root canal...owwwwww....

[penybryn]

I had a root canal last monday and the pain just never really went away. I had a new crown afterwards which always felt like a false tooth. Yesterday after I drank some hot chocolate the pain was overwhelming. Took a couple tylenol and went to work. Called the dentist. Went in and he poked around, put some desensitizer on it and said call him tomorrow.

Last night I took one of the Vicodin left over from the root canal and couple Aleve in between. I was a little loopy but the pain was duller. Told the kids they were on their own for dinner and vegged on the couch with the dog.

Still hurts today but I'm trying to stay away from the Vicodin unless absolutely necessary. Can you break those things in half? I'll never be able to drive home if I take one here at work. So far today I have had 6 Aleve over a 6 hour time period.

Just heard from the Endodontist (I originally just saw my regular dentist) and they can't see me til May 5th. He is the only one within 50 miles who takes my insurance so I'm stuck.

Owwwww!

[PinkMartini]

Do you have the perm. crown on or just a temp?

I had a root canal done last year and the entire time I had the temp. on I was in horrible pain! I was taking Tylenol every 4 hours to deal with it. It was horrible! They had to send the perm off to be made so I had to wait almost 3 weeks to get back in and have the perm crown put on.

[Lizard]

Root canals are definitely a pain. :( Is it possible that the crown they put on is too tall? When you bite down, does your bite feel even or do you bite on the crown first? I had that problem with my crown, they had to redo it. Also, was the root canal a result of an infection? Generally they do the canal, then let the area drain before they put on a crown of any kind. I wonder if maybe it's infected? If it is, it needs to be taken care of soon (sooner than May!)

I do remember having some residual pain with my root canal, but nothing that required Vicodin like that, and it definitely didn't last 2 weeks.

I'd push to have them look at it further, and ASAP.

[penybryn]

I had a filling in this tooth that was really deep. An xray at my cleaning appointment revealed more decay in the tooth. He removed the filling and redrilled and put in a white filling. After that I had some throbbing pain but nothing like now. By my next Iappt. I said it was hurting, he took more xrays and decided I needed a root canal and a crown. Impressions were made for the crown, he did most of the root canal, and put in a temporary. I had another appointment in 3 weeks. By the time I came, wow did it hurt. He took out the temp, stuck some wire in, gave me decadron and vicodin. I came a few days later, drilled and drilled for the root canal and he put on the crown. He never said there was an infection.

The crown does feel a bit high. He tapped around yesterday and said he thinks its now the tooth in front. The roots are twisted or something.

The Aleve is helping, but I'm afraid to take the Vicodin unless its really really bad.

I ache for May 5th to come!

[salysaturn]

I had one, and the novicane wore off a little over half way through...youch! I wasn't having pain like you are, so I don't know. I had mine done at a regular dentist. The first dentist botched a crown (it broke w/i a year), so I went elsewhere. I did go to an Endodontist first though. They charged me $100 for a consultation, and then repay you the remainder of what the insurance covered. I am not sure if $100 is the going rate for just a consultation, but thats a heck of a lot better than paying him for a root canal!

[kari]

This is why I never want one of those!

[jimmysgirl424]

My teeth are hurting in sympathy. I'm with kari, I never want to have to get a root canal done. Yuck.

[Lizard]

Oddly enough, I felt BETTER after my root canal... but I had a tooth infection and had been in serious pain for a week, so the canal relieved all that pressure and was like instant relief. Nothing like having a infection, root canal, and a 3 week old baby still working on nursing correctly. OMG. :eek:

That really sucks penybryn. I bet it has to do with how deep the previous filling was, and how much they had to drill out to replace it? I'm not really sure (probably 'cause I'm not a dentist, heh). I would keep a good eye on it, and if it gets worse, swollen or you just can't handle it anymore, I wouldn't hesitate to go to an ER. If it IS an infection, they can get serious pretty quickly.

[Neen]

I've had several root canals done and have never been told to take anything other than tylenol afterwards. To me it sounds like an infection. I would call your regular dentist and tell them you are in pain. You shouldn't have to suffer!

[penybryn]

He said it wasn't infected. He took so many xrays I should be glowing by now. I took the decadron 3x a day since last week and I'm feeling much better. No pain really at all. I'm still keeping my appt. for next Monday. Maybe it will be nothing and I just needed the meds.

Here's what the decadron is supposed to do:
decadron: a steroid that is administered both intravenously and orally. Decadron is used in a variety of situations in cancer patients, including anti-nausea, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer (for such cancers as Hodgkin's Disease and Multiple Myeloma). Side effects are the same as other steroids, the degree and severity depending on the dosage. Such side effets include stomach irritation, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and fluid retention.
I guesss its working because my nerves no longer feel enflamed. Yeah!

[yby1]

I feel your pain. I've never had a root canal, but I had periodontal surgery done lat Wednesday. This is definitely one of the most uncomfortable experiences I've ever had! I have stitches in my gums on the right side of my mouth, but upper and lower. I have to go back to the periodontist on Friday to get the stitches out. The right side of my face is swollen and bruised, but getting better everyday. I'm taking all my vicodin though - F that! :p The periodontist actually told me I HAD to take it to help with the swelling and healing process.

I'm tired of eating soft food though :o Only out of the left side of my mouth. I can't wait for this to be fully healed. *Sigh* this is what years of grinding my teeth and not flossing properly gets me (and genetics too. :(). At least the left side of my mouth is in good condition and I haven't had a cavity since grade school - at least religiously using my Sonicare brush spared me from that type of hell. :D

I'm glad you are feeling better today. :)

[manda_kate]

I had a root canal done last year and was so scared for it, but it ended up being a pretty painless experience. I was a bit sore afterwood, but nothing major. Mine was in a front tooth, and I didn't have a crown put on. I might need one in the future, but for now I don't have one. Maybe I was just lucky?