Toothache and sever pain

I need some advice and help. I have an infected tooth (upper left 1st molar) that I need to go to the dentist and have them take care of it. First I need to stop the pain that is driving me crazy and clear up the infection. It is the root that is infected as it is in my upper jaw line and it is tender to touch and swollen. I have an appoint with my reg dr tomorrow at 11 to get antibiotics to clear up the infection, then I will see the dentist. I put it off in Aug because I did not have the money to get the root canal done and the cap put on. Now I am paying for it in PAIN. I went through surgery & chemo and came out like a champ but this is crippling me. Anyone have any suggestions to deal with the pain? I have oral gel and have tried ice pack. I have not taken the hydrocodone yet but I will try that tonight once I get home. thanks trish
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Comments

  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    Trish
    Root canal pain..darn that's painful! I had a lot of pain in my tooth last year and thought it was in need of root canal...turns out it was infection in my nerve endings, which cleared up on it's own. Do know root canals are expensive to tune of $1000, then add on the crown for $700.

    Pain relief? I found if the over the counter wouldn't work, I went for the big drugs prescribed by the doctor...only relief I found worked.

    You might want to research a bit on root canals, specially from Tethys41 postings. Many are finding root canals aren't safe, finding some roots aren't properly removed, thus, can hold disease (cancer). They suggest simply having the tooth pulled.

    Don't have any information in front of me at the moment. Luckily I had 2 root canals some 15 years ago, in same tooth, which ended up being a failed tooth, and extracted in the end.

    Best to you,
    Jan
  • lovemycat
    lovemycat Member Posts: 43
    Trish
    So sorry you are having such pain. Hopefully the hydrocodone will help you get some rest tonight. A tooth can cause such pain. Hopefully as soon as the infection starts down from the antibiotic you will also have some relief.
    Helen
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    Trisha I can feel your pain
    I too had an infection in a tooth root. I thought I had a sinus infection. My sinutabs did not help the pain I had in my face. It ended up being an infection. Had to have the root canal done. Hope you get the infection cleared up and the pain relieved. Hope you are feeling better soon. In peace and caring.
  • Lisa 00
    Lisa 00 Member Posts: 134 Member
    It is the pressure from the
    It is the pressure from the pus buildup in the bone that makes for the pain. If you can get a general dentist or an endodontist to at least drill a hole in the tooth into the pulp chamber, it will do a lot for the pain.
  • txtrisha55
    txtrisha55 Member Posts: 693 Member
    Thanks for all the suggestions.
    Went home yesterday and took 2 hydrocodon pills :) the pain subsided and I could sleep. Also ice pack helped. Went to reg dr today an dhe could see the swelling and when he pushed on I liked to come out of the chair. I got a prescription for amoxicilin and told to take a couple as soon as I picked up and then 2 more 6 hours later then just go to 1 every 6 hours. Hopefully that will cut the infection then I can go to the dentist. I really hate the dentist which is why it is probably infected. I cannot imaigne asking him to drill a hole through the tooth to the pocket of pain (pus). That just hurts me thinking about it. Did I mention that I hate dentist, they just are bad to me. I had a very bad expierence with one when I was a kid and ever since then I try to avoid them if I can. I know I cannot put this off though and I will break down and go once the infection is gone. To me this is worst than the surgery I had and the chemo. Thanks again for the kind words ans suggestions. trish
  • debrajo
    debrajo Member Posts: 1,095 Member

    Thanks for all the suggestions.
    Went home yesterday and took 2 hydrocodon pills :) the pain subsided and I could sleep. Also ice pack helped. Went to reg dr today an dhe could see the swelling and when he pushed on I liked to come out of the chair. I got a prescription for amoxicilin and told to take a couple as soon as I picked up and then 2 more 6 hours later then just go to 1 every 6 hours. Hopefully that will cut the infection then I can go to the dentist. I really hate the dentist which is why it is probably infected. I cannot imaigne asking him to drill a hole through the tooth to the pocket of pain (pus). That just hurts me thinking about it. Did I mention that I hate dentist, they just are bad to me. I had a very bad expierence with one when I was a kid and ever since then I try to avoid them if I can. I know I cannot put this off though and I will break down and go once the infection is gone. To me this is worst than the surgery I had and the chemo. Thanks again for the kind words ans suggestions. trish

