Non specific tooth ache/ear ache/face ache

[MegGriffin]

Hello there. I have been in quite a lot of pain on one side of my face for about three days now. I am not sure whether to see the doctor or dentist. Although my teeth on that side of my face hurt, they don't hurt when I eat and my gums are not sore to touch. I also have ear ache, face ache and eye ache on and off. I have been taking ibuprofen and over the counter co codamol which is helping a bit but I have a feeling this is not going to get better on it's own. I have two questions really

1. Can you get sinus problems without congestion? 2} Has anyone got experience of this? Many thanks

Meg. I don't think it sounds like sinuses or teeth. I think it sounds like trigeminal neuralgia (look it up!). It is fairly common and should settle down with no lasting damage. You need to see your GP as you will probably need tablets that act on nerve (neuropathic) pain. Good luck. It's meant to be excruciating. Sympathies.

Hello, I am back. The dentist could find nothing wrong. She has given me anti biotics in case there is something brewing. She said thats all she could do except drill out some fillings which I was not keen on as it is not a specific tooth. I cried when I came out as I cant be in so much pain and nothing is wrong that she can see. She has given me amoxicillin so I hope if it is sinus or abcess or ear infection they should work? She said she could not give me pain killers. I have to get them from the doctors. I have bought some nurofen plus to try, alongside paracetamol. I will go to the doctors tomorrow if no better. I cant bear being in this pain and I am consious of the weekend coming. Although I am glad nothing is obviously wron with my teeth, I feel scared of th pain. I guess I cant even drink wine now either??? Hatehoovering, I will look that up, thanks.

Oh no, if there's one thing worse than going to the dentist, it's coming out without any relief.
I'm so sorry she could not find anything. Come to think of it mine couldn't decide which tooth it was...infection usually shows on x ray but sometimes does not and they have to guess. Thankfully mine guessed right, removed filling and took out the nerve...instant relief. But I wonder if yours is worried about mucking about with the wrong one.
It is usual to be given antibiotics initially to make inflammation go down, before they do a root filling, so all is not lost - if you do have a bad tooth, amoxy should help and you will notice the difference. If it's TMJ, it won't as far as I know.
You can have alcohol with certain antibiotics, but might make you a bit drowsy. metronidazole is the one where you shouldn't go near it.

I think you were well brave for going

Read the instructions and you might be OK with the alcohol!

Just check the active ingredients of the neurofen plus and make sure its not got paracetamol added already.

Hopefully the antibiotics will help whether its tooth or sinuses

Thanks Fa. I think I know which tooth it might be if I had to choose one. I just had a mars bar to cheer me up and it made my whole mouth,teeth hurt so much I had to clean my teeth. I wonder if it an old filling that is not doing its job anymore. I am so confused now.

Thanks mistle

Meg, if you think you know, I would really go back tomorrow and ask her to drill it. It will take minutes and if it is the wrong one, is easily refilled.

My one last year didn't show up on the x ray but he suspected one of them and drilled it and sure enough the nerve was dying.

I'm sure the amoxy will start to kick in very soon, but if it is still bad tomorrow or you feel brave before weekend and possible desperation again, I would go back and take the risk.

Really feel for you - it kind of puts a brake on every aspect of living doesn;t it. So so painful.

You are of course right Fa. I have booked myself for half eight tomorrow morning. She is squeezing me in. I will be brave and get this sorted! Ive nothing to lose. I will let you know how I get on, thanks.

It sounds like it may be an ear infection to me - my face hurt like this when I had one a few years ago so I would recommend getting the doctor to check you out.

Did your teeth hurt Auntie?

It's sounds like neuralgia to me too, hurts like a bugger. There is also a type of migraine that presents like this too.

Alcohol will lessen the effect of any antibiotic. Better to stear clear if you can.

Meg, so sorry there was not relief for you today!

I hope you have a comfortable weekend!

Your poor, poor thing. I do hope you can find the cause. I've cried in pain from both ear infections and the TMJ.

TMJ should respond (at least a little) to nurofen and other NSAIDs. It's not an infection so antibiotics will do nothing. It can feel like excruciating tooth ache, ear ache, jaw ache, funny Eustachian tubes, facial pain. I found mine responded very well to alcohol!

I have had ear infections which take more than two or three days to respond to ABs, so don't rule this out over the weekend. I've certainly been told to alternate paracetamol/nurofen for ear pain.

Can you maybe get the out of hours GP to prescribe you some voltorol? AFAIK it's the next one up from nurofen. It's strong but it is effective for ears, teeth and TMJ. I would lay it on with a trowel with the triaging bit - you can't be expected to spend three days and nights in this kind of pain when a common drug could help you quickly.

Instead of taking nurofen and paracetamol take nurofen alternated with co-codamol. Much much much much better!!!

Meg, I had the most hideous one-sided face,eye,sinus,teeth pain ever. Xrayed by dentist but couldn't find anything wrong. Saw GP who thought it was trigemminal neuralgia and prescribed me tegretol. The pain was indescribable. Went back to dentist, out of sheer desperation and after further exploration was found to have a dental abscess under crowned tooth. Had to have a root canal which was a doddle and pain-free in comparison. All cured now but memory of that pain will be etched into my brain for ever. Labour pains are a walk in the park.

Hello, I am back. Thanks for all your ideas and messages. The dentist has started root canal treatment in the tooth we think is the one. I will know when the pain killers/numb feeling wears off I guess. She said the nerve wss half dead. Unfortunayely I cant get another appointment for three weeks to get the rest done as she is full but at least something is being done. I held the nurses hand when I got the injection as I was so scared (thats the worse bit for me). As it happens it was fine except I still had some slight pain when she poked deep in the hole. She said keep on with the antibiotics. So I hope my saga will come to an end in a very undramatic way. I feel all wobbly and keep crying but I am just so tired and traumatised (how pathetic I know). The dentists and nurses are sooo nice there.

def stick with disolvable codine then

how is your tooth now geordie?

Oh meg I was wondering how you got on...thought of you this morning!

If the nerve was half dead, that'll be the one. You can relax now. Pulpitis means a dying nerve so that's what was happening...glad it was the right one!

the first bit of treatment usually involves removing the nerve, so once that's gone you should have significantly less pain...just a bit sore maybe for a few days as swelling goes down.

Well done...brave girl! It doesn't matter if finishing treatment takes a few weeks, as long as nasty dying nerve is out you should be fine.

btw no shame in being traumatised, pain like that is incredibly affecting...it's hard to remember when you are not in the midst of it, but it does totally traumatise you!

Mine is ok, couple of times its been a bit sore, so have had to take tablets, but 100000 times better than this time last week - honestly thought the treatment was a walk in the park compared to what I had thought was going to happen..

I have to go back in 2 weeks, as she could only get one of the nerves out and usually there is 2 but its cool.

My dentist is so kind that she puts some sort of anaesthetic(sp) gel on the gum to numb it before then injection - so didnt feel a thing

There is another very rare condition for you to google if it turns out not to be the usual suspects etc Temperal Arteritis. Its rare so probably not tho

Thanks Rhuidean, unfortunately it was my teeth. Good luck with your second treatment geordie. Would you consider letting me know how it goes after you have it done please? I am feeling miles better already and I am looking forward to a better nights sleep tonight. Am still taking pain killers as stll a bit sore but hope this will get better over the next few days. Fa and everyone else you have really helped me through my mini trauma, thank you .

Oh gosh so pleased you're feeling better. Makes me feel my numerous RCTs have been worthwhile if I can talk someone else through it xx

Phew!