Hi all,
I'm new to this condition and would like to get everyone's opinion on my situation. I have sever stabbing pains under just one tooth (#30). It doesn't just seem like it's just this tooth, it is definitely just under this tooth. I can torment all other teeth with no pain. Pain does not radiate. It is totally localized under this tooth. Now I have to say this is a dead tooth. Root canal 10 years ago without any kind of pain after the treatment. Started off as having to touch the tooth to stimulate the pain. X-ray shows nothing. CT scan shows what might be a small lesion under one of the roots. It is very close to the nerve canal in the mandible. Oral surgeon wanted to remove it (of course). Talked him into a round of antibiotics just to see if the pain would get better. No improvement. Since then the pain has gotten worse. Started to hurt sometimes when talking. I was thinking this was due to the tongue touching the tooth when speaking. Today has been the worst! Opened my mouth wide to have a good look and, WHOA, had to hang on to the bathroom sink to remain standing. Again, pain still localized under this one tooth. No radiating pain. I have to say, I want to rip this tooth right out of my head. If it wasn't for reading all of your stories of unnecessarily removed teeth, I probably would have already. So my question is, have any of you had pain like this so localized to just one tooth? I know it could just be wishful thinking but, in theory, couldn't the nerve be impinged by an abscess below the root and cause these symptoms? If the impingement can happen in the brain and cause the pain, can't a local impingement also cause it?
Don't worry, I'm not pulling anything just yet. I have seen my dentist several times, an oral surgeon, a neurologist (that was totally not knowledgable on TN and I hated him), I've had an MRI, I have an appointment with my GP today, an appointment at Tufts facial pain center later this month, and an appointment with Mass General Hospital at the end of the month. I'm going through all the right channels.
I'm 36. Pain has been happening for 6 weeks. No swelling or redness. Just localized stabbing jabs of varying levels of pain becoming more frequent and more painful.
Thanks for your input!
M
Hello,
I have throbbing pain in my lower left canine tooth..Sometimes the pain is more "sharp" and hurts when I touch my tooth with my tongue. (which I do alot) My canine has no fillings in it and has never had any work done to it. The pain started after I had a wisdom tooth extracted on the same side(lower also) the pain traveled along my jaw to my other teeth but stopped in the middle so only the left side of my jaw was affected. I couldn't touch my gum line in my mouth because of the pain. My jaw felt like someone had punched me..The jaw pain subsided to feeling just very sore when I touched it. I know my tooth pain is facial pain because it comes and goes and isnt present at night.(My dentist said if it was a toothache it would wake me up during the night) I'm on amitriptyline and it helps..but so does ibuprophen sometimes...at least takes the edge off..If the cat scan shows a small lesion under the tooth I'd just have the dentist watch the tooth and see what develops...
Mine only hurts when it is being stimulated in some way. Although I would not expect it to hurt constantly because it has no roots. Also my pain does not travel to other teeth, just the one tooth.
Hi lucky13
My TN started in the same tooth on the opposite side. I had a root canal after the pain began and after that the pain started travelling. I am pain free right now with my medication (I am on Amitriptyline as well). But even being pain free-if I touch that tooth, even with my tongue, it hurts.
The pain was centered only in that tooth for about three months, then it started to dance around the neighbouring teeth and the teeth above it. During that time I had a filling removed from it and a medicated filling put in, two rounds of antibiotics and then finally the root canal. After the root canal the pain started going into my jaw, cheek and ear. Not fun!
My dentist told me the root canal was a success and that there shouldn't be any feeling in that tooth. He did tapping tests and cold tests. The tooth did not respond to either one. But yet if I push on it or floss it does hurt.
It sounds like you are doing all of the right things and researching all possibilities. In all of my reading I have come to learn that many people have problems with root canals. If I had known then what I know now I never would have had it done. There are many that believe that there is always a bit of infection left in a root canalled tooth. That teeth have many veins through them that can't all possibly be filled. So it makes the journey of TN even more confusing in my mind!
Dr put me on penicillin 500 vk for 10 days and gave me a low dose of Tegretol. Tegretol seems to be making it a little better. The penicillin is to see if I have an infection under there putting pressure on the nerve and causing the pain. I don't know guys. Dentist isn't convinced it is the tooth. GP isn't convinced it's not the tooth. The tooth or not the tooth, that is the question. Tegretol is working. Doesn't that usually mean it's not the tooth? Uh, this is exhausting!