    I'd rather have a baby
    I'd rather have a baby instead of having a toothache! I must have gone to the same bad experence dentist as you did! Had one slap me across the face when I was little! I've gone to the same dentist now for over 30 years and I am still scared to death of him! Sends my blood pressure so high they have to order special meds for numbing. Told you all I was a sissy! Hope you get some relief soon! Best,debra
  • debrajo
    debrajo Member Posts: 1,095 Member

    Thanks for all the suggestions.
    Went home yesterday and took 2 hydrocodon pills :) the pain subsided and I could sleep. Also ice pack helped. Went to reg dr today an dhe could see the swelling and when he pushed on I liked to come out of the chair. I got a prescription for amoxicilin and told to take a couple as soon as I picked up and then 2 more 6 hours later then just go to 1 every 6 hours. Hopefully that will cut the infection then I can go to the dentist. I really hate the dentist which is why it is probably infected. I cannot imaigne asking him to drill a hole through the tooth to the pocket of pain (pus). That just hurts me thinking about it. Did I mention that I hate dentist, they just are bad to me. I had a very bad expierence with one when I was a kid and ever since then I try to avoid them if I can. I know I cannot put this off though and I will break down and go once the infection is gone. To me this is worst than the surgery I had and the chemo. Thanks again for the kind words ans suggestions. trish

    I'd rather have a baby
    I'd rather have a baby instead of having a toothache! I must have gone to the same bad experence dentist as you did! Had one slap me across the face when I was little! I've gone to the same dentist now for over 30 years and I am still scared to death of him! Sends my blood pressure so high they have to order special meds for numbing. Told you all I was a sissy! Hope you get some relief soon! Best,debra
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    jazzy1 said:

    Trish
    Root canal pain..darn that's painful! I had a lot of pain in my tooth last year and thought it was in need of root canal...turns out it was infection in my nerve endings, which cleared up on it's own. Do know root canals are expensive to tune of $1000, then add on the crown for $700.

    Pain relief? I found if the over the counter wouldn't work, I went for the big drugs prescribed by the doctor...only relief I found worked.

    You might want to research a bit on root canals, specially from Tethys41 postings. Many are finding root canals aren't safe, finding some roots aren't properly removed, thus, can hold disease (cancer). They suggest simply having the tooth pulled.

    Don't have any information in front of me at the moment. Luckily I had 2 root canals some 15 years ago, in same tooth, which ended up being a failed tooth, and extracted in the end.

    Best to you,
    Jan

    Root Canals and Cancer
    Jan is right. There appears to be a strong link between root canals and cancer. Just google it and you'll find lots of information. Evidently, root canal teeth are a great hiding place for cancer cells. My naturopath had a root canal tooth pulled and sent off to pathology. It was full of ovarian and breast cancer cells. Your immune system and chemo can't get to them there. I had a root canal tooth that was bothering me, and had it pulled, due to the cancer risk.
  • txtrisha55
    txtrisha55 Member Posts: 693 Member
    Tethys41 said:

    Root Canals and Cancer
    Jan is right. There appears to be a strong link between root canals and cancer. Just google it and you'll find lots of information. Evidently, root canal teeth are a great hiding place for cancer cells. My naturopath had a root canal tooth pulled and sent off to pathology. It was full of ovarian and breast cancer cells. Your immune system and chemo can't get to them there. I had a root canal tooth that was bothering me, and had it pulled, due to the cancer risk.

    at this point after the
    at this point after the infection goes down will concider it. I would pull it now if it would stop the pain. scared to since it has the infection in it. I just took another codon pill at 1 in the morning because I woke up in pain. I also got the ice pack. yes I am a big baby too when it comes to this pain. It is the worst. Thanks for the input. trish
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    debrajo said:

    I'd rather have a baby
    I'd rather have a baby instead of having a toothache! I must have gone to the same bad experence dentist as you did! Had one slap me across the face when I was little! I've gone to the same dentist now for over 30 years and I am still scared to death of him! Sends my blood pressure so high they have to order special meds for numbing. Told you all I was a sissy! Hope you get some relief soon! Best,debra

    Tooth ache
    Try having an abscessed tooth while pregnant...hum? That was me, and as we all know, limited on what we can take when pregnant, especially at the beginning of journey. Mine was not fun, but did finally get to the dentist who did something minor to the area, helping the pain relief and able to take some over the counter meds.

    Suggested I come in a month after delivery and he'd do a root canal. Yeah well it sounds like I love the dentist as much as Debra and a few others...stuck my head in the sand and didn't. In the end, the tooth got so bad and loaded with infection, it was pulled. The End!!

