Opioids Fucking Toothache - Opiate Not Helping

[Michael_25]

I have an abscess in one of my teeth (J6) that's causing extreme pain. Root canal is not possible on this tooth since it's so badly infected, so said the specialist; the tooth has to be extracted, and I'm on the waiting list for that. All I've been prescribed are antibiotics and Tylenol 3. It's not doing SHIT for the pain. What should I do? Should I see a doctor who's a little more sympathetic to my plight and therefore might prescribe me oxycodone? I don't want to doctor shop but this doctor who prescribed me codeine must think my pain is minor. BULLSHIT! I wake up in the middle of the night and my tooth is THROBBING with pain.

 

[sekio]

Go ask for topical lidocaine gel at a pharmacy, I have found that is the most effective. (I am sure you can find lidocaine other places too, like the internet).

Opioids will be pretty shitty for acute, localised pain like toothaches.

 

[Michael_25]

Thanks, sekio. So you think topical lidocaine gel would be more effective than Percocets? I find that hard to believe but I'm desperate, so I'll head off to a pharmacy today and get what you recommended. Remember, this is a HUGE abscess that's badly infected. It's been causing pain for the last 5 days. Fuck codeine. The Doc must think I'm exaggerating my pain to only prescribe me Tylenol 3. This is bullshit. I can't even fucking sleep properly. You know the pains bad when you feel like just getting some pliers and ripping the tooth out yourself.

 

[Michael_25]

NOTE: I have diazepam. Would that in anyway help with the pain? I know it's not a painkiller, but it kills tension.

 

[fleea]

Ibuprofen has given me more relief than anything else apart from extraction.

 

[sekio]

No.

If your tooth is as fucked up as you say it is, the best way to stop the pain is to get rid of the abscess by treating the underlying cause. (usually pulling the tooth, draining the abscess, and packing it with sterile gauze, usually under local anethesia) Opioids will only work inasmuch that if you take enough to knock you out, you'll be unconcious for a while.

Put it this way - lidocaine is the gold standard for oral surgery. UIt's what the doctors use so you can't feel them cutting your gums and stuff. It also won't interfere with your mental state too much.

And yes, ibuprofen (esp. doses of about 600mg to 1 gm) can help a lot too. Ibuprofen actually decreases inflammation as well as killing pain.

Realistically the best combination is codeine plus ibuprofen plus lidocaine applied topically. You may have to re-drug yourself but that should let you sleep for an hour or two at least.

If you're going to go see a doctor, go see one that will pull your tooth for you, rather than one that just rx's.

 

[Michael_25]

Thanks again, sekio. Yes, I'm also using over-the-counter ibuprofen. However, it says NOT to exceed 1,200 mg in 24 hours. I've been taking 600 mg at once every four hours (along with the Tylenol 3). How safe is it to use in excess of 2 grams of ibuprofen a day? I'll be waiting another 2 hours for the pharmacy to open to buy lidocaine gel.

 

[thelastclubkid]

i have taken ibuprofen exceeding the recommended dosage .. while its really not recommended it can be done and with tooth pain i totally understand...

ok so here is the deal... tooth pain (when its really bad) is the *worst* pain a person can experience aside from specific broken bones... the reason is because the abcess is pushing on the nerve which while it has probably decayed is still partially intact... at this point nothing weaker than hydrocodone is going to help as far as opiates go... hydrocodone or oxycodone will help with the pain but dentists here in the US are under alot of DEA pressure to keep the opiate scripts to a minimum... you can call your dentist back and tell him you are in bad pain and see if he will help... your other option is to go with a benzo that specifically targets nerve pain.. i dont have much experience with these but i know ppl that have used this effectively for tooth nerve pain...

also the lidocaine gel might make things *worse*... thats been my experience (take it from a guy who has already had $20000 in dental work done, i know what you are going through).. the gel may help for a few hours but then the tissue stops responding and in some cases makes the pain more intense...

really what the dentist did is correct... you treat the abcess with antibiotics, the swelling will go down and the pain will lessen... in the meantime ibuprofen helps with the swelling but only so much with a bad abcess...

anyway best of luck... get that canal done as soon as possible and youll be way better off...

 

[birdcatcher]

I have been there with that tooth pain. 2g of ibu all at once knocked it out although I'm not making a recomendation. that was 10 years ago and I did that many times back then with no known long term effects

 

[Stevenski]

I feel for you mate. Try alternating the ibu & codeine/para as that has saved my life at 3.00am when a bad one kicks in.

 

[oxie]

Ive had tooth pain like that. Ive actually had a whole range of problems with my teeth and have spent no less than 20k over the years. My dentist always laughs with me that how i could be a dentist in a third world country because of all the visits to his office. The problem is the abscess as its infected. The antibiotics need to kick in. I would suggest doubling the dose.
I suggest you call the doctor and tell him of how bad the pain is or better yet take you ass down to his office. Norco a.k.a 10/325 vicodin or percocet will help much much better than T3 pills.

 

[Toz]

Try naproxen/diclofenac, it usually works better for tootaches than the opiates.

 

[TrYpTiCaL]

Okay, I've had quite a bit of issues with toothaches/abcesses myself. What I do is crush whatever opiate pain pill and apply it directly to the affected tooth. I don't swallow it (intentionally), but just leave it there. Usually this works wonders. For me it works way better than the lidocaine based stuff...though I have mixed the opiate dust into that too when it's especially bad. I'm not sure how advisable this is, but I've done it successfully lots of times.

 

[Trink]

I've read a few posts about tooth pain, abcsess teeth and the pain that goes with it. One of the posts mentioned they wanted their dentist to give them Oxycodone. I can tell you that's not going to happen. With an abscess that needs extraction, or a root canal, your dentist is going to want to rid you of infection first and foremost. They are unable to perform any surgeries on the tooth until it's clear of infection. If you are in a LOT of pain, you may get Lortab, or even Vicadin. First, they will try to get away with suggesting Ibuprofen, or an OTC pain killer. If you are really suffering, tell him or her but don't expect Oxycodone or Dilaudid for pain.

 

[SS373dOH]

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