Abscess in old root canal - agony :-(

[SpudsandGravy]

Hi there,

I woke up on Sunday morning with a sore bottom back tooth which got worse during the day. Paracetamol helped a bit but I didn't get much sleep last night. By this morning the pain was in both my top and bottom jaw and radiating out to my left ear. My dentist (thank goodness she fitted me in!) took an X ray and said I have an abscess at the bottom of an old root canal. She prescribed antibiotics and referred me to a specialist to see about re-doing the root canal. If he feels it's too far gone she'll take the tooth out.

Problem is that was 11am this morning and here I am now at 0100 in simply agony :-( She said I could take Paracetamol and Ibuprofen, but I can't really take Ibuprofen as it gives me a terrible tummy pain. Knowing how dreadful tooth pain can be I did get some, and also some Paramol (which seems to be the most powerful version of Paracetamol available).

I found that the Paramol took the edge off things around midday but then I accidentally closed my jaw and bit on the sore tooth. Pain rocketed and it really has just been getting worse since. It got so bad that I tried the Ibrupofen too, but that was a disaster as it caused the usual terrible tummy pain and so since 8pm I've been writhing in agony from my face (my glands are now all swollen too) and having to go up to the loo intermittently to try to puke to bring up the Ibuprofen. It's a nightmare :-(

I've finally got to the point where my tummy has mainly settled down and so I decide to try two soluble Panadol Extra very carefully. (I haven't exceeded the daily dose, but was worried that it might set my tummy off again.) It hasn't caused tummy pain but it just hasn't touched my tooth/face/jaw pain at all. My head is now also aching and I have a pain in my shoulder (which may be because I'm just so stiff with pain and discomfort).

I looked up these abscesses and it seems that they can be very nasty and that they can turn quite bad if not treated properly. I know I can't expect the ABs to have done anything yet (it's 3 per day over 5 days, and I've had the first 3), but I'm going a bit mad with the pain.

Does anybody have any suggestions? I tried oil of cloves, btw, but although it did help for a while last night it hasn't helped tonight, and I suspect it didn't help my tummy either.

Should I just sit all night and ring the dentist again at 9am or might A&E be able to give me something to help with the pain? I know it probably sounds nuts to be thinking about A&E for tooth pain but it really is horrendous :-(

Thanks again all you're keeping me sane!

30 mins since I had the codeine. No effect at all :(

Poor you OP hope you soon get your prescription and you can get home to bed

Try the hot water swirling! Also I had a prescription mouthwash called ‘eludril’ which was bloody brilliant. xo

Just seen you're having upset stomach with Ibuprofen, you need to get some Nexium from the chemists & take this at the same time as the Ibuprofen, it will stop the Ibuprofen burning your stomach.

Hello all. I'm home.

The two codeine they gave me made not a bit of difference. If anything I'd say that it's a bit worse now.

I eventually saw the doctor and he told me that severe pain continues for several days with these dental abscess and that basically all I can do is take the Paracetamol even though it doesn't work. He said they don't have anything else. I know that's not true, but what can you do? I felt I needed to tell I'm I wasn't drug-seeking - just looking for some help with the increasing pain I've had for basically 48 hours now :-( He recommended Co-codamol. I asked if he could please let me have two to tide me open until the chemist opens and he went away. A while later a nurse came with a package of Codeine. I told her that hadn't helped and we went round in a few more circles.

Anyway, there was a petrol station open on the way home and they had Panadol Extra and so I got some of that. I've had two, with two more Codeine, but in the 30 minutes drive they haven't helped at all.

So, I feel that the only real help I've had this evening has been from all of you, and I'm very grateful because you'll know how crappy it feels to be all alone in pain in the middle of the night - your encouragement and descriptions of your own similar issues have helped.

I found that when I swilled some cold water around in my mouth when taking the tablets that did seem to help so I'll try that tomorrow (will include some salt) and basically pray for the ABs to kick in!

Xxx

It sounds dreadful OP. No advice, but I hope the pain soon lessens and you can get some sleep.

Thanks gofg x

Hope you get some rest today

Thank you very much again everybody :)

Happy ending!

Last night was a nightmare - nothing I had touched the pain at all, and I spent most of my time from 5am to 8pm when the GP opened watching the clock minute by minute and waiting to ring.

However, GP was super-kind and agreed to give me a small amount of Oramorph to tide me over if the dentist wasn't able to help today. Managed to get through to dentist about 10 minutes after they opened and the tooth is now a thing of the past. The feeling of relief after the first injection, when the pain finally went, was simply amazing!

I can feel the pain coming back in again now but I hope it won't be like it was last night, and how I have both Codeine and Oramorph to fall back on if it sets in hard.

This can be a great, kind and supportive place in the middle of the night. It made a huge difference to me xxx

5am to 8am, I meant...

Glad you've got some relief at last. x

I am so glad to hear that! I have been exactly there and I took so many different pain killers I was worried I might accidentally OD. Abscesses are awful!

My dentist has been haranuing me about going to an endodontist to redo an old root canal for a few years now. I think this thread might be the push that I needed to actually go ahead and do that.

@SpudsandGravy just popped back on to see how you were doing - so glad you've managed to get it sorted. I so remember the absolute feeling of bliss and relief when the pain finally stopped! It's made me much more diligent about going to the dentist regularly now.

Very glad you've had some relief! Good choice to get the tooth out. Once you've had one, theyre a bugger for coming back.

I've had horrendous toothache very back tooth. The pain was unbearable codiene done nothing. I've had it out today thank god.

Glad you’re ok. My dentist said no to that gel btw. Dunno why

Also codeine worked better (for ref) when I stopped talking and slowed down. Please don’t rush back to normal OP

The only pain worse than child birth! I feel for you I do I remember it well wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!! I couldn't take codine as that upset my tummy the only think they came close was some sort of anadin fast relief ( can't remember the exact name) also washing it with corsedole mouth wash ( spelling apologies) I too went around in circles with Dentist, GP and A & E. antibiotics are the only thing that really helped. Good luck

Hooray - that's great news, so pleased for you.

Ah brilliant, glad you got it out op, what a bloody nightmare.

Thanks for the update, always nice to hear a happy ending!