Cleo, X-rays show nothing. Nothing at all. CT scan shows that there MIGHT be a small infection under tooth. There is no definite here. No absolute. Nothing that shows it is eating my jaw bone away. If it were that cut and dry it would be out already. The fact is that so many people on this site have had unnecessary extractions that solved nothing or made the pain worse. I’m being as thorough as possible here. If it is an infection, reducing the inflammation should ease the pain. However this is my second round of antibiotics. First did nothing to stop the pain. I’m consulting experts in Boston in upcoming weeks. When I have solid proof that the tooth is the problem, it will come out. But I will not pull it just to have the pain move to another tooth or to cause an even worse attack of TN.
It is tooth 30. Had wisdoms checked out because they are impacted. Turns out hay are not as close to the canal as we thought and show no signs of pathology. So they have been ruled out as the culprits. So now it is down to tooth 30 or arteries around the nerve as it exits the brain. Since then I’ve also had an MRI which shows I have 2 arteries close to the nerve which “could be” contributing to the symptoms. Can’t tell without an MRA. I’d really love it to be the tooth. If that would solve the problem is be the happiest person in the world. But as I’ve said I’m cautious since I’ve read so many dental work horror stories. If I would just be swollen, or red, or if it hurt to touch the surrounding tissue, it would be easy for me to accept infection and go ahead with the extraction. But it’s not. Jaw doesn’t hurt at all. Gums pink and normal. It’s weird. Hurts to touch the tooth but not always. Chewing is out of the question on either side of mouth. Hurts to talk and swallow sometimes too (I think is because my tongue touches that tooth when doing those movements). But then again, I had a big attack the other day just from opening my mouth wide to have a good look at the offending tooth. Totally strange. Just gets stranger as time goes on.
On X-ray they look like that but on the 3D cone beam CT scan I had done it is very clear that they are not even close to touching the nerve. The roots were like way in front of the nerve. It was pretty cool to see actually. Wish I could show you. But trust me, the wisdoms aren’t near the canal. 30 is actuall much much closer.
Good to know. I’ll look into that, thanks. But how would leaving the roots relieve the pressure? I mean it’s not like I have pain only when I’m biting something on that tooth. I’ll have to research that.
Oh well they’re not into or around. They are maybe 3 mm away or so I’d say.
Hello ,
I had a similar experience with my tooth..My bottom left side canine started throbbing and hurting so much I wanted to run in front of a bus to end the pain! I went to 4 different dentists who all took xrays which showed nothing. I went to a nuerologist who did all kinds of tests and said it wasnt nerve related but the tooth was bad..He suggested I see another dentist..I told him I was out of insurance and what good would one more dentist and xray be? So the dentist said it was nerves the neurologist said it was the tooth. Who do you believe? I take amitriptyline which helps so I guess the neurologist was wrong..And the tooth doesnt hurt at night..My oral surgeon told me to :wait and let it reveal itself" Lucky me..LOL I hope you get answers and feel better...
lucky13 said:
Cleo, X-rays show nothing. Nothing at all. CT scan shows that there MIGHT be a small infection under tooth. There is no definite here. No absolute. Nothing that shows it is eating my jaw bone away. If it were that cut and dry it would be out already. The fact is that so many people on this site have had unnecessary extractions that solved nothing or made the pain worse. I'm being as thorough as possible here. If it is an infection, reducing the inflammation should ease the pain. However this is my second round of antibiotics. First did nothing to stop the pain. I'm consulting experts in Boston in upcoming weeks. When I have solid proof that the tooth is the problem, it will come out. But I will not pull it just to have the pain move to another tooth or to cause an even worse attack of TN.
Thanks Stephanie. Fortunately mine does not throb. I just get the shooting stabbing pain. I’m guessing because this particular tooth has no roots. I’m trying to wait for it to reveal itself too. We will see. Perhaps we are lucky and it will turn out to be just a tooth problem. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!
Tooth had root canal 10 years ago. It’s functionally dead. No nerves in tooth. No trauma at the time of root canal though.
YES!!!! MY tn started with pain in my back left molar...one tooth!! I would have bouts of pain every few weeks for so .. but the pain would only last a few minutes...sometimes would start when eating--sometimes random... went to the dentist and he found nothing on the xray... after months of this--one night I had an attack--the pain started in the tooth and then radiated behind my eye and into my jaw... then I had a week of misery..with pains coming frequently when I ate--talked--or even randomly...looked online and self-diagnosed-- went to doc...he put me on tegretol and the pain went away in a few days-- that was 8 months ago!! If the tegretol works --it is probablyTN because antiseizure meds don't work on bad teeth!! Maybe you can up the dose and get into a good remission--I am off all meds right now...
Cleo, OS said impacted wisdoms look fine and aren’t bothering anything. He wanted to yank 30. My dentist offered re treatment of root canal. I’m not sure though. Extraction would end all doubt about it.
