Painkillers not working for severe teething pain

[keil]

I am hoping for some advice. My 5 month old daughter is in a lot of pain and has been for over a week. Took her to A&E on the advice of my GP on Monday who suggested it was teething pain and to give Calpol every 6 hours. We did this for a few days but she was still getting breakthrough pain, so we decided to try Naproxen yesterday and she is still getting breakthrough pain and crying/screaming.

We are using teething toys, distraction, cuddles, and she is still suffering. I breastfeed (with top ups for weight gain) and she has been occasionally refusing both too. So no comfort there.

Not sure if any of you experienced mums out there have any suggestions, if I should wait it out, or if I should take her back to the doctors?

Thanks in advance.

If she is in that much pain I'd wonder if it really is teething and take her back to the GP. It could be a virus or an ear infection instead.

All babies are different but mine were never like that when teething.

I was told by an A&E doctor that teething rarely causes severe and persistent pain.

I would definitely go back for a second opinion, especially if paracetamol and NSAIDs are not relieving the pain.

Would also be surprised if it is teething pain. Did they check her ears? Quite often ear infections present similarly (red cheeks, pulling on the ears etc) to teething.

Did your GP suggest naproxen? It seems an unusual choice for teething pain given the possible side effects and the efficacy profile. If not a professional recommendation desist.

Back to emergency gp if your daughter is still screaming in pain. This is not normal for teething.

Definitely think you should get a second opinion, ours have had a few ear infections that I thought were teething. Having said that when we are trying to control teething pain we use calpol amd baby ibuprofen together as they don't affect each other you can give both. So I alternate calpol/ibuprofen every 3 hours which usually does the trick xx

Have you checked her temperature? It might be also worth checking fingers and toes to make sure there is no hair wrapped around them.

However it sounds more like digestive pain or an ear or throat infection than teething to me. Does she show any other symptoms of teething?

Have you tried a teething gel with local anaesthetic in like anbesol? We found that gives DD instant relief when teething, but I agree with PP it sounds extreme and I would want a second opinion.

Thanks all. I'd been giving Calpol at the doctors request but had read online that Naproxen might be better for teething (can't remember where) so thought I'd try that yesterday in desperation. Will go back to Calpol today.

Also, on the back of everyone's comments I will take her to be seen today.

She does have teething signs - drooling, chewing, red cheek and a lump in the gum; but the pain seems too much. They did check throat and ears at A&E and apparently clear.

Thanks again.

Anbesol oil (not gel) and nurofen can be given together and are the best treatment for teething pain. I would try them and then get a second opinion if no improvement.

I just had to go on an errand (car MOT), and just now back. Going to call 111 for advice and try the pharmacy for teething gel and painkillers.

Also, I have checked and no hairs wrapped around toes or anything.

Appreciate the advice. It's been very helpful.

Calpol and ibuprofen can be piggybacked. Seems like very odd advise. Cap dosing is every 4 hours not 6.

Can you even get naproxen for babies?

Regardless sounds more like an ear infection or sinuses than teething. What symptoms is she displaying ?

**I meant Neurofen, not Naproxen.

Sorry for the confusion.

Nurofen is fine for babies and it’s much better than calpol for teething pain.

You can freeze some breast milk and wrap in a cloth for them to chew and suck on and will help with getting fluids in

**I meant Neurofen, not Naproxen

Thought so!

Are things better today?

How is DC today? I definitely think something topical like anbesol gel or teething powder is better for teething pain.

Is their crying and grumpiness constant or intermittent? If it's constant, I doubt it's teething, unless the tooth is actually cutting through.

I took her to the pharmacy for teething on the Saturday but the bonjela was for 6 months + and the teething powder had lactose in. We're dairy free with a suspected cmpa but it's not confirmed so I didn't want to give it her just in case there was any dairy and it would upset her tummy. So nothing to use there. :(

Called 111 on Sunday and spoke to a few people over the phone and then sent to an urgent care face to face appointment. The doctor there thinks it's not teething but probably a virus instead. So different diagnosis but same treatment of Calpol.

She is fortunately starting to seem just a little better. So hopefully it was just a virus or something and she is now getting over it.

Thank you all again for your advice and comments. She didn't seem right to me but I think because I'd already been to A&E I just needed a push to take her somewhere because it had been diagnosed already as teething.