Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Can’t sleep because of pain from root canal work on Thursday

46 replies

GottaGetUp · 30/06/2019 01:41

I spoke to NHS 111 at about 6.30pm and she said I had taken too much paracetamol in the last 24hrs so I can’t take any more til at least 3.30am. I took some naproxen at about 7pm but that has worn off now too.

Someone called me back at about 9.30pm about a dental appt but they said they didn’t have anything til Mon, so I said I’d call my Dentist on Monday instead.

I feel like shit because I didn’t sleep well last night either and have eaten only porridge and soup today.

Feeling a bit sorry for myself ☹️

OP posts:
CherryPlum · 30/06/2019 03:07

Sorry to hear you're in pain, I hope it eases for you. Hopefully you're asleep right now.

SheWhoShouldNotBeNamed · 30/06/2019 03:15

Sorry to hear you're in pain. Tooth pain is awful. Sending lots of Thanks

Original poster
GottaGetUp · 30/06/2019 03:25

Still up, counting down til I can take more drugs. Watching Cristopher Ecclestone era Doctor Who.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
CherryPlum · 30/06/2019 03:29

Can you take paracetamol and codeine? It's stronger than just paracetamol and mighg help you sleep.

Original poster
GottaGetUp · 30/06/2019 03:35

yeah, I’ve got some paracetamol and codeine ready to go, but the NHS 111 nurse freaked me out about taking too much paracetamol so been waiting til now.

OP posts:
Refilona · 30/06/2019 03:38

I’d find an emergency dentist - is there a dental hospital where you live? I have had root canals and an extraction and never had that much pain. I think you need to get it checked properly ASAP.

halfgirlhalfturnip · 30/06/2019 03:54

Huge sympathy - I had this a couple of years ago and under my tongue was so swollen I was afraid I was going to choke. Nothing touches dental pain 🥴

Bourdic · 30/06/2019 04:53

I agree with pp- find emergency dentist. I had RCT on Thursday (and 2 years ago) and had zero pain . Meantime you can take codeine with paracetamol ( thats what cocodemol is)

Bourdic · 30/06/2019 04:59

also you can take ibuprofen with paracetemol -2 different pathways

adayatthebeach · 30/06/2019 05:12

A root canal is to stop pain not cause it. So sorry. Hope your better tomorrow.

PackingSoap · 30/06/2019 05:31

You can take ibuprofen and paracetamol spaced out, but if you still get breakthrough pain, consider calling your GP, explaining the situation, and requesting a subscription painkiller until you go to your dentist appointment.

I had to do this a few years ago, and my GP was very good about it.

jalopy · 30/06/2019 06:03

I had this a few years ago and discovered I was allergic to the temporary dressing in the tooth. Oh the throbbing. Never had pain like it.

The dentist removed it and treated the reaction with steroids. The permanent filling was absolutely fine.

Jocasta2018 · 30/06/2019 07:01

Is your face flushed and slightly hot to the touch on the side of the RC work as well as pain?
A friend had dental work that wasn't healing properly & there was a definite difference between either side of her face.
She got an emergency appointment (admittedly during the week) and needed strong antibiotics.

Original poster
GottaGetUp · 30/06/2019 07:05

Did you have obvious swelling/reaction @jalopy? Nobody seems interested because my face hasn’t swelled up.

I took the cocodamol at about 4am, it took maybe 45 mins to kick in, got to sleep about 5 for an hour or so and now I’m awake again because it’s throbbing again.

I’ll take some naproxen soon, but fuck me, all these drugs and I only get about an hour painfree each time.

The absolute fucker is that I wasn’t having pain before I had this done. It was to fix a ‘leaky’ crown that apparently had a chronic infection around the roots and a rubbish root canal filling when it was done years ago. I had been told by a couple of different dentists that it was a bit of a time bomb because even though it wasn’t bothering me it would still deteriorate and eventually flare up and I’d lose the tooth completely. Now I just want someone to rip it out of my head.

OP posts:
Original poster
GottaGetUp · 30/06/2019 07:06

Xposts Jocasta, no swelling.

OP posts:
jalopy · 30/06/2019 09:14

No swelling at all.

It felt like my tooth cavity was trying to eject the temporary filling. It was throbbing endlessly.

The history of my tooth was that I had had a previous filling.

Over time the tooth developed a crack. A crown was put on it but unfortunately an infection set in and causes problems a couple of weeks later.

I needed to have a root canal done through the crown (not ideal) to remove the dying nerve and to clear the infection.

All went well until the dentist put in the temporary dressing. The pain was even worse than before. Dentist said in a few cases, some have an allergic reaction to it.

Once he removed it and finally put in a permanent filling, all was fine.

HTH

RobinHumphries · 30/06/2019 09:43

You have a Phoenix abscess

Original poster
GottaGetUp · 30/06/2019 10:12

Looked that up and it sounds about right Robin.

I called the dental advice line again and cried at the nice lady on the phone Blush. Still only option is call my dentist tomorrow. She advised washing out with hot salt water so have done that a couple of times. Not sure how it’s supposed to get down the top of the root but thought I may as well.

I’m worried that the next step is taking the whole tooth out, and all the other problems/expense that go along with that.

OP posts:
CherryPlum · 30/06/2019 10:22

Crikey it sounds awful. I'd be tempted to rub a bit of brandy on it and maybe take a sip or two. I really don't think you're meant to with codeine though so that's not a good idea. I feel very sorry for you, dental pain can be so horrendous if you just can't get any relief.

Original poster
GottaGetUp · 30/06/2019 10:48

I’m avoiding alcohol for my liver’s sake after my slight paracetamol abuse.

Feeling fairly comfortable at the moment, in the sweet spot with the co codamol 😄 or maybe the salt water has worked its magic...

OP posts:
BlueCornsihPixie · 30/06/2019 11:41

Sorry your having pain OP Flowers

Have you had the full RCT? Or just the beginning? Did it hurt during the procedure? Is the gum next to the tooth tender or is the tooth painful to bite on?

Alternate ibuprofen and co-codamol for the pain, this is supposed to be the best combination for dental pain. It doesn't sound like you need antibiotics, post operative pain can happen with RCT (I think about 3%) especially mid treatment but I would have hoped it had begun to settle.

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 30/06/2019 11:52

Solidarity love.

I’m in a similar boat.

After a scary early CSection six weeks ago and my daughter going straight to NICU for days on discharge my jaw felt sore.

3 weeks post partum was told it was an abcess and that it would need pulled. Had it booked in for Monday, bottled it and am now running on 2hrs sleep as it was the pain keeping me awake and not the new baby.

I’ve got dihydrocideine and paracetamol that I can only take at the same time as spacing them does fuck all to the pain.

The pain is worse than anything I had post CS but I’m so touched out after the scary circumstances of DDs delivery an extraction is the last thing I need. But as the dentist said “it’s time to face the music”.

I’m shitting myself but need to get it pulled.

Anyway, solidarity OP.

Original poster
GottaGetUp · 30/06/2019 12:58

Oh god that’s horrendous PHSG (couldn’t bring myself to type your name out in full 😄)

I’m in pain and feeling sorry for myself but at least I can mope about watching Netflix, can’t imagine adding in post-CS and a newborn Flowers Do you have another appointment lined up?

OP posts:
Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 30/06/2019 13:05

I have never had pain apart from small residual pain after a root canal. I would say something is wrong. And I have had a fair few as my teeth are rubbish. Xxxx