Worried about DH :(

[PumpkinPie2016]

Not an AIBU really but just want to ask opinions/offload.

On Wed just gone, my husband said he had toothache in one tooth. Took paracetamol/ibuprofen which was fine and didn't think much of it at first.

It got gradually worse and he used over the counter Co codomol but they were not fully getting rid of the pain.

Saw our dentist on Thur at 12.15pm who diagnosed sinusitis (DH has had a cold recently) and prescribed an antibiotic.

Fast forward to yesterday- anything warm/hot e.g. a cup of tea was aggrevating it but cold water was helping. Painkillers weren't working. Last night was horrendous- he was in agony all night, up every 10-15 mins for cold water.
Rang 111 at 5am who advised him to go to A&E which he did.

He came back with stronger co codomol (30mg codeine and 500mg paracetamol) plus naproxen.

He has taken these as directed but is still in so much pain. Surely they should have had some effect?!

He is honestly not a complainer and had to persuaded to go to A&E as he didn't want to waste their time! But he is honestly in agony.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is it a case of waiting it out? Any tips?

Did the dentist take xrays? I had this with a dental abcess. I believe heat aggravates the dying nerve in the tooth.

Go back to the dentist or even a second dentist and have x-rays, it could be an abscess. It could be he needs stronger antibiotics and the current ones are only half fighting the infection.

Dental pain is the absolute worst and there's not much you can do for it that you aren't already doing. If you can afford private go to a private dentist.

No, no X-rays - but if he goes back I will get him to ask about that - thank you!

If neither Codeine or Naproxen is helping, I'd go back to the doctor or dentist and ask them to investigate further

Could it be trigeminal neuralgia? Commonly diagnosed as dental pain, but because it's nerve related normal painkillers, don't touch it.

Would he be able to go back to A&E or book an emergency GP appointment? I think that referred pain that feels like dental pain can sometimes be caused by heart issues or nerve issues.

Sounds like my average experience of tooth ache tbh.
I had the tooth removed - pain gone!

Tooth ache is the worst and even strong painkillers barely touch it if a deep abscess has formed. The antibiotics took a full 3 days to work for me. I’m still traumatised tbh. I hope he gets some relief soon

@Cara707 he could go back to A&E - when he rang 111, they didn't suggest out of hours GP - probably no appointments 😔

It's hard as we almost feel it isn't really an A&E problem but he is in a lot of pain.

Having read suggestions on here, I am wondering if it isn't sinusitis after all - its only affecting one side of the face and the excruciating pain comes in short, frequent episodes.

Wanted to add that paramol worked far better for me than codeine and you can buy it over the counter

If it comes in bursts it could be neuralgia

Sinusitis can also be very painful. I've been to a and e with it in the past and felt a right wally when it was 'just' sinusitis.

Could he handle a bath? Would ease sinusitis but aggravate a dental abscess I think.

That sounds exactly like trigeminal neuralgia.

I found a gel that was really effective last time I had toothache

https://www.boots.com/orajel-extra-strength-dental-gel-53g?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs---_-pmax_catchall__gg_shopping__v2catchall___pmedia&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAA-AdmwTNPN1lJAK1AIqPPkLVYD0tB&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwvLc16rhiQMVQotQBh18Oy6PEAQYAiABEgIPhfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

i feel like sinusitis would have definitely been sorted by antibiotics

Is it triggered by hot/cold drinks and biting down on something or is it more random than that?

@Phonicshaskilledmeoff it is a bit more random buy hot drinks/food seem to aggrevate it further.

It sounds like an infection/abcess to me. I work in dentistry. Is it face, cheek or neck hot and swollen? Is the pain throbbing/pulsating?

Do you have a dental hospital near you? They deal with things when dentist is shut. Ours is open during the day at the weekends.

He might need a filling removed and a dressing put in to see if that helps if it is his tooth.

This was me some years ago. Tooth abcess. Excruciating. Found by xray at dentist and eventually tooth removed. Pain was horrendous. Gargling with salt water gave some relief between painkillers. Initially I was fobbed off as infection in salivary glands. I recommend emergency dentist.

Standard pain killers not working a classic sign that it could be neuralgia. I've got TN and first thought it was dental pain.

I had something similar, went to the dentist, they did xrays - not a tooth problem. Dr thought it could be a nerve in my face that other posters have referenced. Pain killers didn't help but I read online that sometimes acupuncture works so got an emergency appointment with a local practitioner. It was miraculous...pain eased after 1 session and totally vanished after 3. That was 3 years ago and it hasn't returned. Good luck!

I had an abscess before and it was worse than both my labours!I was sent home with antibiotics and I rang begging for help after 3 days because nothing had changed.my face swelled ,I couldn’t sleep.he told me he could pull the tooth but the numbing medication might not be as effective .i didn’t care at that stage and when he pulled it ,the smell was disgusting and i could feel the infection/pus in my mouth.it was gross.i went home to bed and slept and when i woke up the immense pain was gone.the relief of it .i shudder when i hear of abscesses now and I’m afraid even writing this in case i jinx myself and get another one!

When I had this I had a tooth infection and the root was twisted. It punctured my sinus - worst pain I have ever had and I gave birth with no pain relief. Go back to the dentist! If it is a specific tooth I would just have it pulled personally.

My husband had the same. He was sent away with two sets of antibiotics by two different dentists. The pain got MUCH worse. He saw a third dentist and it turned out he needed a root canal. OP you can go to any dentist as they are private so if yours fobs you off again see a different one.

Should add only cold water helped the pain so he gargled and spit. Once it was drilled the relief was huge.