Tacocat,
Thanks for your story. When it happened the first time in June of this year it was very random and sporadic. Only really happened when eating though. Never bothered me too much and it just went away on its own in 2-3 weeks. Blew it off as a fluke. Then 6 1/2 weeks ago it started again. Slow at first like yours did but it’s gotten progressively worse. Mine has not spread to any other branches though. Even when I get the afterburn during a big attack it stays in the jaw. The tegretol seems to be working. Building up slowly on it. How much did it take to eliminate your pain? Hoping for remission soon! I’ve had enough liquid/puréed food diet.
Cleo,
Yes, I think you are correct...The dentist sectioned it into three pieces and pried in out of my mouth...After that everything on the left lower side started throbbing and burning.Funny, the pain ends at the front two teeth:( .does that nerve ever heal, either 100% or less?
Cleo said:
Stephanie, Yours is most likely due to the inferior alveolar nerve being disturbed during the wisdom tooth extraction.
stephanie said:
Hello ,
I had a similar experience with my tooth..My bottom left side canine started throbbing and hurting so much I wanted to run in front of a bus to end the pain! I went to 4 different dentists who all took xrays which showed nothing. I went to a nuerologist who did all kinds of tests and said it wasnt nerve related but the tooth was bad..He suggested I see another dentist..I told him I was out of insurance and what good would one more dentist and xray be? So the dentist said it was nerves the neurologist said it was the tooth. Who do you believe? I take amitriptyline which helps so I guess the neurologist was wrong..And the tooth doesnt hurt at night..My oral surgeon told me to :wait and let it reveal itself" Lucky me..LOL I hope you get answers and feel better...
lucky13 said:
Cleo, X-rays show nothing. Nothing at all. CT scan shows that there MIGHT be a small infection under tooth. There is no definite here. No absolute. Nothing that shows it is eating my jaw bone away. If it were that cut and dry it would be out already. The fact is that so many people on this site have had unnecessary extractions that solved nothing or made the pain worse. I'm being as thorough as possible here. If it is an infection, reducing the inflammation should ease the pain. However this is my second round of antibiotics. First did nothing to stop the pain. I'm consulting experts in Boston in upcoming weeks. When I have solid proof that the tooth is the problem, it will come out. But I will not pull it just to have the pain move to another tooth or to cause an even worse attack of TN.
Cleo,
I am 53 years old...It has been a year now since my pain started....I dont plan on any more extractions or root canals(I'll never get another root canal)..Around the same time I had my wisdom tooth extracted I had an infected root canaled tooth pulled also..I heard long time infections can cause nerve damage? I have a dental cleaning on Monday and impressions for my partial on April 7th so I'm hoping the pain wont get worse.
Cleo said:
The pain ends at the 2 front teeth because that's the very end of that nerve branch. Yes the nerve can heal as long as it wasn't severed in half. Chances of 100% recovery depend how rapid change occurs. 3 to 6 months with no change for the better is not a good sign. Age plays a big role. The younger have a better chance. Young meaning before age 25. Even at any age after 6 to 18 months it can get better as long as you don't get involved in any nerve destruction procedures.
stephanie said:
Cleo,
Yes, I think you are correct...The dentist sectioned it into three pieces and pried in out of my mouth...After that everything on the left lower side started throbbing and burning.Funny, the pain ends at the front two teeth:( .does that nerve ever heal, either 100% or less?
Cleo said:
Stephanie, Yours is most likely due to the inferior alveolar nerve being disturbed during the wisdom tooth extraction.
stephanie said:
Hello ,
I had a similar experience with my tooth..My bottom left side canine started throbbing and hurting so much I wanted to run in front of a bus to end the pain! I went to 4 different dentists who all took xrays which showed nothing. I went to a nuerologist who did all kinds of tests and said it wasnt nerve related but the tooth was bad..He suggested I see another dentist..I told him I was out of insurance and what good would one more dentist and xray be? So the dentist said it was nerves the neurologist said it was the tooth. Who do you believe? I take amitriptyline which helps so I guess the neurologist was wrong..And the tooth doesnt hurt at night..My oral surgeon told me to :wait and let it reveal itself" Lucky me..LOL I hope you get answers and feel better...
lucky13 said:
Cleo, X-rays show nothing. Nothing at all. CT scan shows that there MIGHT be a small infection under tooth. There is no definite here. No absolute. Nothing that shows it is eating my jaw bone away. If it were that cut and dry it would be out already. The fact is that so many people on this site have had unnecessary extractions that solved nothing or made the pain worse. I'm being as thorough as possible here. If it is an infection, reducing the inflammation should ease the pain. However this is my second round of antibiotics. First did nothing to stop the pain. I'm consulting experts in Boston in upcoming weeks. When I have solid proof that the tooth is the problem, it will come out. But I will not pull it just to have the pain move to another tooth or to cause an even worse attack of TN.