Remember my talk about my teeth? Well my primary said she wanted to raise my tegretol and add Gabapentin but not until I had proof that this pain was NOT coming from my teeth. So my lovely daughter got me into the local health department's dental clinic which I went to today. They took some where around 20 x-rays and only charged me 50 bucks, awesome right?
Well, here's the thing. I have four teeth that need to come out, this dentist says these bad teeth could most certainly be causing my facial pain, even the pain that is up just under my left eye. But here is the part that I don't understand. Two of the bad teeth are on the left, and 2 are on the right. So if these teeth are so bad as to cause pain, then why am I not having any pain on the right side of my jaw, in my teeth and in my cheek? Should I be elated now thinking that maybe the Doctors were wrong and maybe I do not have ATN? I have the first appt next Monday to have the worst of these four teeth extracted which is at the very back on the left. The next one to come out will be the eye tooth on the left. He says I could go elsewhere to have a root canal and have it capped, but we cannot afford this. Because we are both on Medicare, this clinic will extract teeth for 40 bucks flat.
So I am due to see my primary at 8:50am tomorrow and I am not sure I should go. Thinking maybe I should wait until these teeth have been taken out to see if I am still having pain or not, what do you all think? Also I am due to see a surgeon on the 25th, but again thinking I should put this off until these teeth have been taken out and I have a more clear picture as to what is causing this pain.
On a totally different note I do have some good news. I neglected to have my Metformin filled and forgot that I hadn't done so and by the time I remembered it I went a week without any. So I decided to just stay off of it and start testing my sugars very regularly, and am thrilled to report that my sugars are running between 82 and 155 eating regular meals and even drinking sprite. So at least I am down by this one pill, yippee!!!
I just wanted to tell you about my experience with dental issues. I'd been having a lot of tooth and jaw pain and had four or five teeth removed (I lost track) because I couldn't afford the recommended root canals. Needless to say, the pain continued after the teeth were removed and it was a total waste of time and money. Apparently, (looking back on it now) the teeth didn't need to be dealt with because it was ATN the entire time that I believe started with a tooth extraction and damage done to the nerve by the four novacaine shots that I was given, but the dentist was completely untrained or oblivious to the possibility.
Now I have three broken teeth (on the ATN side) that need attention and I'm terrified of having any work done, let alone having those huge needles stuck into my nerve ganglion.
I wish you the best of luck and I hope your dentist understands the condition.
Hi there.... I am going to tell you that since I came down with TN 4 hours after a sideways deep wisdom tooth extraction
, and a sawing on the jaw bone.... been leeeeeery about seeing even my nice gentle dentist. I would see if you must have an extraction....to try and do lidocaine patch for your face and laughing gas and maybe perhaps a vicodin....
/ in lieu of novacaine shots. This is the route I'm going to take whether I get my teeth cleaned or anything!
Thanks girls, I appreciate your fast replies. Gloria, this dentist showed me the huge dark spots on the X-rays, just wondering if your dentist proved to you first that those teeth did indeed need to come out???
And to kc Dancer, I am going to call them tomorrow to ask about the lidocaine patch and laughing gas instead of having those nasty shots, it really scares me to think what those could possibly do to me if I do still have ATN. But I still wonder why I am only having pain on the left side if there are teeth on both sides that need to come out???
Ali, if there is clear X-ray evidence of deep decay or abscess in the teeth, then they need to come out. My bet would be, however, that your ATN pain will continue. A pertinent question to ask the dentist might be "what steps will you take to protect me from surgically-induced nerve damage on the side of my face that does NOT hurt, as well as the side that does? And likewise, why would I not have pain on both sides, if the dental abscesses are supposedly the source of my pain?"
Thanks Red, I appreciate your reply. I just called the Dentist’s office, and keep in mind that this Dentist works for the Dept. of Public Health but I called and asked if they could use laughing gas but they are NOT provided with that luxury so my question is this, what will those novocaine shots do to me if I do indeed have ATN??? I am really scared to have them pulled now!
Soooo, if there is no decay and no root problem and no pain on the other side… !!! I would not mess with your teeth. I still have teeth pain where there isn’t one. AND where I have had 2 root canals. I reallly think you just need the right kind of pain medication Ali. But there just would have to be proof as Red says in order to have them do work on your teeth. Peace, Min
Also, consider if you have other symptoms like swelling, bad taste, localized pain in the tooth area or fever, those are symptoms of an abscess as well.
