Tooth Pain Root Canal!

[grovebuster]

Please help! I'm in extraordinary pain (couldn't sleep last night because of it) due to having had a root canal on Tuesday. It is throbbing - I think it may be infected - dentist has given me prescription for antibiotics but has warned me they won't kick in for a day or two.
Don't think I can stand another night like last night and pain killers (paracetamol/ibuprofen) don't seem to be doing anything to numb the pain. Any idease on how to alleviate this?! I'm currently trying a hot compress against my face - helping slightly but not enough!!

Poor you! I has this recently and it was very painful. My doc recommended co-codamol as a painkiller. In my case the antibiotics worked very quickly and I hope it's the same for you!

Ah thank you - I hope they do kick in soon - I shal send out DH to get some co-codamol

I had the same recently and took nurofen plus (ibuprofen and codeine) and paracetamol alternately. I feel your pain as I am half way theough treatment.

Grovebuster, I had exactly the same experience as you. Do you have the temporary dressing in or have you had the root canal completed with a permanent filling?

The reason why I ask is that I had an allergic reaction to the temporary filling they use. Despite being on antibiotics and every conceivable painkiller, my jaw continued to throb. My dentist had to remove the temporary dressing and put another type of filler in plus a steroid to calm the reaction down. The pain went away rapidly after that and a week later I had completion of the root canal.

Your problem might be an infection but if it drags on, you might have the same problem that I had.

Hope your weekend is ok.

Sometimes the dentist will deliberately 'overfill' the root canal, and let some of the filling material escape into the soft tissue above the tooth. This can be extremely painful. It doesn't mean that it is infected - it is just extra pressure.

Which tooth have you had filled? I had a canine tooth done and the pain was very unpleasant for at least a week (can't remember now), but not nearly as bad as toothache. The good thing is that I had this done 20 years ago and have no problems after the first week or two.

Ah thanks everyone - I'm in real pain still and despairing of sleep despite DH getting every conceivable pain killer for me! No luck with codeine so far.
I'm mid root canal at the moment and it was a molar. I have the temporary filling in. If it is an allergic reaction I'm guessing I'll have to wait until Monday!
Glad to see that after this initial pain it could be ok for the forseeable future and be worth it!

Don't use hot compress. May work for pain but can cause infection to spread out onto face. Ibuprofen/paracetamol is usual advice as long as you have no allergies etc. Best pain relieve is usually reopening tooth

Had a pretty awful night - called the emergency dentist and got Codeine (60mg every 6 hours) through our A and E. Did nothing for the pain, but did manage to knock me out, so at least I got some sleep. I'll stay away from hot compress. Seems to have subsided ever so ever so slightly today. Hopefully means antibiotics are kicking in. Emergency Appointment with dentist monday calling I think....

Poor you, grove.

The only other thing i can think of that might be causing you pain is the possibility that there is a remaining root that has not been treated. Only a guess, mind. I'm no dentist but I have heard that sometimes it's difficult to access all the roots and the offending root might still be in situ.

Anyway, let's hope you can be seen soon.

Second not using a hot compress, is worst thing you can do if it is infection, will spread it everywhere am afraid.

Have you tried clove oil for the pain? dab some on a cotton bud and hold it on your gum. It tastes horrible but it really works as a temporary measure 'til you get to the dentist.