In late Sept. 2013 I went to my dentist to have by 6 month check-up and cleaning. I was advised that I would need 2 crowns on the left side back molars because I had large old fillings. I figured I have good insurance; I’ll just have it taken care of now. On 10/11/13 I had two bottom molars on the left side prepped for a crown. That’s when it all began. I began to have severe pain on the left side of my face. My ear felt like I was being stabbed with an ice pick and my face felt like someone crushed it with a bat, my throat was aching and painful.
My dentist referred me to an Endodontist; he told me it was stress related and to take Motrin and Tylenol at the same time.
I called my dentist again and told her what he said and told her I was in terrible pain. She said, you need to see an endodontist. (Her answer to every call I made) So, I picked another. I could not localize the pain; it was the whole left side of my face. The 2nd endodontist did a root canal on a top tooth and I pressed her to give me Demerol. I’m allergic to all codone drugs; she was hesitant but gave me a few. They did not help, but they knocked me out. Amen! My only real relief has been sleep.
I was hitting the ER often at this point, my blood pressure is through the roof, and my pain is unbearable. I had gotten 2 diagnoses of sinus problems. Lots of antibiotics, nasal steroids, blood pressure medication, which still has not brought my blood pressure down.
Meanwhile, I’m missing work regularly and that’s not my style. Luckily I have an awesome boss.
I went back again to the endodontist still in terrible pain and to report my ER diagnosis. She did a second root canal on the top tooth and then did one of my bottom teeth that was prepped for a crown. When she pulled the temporary crown off the smell was disgusting, super gross. I couldn’t believe that smell was coming out of my mouth. I was sure my problem was being fixed. Wrong……
As the result of ER visits I got a referral to an ENT and within 5 minutes of my exam; he said have you heard of trigeminal neuralgia? And I had. He set me up for a CT of my sinus, which showed a large sinus cyst. Apparently, they are common and not a problem. He then referred me to a neurologist.
I was not happy with the neurologist. He specialized in sleep issues and didn’t seem to have any answers to my questions. He put me on Amitriptyline. That did not help, so he schedules a MRI. The MRI showed nothing….but a little cervical arthritis and a nodule on my thyroid.
I’m frustrated because I feel like I’m dying and no one can find anything wrong with me that is tangible. No hard evidence, like a broken bone on an x ray. Blood work shows nothing.
I wasn’t getting better so my mom, set me up with her ENT. Who unfortunately, reiterated what the first ENT told me. You have no sinus problems. UGH! But he did turn me on to Neurontin, which kept me from wanting to remove my own head for a little bit. I titrated up to a very high dose and it seemed to stop working as well.
I said to myself, screw this….I need to see someone who knows what the hell is going on with me. I need to see THE MAN. For me “the man” is Dr. Sahni at the Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatment Center of VA. His compassion is unmeasurable and I feel like he doesn’t think I’m crazy. He put me on Trileptal, and eventually it worked. It worked great for 6 weeks, but it’s not working so great now. On my newly invented pain scale, it is down from 1,000,000 to a 6. So, I’m happy….happier. I’m making the road trip to Richmond tomorrow to see what else can be done. I know before I go in for the gamma knife, I need to finish getting my teeth fixed.
My dentist tried to put my crown on, but that one previously stinking tooth wasn’t having that. When she put numbing gel on my gum and it touched that tooth, I hit the ceiling. My neuralgia went off. She tried to numb me up, 3 times, that didn’t happen. She said to get my neurologist to do a nerve block or find a sedation dentist. My neurologist said, no. So I found a sedation dentist who never called me back after my consultation. Jerk off. I finally found a dentist who agreed to knock me out to put on the crowns. While sedated he tried to dry this particular tooth with air; I came out of sedation. I was pushing him away. He did eventually get the crown on, but it still hurts. The tooth hurts, even when my face is not hurting. So, he sent me back to the Endodontist, who put me on Augmentin for 10 days, no change. The next appointment she ground down the upper molar, no change. Then I called back, she said you should see an oral surgeon. Which I did, he told me I need a night guard and muscle relaxers. Jeez…anyway, I’ve solicited 2 dentists and 1 oral surgeon to remove the tooth. All said, no. I have one more oral surgeon to see at the end of April.
I have been to see medical professionals 58 times since 10/11/14. I keep every appointment on a spreadsheet.
I feel that bottom molar is my enemy and it must be eliminated. I’m not saying it would solve all of my pain, but who knows. The oral surgeon said what if I remove the tooth and you still have pain. I replied, then I’ll know it’s not that tooth.
I’m wondering if anyone else has been through something similar with having dental work cause your neuralgia. And, isn't it possible that there is something wrong with the tooth too? Or am I just a CrazyLady?