    My opinion...have the tooth pulled is less painful vs. root canal...plus less expensive...plus don't have option of disease hiding in root canal areas.

    No matter what you do, I'm praying the pain gets better and gone soon~~
    Jan
  • seaturtle
    seaturtle Member Posts: 41
    jazzy1 said:

    Tooth ache
    Try having an abscessed tooth while pregnant...hum? That was me, and as we all know, limited on what we can take when pregnant, especially at the beginning of journey. Mine was not fun, but did finally get to the dentist who did something minor to the area, helping the pain relief and able to take some over the counter meds.

    Suggested I come in a month after delivery and he'd do a root canal. Yeah well it sounds like I love the dentist as much as Debra and a few others...stuck my head in the sand and didn't. In the end, the tooth got so bad and loaded with infection, it was pulled. The End!!

    My opinion...have the tooth pulled is less painful vs. root canal...plus less expensive...plus don't have option of disease hiding in root canal areas.

    No matter what you do, I'm praying the pain gets better and gone soon~~
    Jan

    Infected tooth
    Hi - I had almost every tooth in my mouth develop abscesses and infections. Almost of of them had root canals, too. I wish I had had them pulled (I had to get them all out before I was 30 - bulimia).

    If a tooth is that painful and infected, I would vote for just having it out. Root canals are not guaranteed to work and can be quite painful, too. Not trying to scare you, but if you can do without the tooth, IMHO I would suggest just doing away with it.

    I know that pain. It is Level 12.

    I hope you are out of pain soon.
  • debrajo
    debrajo Member Posts: 1,095 Member
    Tethys41 said:

    Root Canals and Cancer
    Jan is right. There appears to be a strong link between root canals and cancer. Just google it and you'll find lots of information. Evidently, root canal teeth are a great hiding place for cancer cells. My naturopath had a root canal tooth pulled and sent off to pathology. It was full of ovarian and breast cancer cells. Your immune system and chemo can't get to them there. I had a root canal tooth that was bothering me, and had it pulled, due to the cancer risk.

    LOVELY!!! I have about five
    LOVELY!!! I have about five root canals...spent a fortune, now they might hold cancers?!!! WTH cannot catch a break! Feel better Trish Debrajo
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    debrajo said:

    LOVELY!!! I have about five
    LOVELY!!! I have about five root canals...spent a fortune, now they might hold cancers?!!! WTH cannot catch a break! Feel better Trish Debrajo

    Biological Dentists
    With any dental work, it is best to work with a biological dentist. They don't buy into the typical treatments used by conventional dentists. They don't believe in root canals, and use non-toxic agents and dental materials that are biocompatible to the patient. My conventional dentist told me that if I had my mercury fillings replaced, the only other option was composites, that contain BPAs. I just had my biological dentist replace my mercury fillings last month, and he used a BPA-free composite that has been in the market for 10 years.
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    seaturtle said:

    Infected tooth
    Hi - I had almost every tooth in my mouth develop abscesses and infections. Almost of of them had root canals, too. I wish I had had them pulled (I had to get them all out before I was 30 - bulimia).

    If a tooth is that painful and infected, I would vote for just having it out. Root canals are not guaranteed to work and can be quite painful, too. Not trying to scare you, but if you can do without the tooth, IMHO I would suggest just doing away with it.

    I know that pain. It is Level 12.

    I hope you are out of pain soon.

    trish
    I sure hope you are ok now.

    That's interesting info about root canals. I have one root canal. Unsure what to do.

    mary ann
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    daisy366 said:

    trish
    I sure hope you are ok now.

    That's interesting info about root canals. I have one root canal. Unsure what to do.

    mary ann

    Root Canal
    It is best to make sure your body is good and strong, if you opt to have a root canal, that isn't causing problems, pulled. My naturopath advised me to wait until about two years out from chemo before having it pulled. As it turned out, it was only one year after chemo, because that side of my mouth lit up on a thermogram, indicating infection. Plus it hurt much of the time. So, I had it pulled early, and the procedure did really knock me down for a couple of weeks. But once I recovered, I felt better than I had since my diagnosis a year and a half before. It really made a difference.
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    Tethys41 said:

    Root Canal
    It is best to make sure your body is good and strong, if you opt to have a root canal, that isn't causing problems, pulled. My naturopath advised me to wait until about two years out from chemo before having it pulled. As it turned out, it was only one year after chemo, because that side of my mouth lit up on a thermogram, indicating infection. Plus it hurt much of the time. So, I had it pulled early, and the procedure did really knock me down for a couple of weeks. But once I recovered, I felt better than I had since my diagnosis a year and a half before. It really made a difference.

