AIBU and being a big baby? Tooth extraction -

[seanconneryseyebrow]

So after a week of excruciating pain I had my tooth extracted on Friday morning. So day 3 now. I’ve barely slept in a week, round the clock pain killers. Today I’m in so much pain, face massive, bruising. I’ve had four kids but this has knocked me for six. I just want to cry I’m so fed up.

Is it normal to feel in this much pain? Can your share your dental stories so I don’t feel like such a big baby. I can’t work I’ve basically been in bed for a week on round the clock painkillers, and there’s been tears too. V unlike me.

Have you been rinsing often with warm salt water? You need to rinse vigorously after the initial 24 hours to keep the socket clean.

I’d advise alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen. Take 400mg ibuprofen every 6 hours to get on top of the pain. You could even take a couple of 600mg doses just to get on top of it and alternate that with paracetamol. Take 1000mg paracetamol in between these doses to a maximum of 4000mg/day. So you’re taking something every 3 hours. Keep taking at that schedule regardless if you feel you don’t need next dose yet or not. Just for a couple of days until your dentist can take a look.

Ice wrapped in a towel or similar is better than heat in case of infection (heat can help to grow bacteria)

Im a dentist

You poor, poor thing - I got dry socket after an extraction and agree it's completely excruciating! Can't believe you've gone this long with it: well done for surviving the pain.
The one thing I did find that helped was that you can buy the Dry Socket dental paste over the counter - this is what the dentists use to treat it. It tastes horrible (like chewing cloves) but does a brilliant job with the pain.
Looks like you can get it on Amazon: Alvocure, Dental Products : Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care, but you may also be able to find it locally to you.
Good luck - sending you a very gentle hug and best wishes.

Well I feel I am - finally - turning a corner. Im still in pain and can't sleep or eat anything solid, but Im not crawling the walls. The pain has defo reduced. Im thrilled! Off to dentists tomorrow lunchtime, finally. Im hoping I get at least a few hours in tonight. Im just so tired, its been over a week of this, and I feel like ive got a new baby again with the sleep deprivation.

What a relief eyebrow!

So back from dentist. He said it is three things - raging infection, dry socket, and a torn stitch. He said it is really inflamed and in a bad way, but after such a long surgery he isn't surprised. So he fannied about with it, which hurt like hell, put some gross stuff in it, packed it, and gave me more meds and I have to go back every few days for 3 weeks!!!! which seems mad. He reminded me that this was surgery and not a quick one. So Im pleased its on the mend and Im being sorted, but pretty miffed that this is going to take so bloody long to sort.

BUT I did sleep 4 hour whole hours last night in one stretch, which I haven't managed in 10 days so Im buzzing about that. I feel the end is near.

It's not surprising that it hurt so much then. Sounds like it's going to be really annoying to keep going back but the good news is that the infection and the pain will be under control so worth going. Hope you are pain free now.

Not even close to pain free, but its reducing, so thats something. I know some peopel here said the dressing gave instant relief - it hasn't for me. :(

Not that bad, surely? Sorry, OP, couldn’t resist!

Is this normal after an extraction or are you just unlucky?

Unlucky. Ive had extractions before and never had anythign like this.
I feel soooooo much better now. Slept normally, and Im just on paracetemol every 4 hours now. Still only eating soft but still. Feeling human again.

What a drama llama! lol.

No you are not a drama llama. Tooth pain is the worst! Glad you feel better.

A tooth extraction should not involve all this, if you have dry socket then contact your dentist,

Yeah see update. It was a dry socket plus a torn stitch (i think thats what they said) and a raging infection. Im on the mend (finally). Its been a shite week.

Sorry you’ve been unlucky, and have had such a horrendous experience. Glad you’re feeling better.,

So for those who have had a dry socket - how long does this crap go on for? He diagnosed and treated it wednesday - whilst initially I felt bit better, its now painful again (keeping me up at night painful but not as bad as before) - and Im back there today. How long can I expect this to go on for? Im fed up.

It took me a few days to a week to feel completely better from dry socket, but slowly and surely lessened in pain. I was taking painkillers round the clock though, and the antibiotics. You're waiting for the gum to heal over, its the exposure to the bone that causes the pain. The packing at the dentist gave instant relief but it soon fell out for me, I only had one dentist visit post extraction though. I'm sorry you're going through this, its horrendous.

Yeh he said swish with warm salted water several times a day but Im convinced that just dislodges it. After today, I might just hold the water in my mouth rather than swish.

The ache is in the socket but also surrounding teeth and where my jaw opening is iykwim? That bit aches like crazy. It was my partners birthday yesterday and we went for lunch as I wanted to muddle through to make him feel special, and I was resting the cold can of diet coke against my cheek and looking orgasmic in relief. Looked up and this woman was looking at me like I was mental. Probably thought I had a weird fetish or something.

Was the week recovery from when you got diagnosed with it and treatment started - or from when you had tooth extracted? @NecklessMumster ? Tooth was extracted for me last Friday - so over a week ago. Treatment started with the packing stuff on Wednesday.

Not me but DM said about a week.

Root canal doesn't hurt. It's basically a really long filling from your perspective. If it hurts, they've messed up the injection and you need another one.

Rinsing vigorously with salt and water is incredibly important. You need to dislodge any food that goes down into the socket. If it isn’t kept clean, healing is delayed

If you dislodge the clot there will be problems. Dentists advise to rinse gently at first.

Dry socket lasts until the bottom of the socket is covered with new tissue and the nerve is no longer exposed. Unfortunately the infection is delaying the healing, so as long as infection is present, it won't heal.

The clot was already lost, that’s why there is a ‘dry’ socket. Rinsing should only be avoided for the first 24hours. After that you need to ensure food debris is removed or healing is delayed
further.

I’ve already explained before here. The root canal procedure did not hurt, it was as it was happening/starting (pain when it started) that hurt. Before I got it treated. The procedure was fine. Painless.