I am terrified myself of any needle touching a nerve ending and have been putting off a dental procedure.
Your Dentist has an opinion regarding your dental problems and it seems to be raising an awful lot of additional questions. Is it feasable for you to get a second opinion from another dentist? Can you use the xrays that your first Dentist took to save some money?
Pulling teeth is something you can never reverse and it may not solve your problems. I think a second opinion may help confirm what your first Dentist has said OR it might shed some new light on your case. If you were buying a car you would visit more than one car lot.
I think I must beg to gently differ with Min on this one. IF there is strong proof of abscess, then the problem must be treated or it may spread to adjacent teeth or even cause necrosis in the bone. Use of Novocaine is not optimal. You need to talk with the Public Health folks about your diagnosis of ATN, and ask them what can be done to protect yo u from further nerve damage. One appropriate step might be temporarily loading up your medications before the procedure -- but you don't have time to do that before tomorrow. So in your place, I'd suggest re-scheduling until AFTER you consult with the doctor who regularly manages your face pain.
Of course, if there is deep decay which puts you at risk of infection, it is an over all health risk to keep them.
What a wonderful thing it would be if somehow, your bad teeth WERE the source of your pain! I have heard many cases of dental extractions NOT relieving pain, and therefore a diagnosis of TN or ATN is forthcoming. It never hurts to hope for the best and look on the bright side. What do you have to lose, sweetheart?
I would call my surgeon, and inform he or she of what you have been told by your dentist and see what they recommend. Then, weigh your options and go with your gut on the matter regarding on whether to keep your appointment on the 25th. Typically, we know our own bodies better than the physicians due to the fact that we inhabit them, but you are probably already very aware of that!
Congrats on your decreased dosing of your other med. Proceed with caution on this. We care for your well-being!
Thanks to everyone who has offered their much needed advice to me on this problem. There is clear evidence of deep decay on these four teeth that need to come out, 2 on the left and 2 on the right. I wouldn’t mind getting a second opinion but I simply cannot afford to. Thanks so much for your optimism Stef, I love you for that dear!!
And to Red, there is time to load up on meds as you said as my appt to have them pulled is not until next Monday. I actually had not thought of that, great idea friend!!! But my current pain management Doctor hates me and would not allow an increase for any reason, so I’m not too sure if this plan is even feasible. Might you have any other ideas Red?? I love you all so dearly for the support, kindness, and compassionate friendship offered to me here, I truly do!!!
Hi alibaby. I have had dentists and oral surgeons tell me the same thing for 4 years now. I have had 3 wisdom teeth removed,my back molar pulled, and just last year a root canal procedure that the guy ended up doing an overfill on and refuses to take responsibiliy for and aalso was being treated for tmj with big needles being shoved in my jaw joint and I still have the same pain. I have been doing a lot of research and this happens to a lot of people. I finally went to a nuerologist. To find out I have tn after all that work. I hope your experience is different,but thought id share mine. The best of luck to you
Ali, right now I'm fresh out of miracles (and certainly no slam intended). You can tell your pain management doc that temporarily loading up TN patients on meds to prevent breakthrough pain is pretty much standard procedure among knowledgeable dentists and neurologists. I'll see what I can come up with from the TN Association, as I recall that they have a web page on the subject.
Good Luck with everything Ali. It sounds like you are overwhelmed with fear and I don't blame you. Try to do something this weekend to take you mind off the upcoming appointment - even if just for a minute.
My thoughts are with you and I hope it goes smoother than you are thinking.
It just occurred to me...usually when you have extractions the dentist will give you pain meds to get you through the worst of the pain. Maybe this will make up for you taking extra before the procedure??? If you can ask the dentist for the pain meds you're already on??? Just thought I'd throw that out for you to think about.
Jerry, these teeth have to come out, there is clear cut x-ray evidence of deep decay, sounds gross I know, but as Red pointed out this could lead to further problems if they don’t come out. But I thank you very much for your input! Red, thanks for the link, I will go through it with a fine tooth comb, no pun intended! And to all you gals, Gloria, Min, Elaine, great advice. I plan to call them tomorrow to ask if the dentist could provide some extra meds for me. And Elaine and Min you are both right, I need to think of something else and just quit freaking out over this! I am sorry to be such a worry wort, I suppose it has always been in my nature. Love to you all!!