    Me too
    Less than one year after chemo, I had a root canal (my only) abscess and go bad. I opted to have it pulled and let it be. Both the dentist and oral surgeon wanted to do an implant. Neither seemed at all concerned that I had been diagnosed with 2 primary cancers and had recently completed chemo and radiation, but I was and I just did not want to do any more dental work (or expense). The abscess drained on its own and I was not prescribed any antibiotics. Ever. I guess my immune system was better/stronger than I thought it was.

    All has been well and the missing tooth is way in the back. I forget about it most of the time and it doesn't show.

    Hope you get relief soon, Trish.

    Suzanne
  • txtrisha55
    txtrisha55 Member Posts: 693 Member
    I am feeling human again, some pain & swelling but going down..
    The Amoxicilin is working, the swelling is down and the pain and pressure is slowing going away. I have found a jolist dentist in the dfw area that when I finishm allthe meducune I will call and make an appointment with to have the tooth pulled. I will also discuss all the bad teeth and what i can do about them. I have had several root canels and several crowns put on without having the root canel done. It is one of those that got infected. I would rather have it pukked and not have a root canal done. I slept all day Thursday and did not go to work. Thank goodness I have the sick time to take off. Went home early Tuesday, went to the dr on Wed and stayed home Thursday and Friday was my day off and Monday is Columbus day which is aFederal holiday which I get off since I work for the govt. Hopefully my the time I get back to work I will be completely ok. Then I will have to take off again to get the tooth pulled in a few weeks. Thanks to all that posted I really appreciat it. trish
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member

    I am feeling human again, some pain & swelling but going down..
    The Amoxicilin is working, the swelling is down and the pain and pressure is slowing going away. I have found a jolist dentist in the dfw area that when I finishm allthe meducune I will call and make an appointment with to have the tooth pulled. I will also discuss all the bad teeth and what i can do about them. I have had several root canels and several crowns put on without having the root canel done. It is one of those that got infected. I would rather have it pukked and not have a root canal done. I slept all day Thursday and did not go to work. Thank goodness I have the sick time to take off. Went home early Tuesday, went to the dr on Wed and stayed home Thursday and Friday was my day off and Monday is Columbus day which is aFederal holiday which I get off since I work for the govt. Hopefully my the time I get back to work I will be completely ok. Then I will have to take off again to get the tooth pulled in a few weeks. Thanks to all that posted I really appreciat it. trish

    Trisha glad you are feeling better
    Glad the antibiotic has kicked in for you. Do not envy you for the trip to the dentist. Hope it goes well for you. Hope you have a good weekend.. In peace and caring.
  • seaturtle
    seaturtle Member Posts: 41
    Ro10 said:

    Trisha glad you are feeling better
    Glad the antibiotic has kicked in for you. Do not envy you for the trip to the dentist. Hope it goes well for you. Hope you have a good weekend.. In peace and caring.

    Toothache
    I am so glad you are kicking that infection and pain. You will feel so much better once the teeth are taken care of. Glad you got some rest, too.

    I remember what a miracle it was when that tooth pain went away.
  • txtrisha55
    txtrisha55 Member Posts: 693 Member
    Having tooth pulled tomorrow
    Called my dentist to set up the appointment to get my tooth pulled tomorrow at 2:30. The nurse that sets the appointments said that he will want to do a graph once the tooth is pulled. I read a little bit of what that is and I do not want one. It will not be my bone that he inserts into the bone to keep it from being below that gum line when it heals. I have had teeth pulled before (long time ago) and they did not put anything in the hole. Has anyone ever heard of this or had it done? My thinking is that if you are trying to prevent something (like cancer) coming back why would you put a foreign substant in your body? I have returned to work this week, the pain is gone but my tooth has a large lump at the gum line. I read on this too on the Internet and it said that it means there is still infection in there even if the pain has gone. I worry a bit about that. What happens when he pulls the tooth and all that stuff comes out (sorry for being gross) but that is all I think about. I know that would be a good thing that the infection is out but yuck. Oh well, at least it will be out tomorrow and hopefully can heal without getting more infected. I am thinking about getting all my back teeth pulled and getting dentures because my teeth either have filling still or root canals from long time ago. My dental insurance is not that great, really very sorry. Medical is great but dental not so much. Keeping everyone on the boards in my prayers. trish