside the tooth, and some antibiotics if it's infected. This kind of pain is not easily helped by painkillers, even vicodin, although if you have that I'd sure take it. Best thing you can do is tell the dentist you're really in agony and need immediate relief. I'm sorry, kiddo. It's very much not fun. This happened to me once on a trip to Scotland. Call first thing tomorrow, okay? It'll help.

[MommyBird]

Call your regular dentist and see if they do root canals in your situation. Most will not, so save yourself the cost of an extra office visit and get a referral directly to an endodontist.
They should offer a credit plan. Mine has no interest if you pay it off by a certain date.
You should not delay in getting this taken care of.

[OakLeaf]

(((((((Amanda))))))) Feel better soon.

[Aggie_Ama]

I got into a new dentist yesterday and he seemed very likeable. I told him I knew it was wrong but I hadn't been to a dentist since moving to Austin because the first one I tried upset me. He said that is common and the important thing is to get me back on the path to good dental health. I got a comfortable vibe from him like my old dentist back in Aggieland that I didn't mind going to!

So, he says one tooth definitely needs a root canal but given that I have already had one done improperly he wants an endodontist to do it. He showed me the other reason is I have funky roots (they curve and hook) and he thinks a specialist is a better fit for the job. He also thinks this is why the first dentist who did mine 10 years ago didn't get it right. So I am waiting to get into the specialist for the new root canal and to finally evaluate my old one. In the mean time he gave me antibiotics to calm the infection and vicodin for the pain. I hate taking vicodin but I did take some before bed so I wouldn't stay up all night. I will stick to ibuprofen during the day since vicodin tends to upset my tummy.

I really hate teeth issues! :(

[OakLeaf]

I know dentists have a pretty limited formulary in most states, but he can probably prescribe something different for you that might not upset your stomach too much. Tramadol maybe?

Glad you're getting somewhere anyhow. Hope the endo can see you soon!

[Tuckervill]

I'm glad you found a good dentist that you like. Hope you get relief soon.

(Tramadol makes me have really really weird dreams, and makes me dizzy.)

Karen

[OakLeaf]

(Tramadol makes me have really really weird dreams, and makes me dizzy.)

Karen

But that's my point. Even though the opioids are closely related chemically, individuals can have very different side effects, and no one should have to choose between pain and intolerable side effects without at least trying something different.

[MommyBird]

When my son broke his foot in a motocross accident several years ago we were introduced to the many alternative uses for Benadryl.

#1-He was first told to take it to reduce the swelling.

Then we learned that he is very sensitive to pain meds. The abdominal pain was worse than the three broken metatarsals and the hematoma from the impact to the growth plate on his heal. (The bike came down full force on his heal as he was scrambling off the track on all fours, thank goodness for proper equipment, those boots are not just for looks!)

#2-When we called the Ortho, he told us to give him benadryl to help with the nausea and pain.

#3-He was able to eliminate one of the other pain meds as the benadryl would also help there as well.

#4-He couldn't sleep, doc gave him benadryl again.

We carefully kept up on his Benadryl dosage and it made an enormous difference on his comfort level.

#5-He got the itchies while healing in his cast...What did the Ortho recommend...Benadryl...better than sticking something pointy down the cast and risking a skin tear and infection.

Who knew Benadryl was such a miracle drug?

I try to keep our medication to a minimum, but I am not ardently anti-med either. But Benadryl was a less harmful drug than the alternative in all of the above cases.

You may want to see if it is okay to take with your pain meds. I can see several benefits with your situation. I would call the Pharmacist or your dentist before adding it.

[NoNo]

I'm glad you found a good dentist that you like. Hope you get relief soon.

(Tramadol makes me have really really weird dreams, and makes me dizzy.)

Karen

When I had my wisdom teeth out last month, they started me out with vicodin. Did nothing for me. So they gave me tramadol. WHOA! It put me in such a fog, I couldn't function, to the point a coworker walked up and said "You're going home now" and drove me home before the day was over (I'd taken the train in). I didn't like the feeling at all, and decided to quit taking it. I guess opioids just don't agree with me.

[Tuckervill]

But that's my point. Even though the opioids are closely related chemically, individuals can have very different side effects, and no one should have to choose between pain and intolerable side effects without at least trying something different.

Yep, you're right.

Karen

[indigoiis]

A cold pack can help reduce swelling, thus reducing pain.

Also, buy clove oil at the health food store. Mix it with a little mint oil or fresh mint chopped finely. You can also use an ulu to chop/crush up actual cloves into this mixture. Then take a 3 inch square of gauze and soak it in the mixture. Roll it up and place in on the gumline near the hurt tooth. It helps.

[Aggie_Ama]

I guess when you say you have pain you get in quick. I am having my root canal tomorrow. Today I seem to be functioning just fine, I took 4 ibuprofen this morning and will take another 4 at lunch. I know this isn't a good long term but it was a dosage I was told take for a short time. I can't take vicodin at work, it makes me loopy. You know you're in pain when you are giddy that they can get you in for the root canal next day. :p

[Blueberry]

Hugs -
Glad they could get you in so quickly, and here's hoping that it resolves the pain quickly~!!

[sfa]

I'm glad you're able to get in quickly! There is no kind of pain worse than tooth pain--it makes you completely unable to function or concentrate on anything else, but no one can see the sort of pain you're in like they could if you broke a bone or were in labor or something! And then anything they give you to relieve the pain ALSO makes you completely unable to function.

Good luck!

Sarah

[MommyBird]

My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I feel so much better now that you have taken the bull by the horns.

[bmccasland]

Aggie_Ama - may you have a successful root canal (tht's sounds absolutely sadistic). :rolleyes:

Hope you're feeling better soon. :)

I found it was amazing how much pain I was tolerating until it stopped. Really the only thing that really hurt after my root canal was the muscle ache from having my mouth braced open for so long. Ice packs helped there.

[solobiker]

Yeah!! I am happy for you. I know how painful it can be. I have never been is so much pain before. It came in "waves" to me. I remember I was in a meeting when it hit and my boss had just asked me a question. I guess I turned very pale and did not even answer her. I could not even concentrate. I hope it all works out!!!:D:D See my teeth.:p

[Blueberry]

Hey Amanda - how'd it go?? Hope you're pain free:)

[Aggie_Ama]

The Endodontist was awesome! Very considerate of the pain and efficient. After the procedure they took X-Rays to confirm the job was completed properly. I am in a pain but I different type, mostly just soreness from the shots and having my mouth open for an hour. I got vicodin and feel slightly better but still sore. I am glad to have gotten in taken care of and promptly.

Bad news is he agreed my previous root canal needs to be retreated. It sound terrible: drill into the crown, inject antibiotics in the root, come back for him to finish what the other guy missed and fill the crown. Stinks because it is because someone made a mistake.

[salsabike]

Yay Amanda! Glad it's done.

[OakLeaf]

Phew. Glad you're making progress and that you like the endo.

[bmccasland]

Bad news is he agreed my previous root canal needs to be retreated. It sound terrible: drill into the crown, inject antibiotics in the root, come back for him to finish what the other guy missed and fill the crown. Stinks because it is because someone made a mistake.

Better than the alternative - total failure, undetected nasty infection... I'll leave it at that. One tooth caused 3 years of problems. :mad: But I now sport a bridge and everything is nice and healthy with no more problems.


Glad you're on the road to recovery and have a Dentist / Endo you're comfortable with, and that gives you good care. Ice packs are your friends.

[Blueberry]

So very glad you're feeling better! And that you found an endo that you like.

CA