Bupe Good Analgesic to Use for Root Canal?

[Jabberwocky]

Couldn't decide between here and Basic, soooo...

For someone who's one suboxone/bupe (2-4mg/day 2x/day), other than 800mg ibu (and all nsaid drugs), what is out there that would reduce some rather severe discomfort from a root canal? The suboxone/bupe helps a little (as in it doesn't affect the pain level at all but it does, just barely, distract me a little). I imagine the 800mg I just took will help a little, but I find it hard to convince myself this is the solution (also took some at 10AM but because of the even more excruciating level of pain at the time I noticed zero improvement).

FUCK this hurts... this is why I used to hate the dentist.

I don't think it'll be this bad for more than a couple days, hopefully fewer than better so I can work at full capacity again asap. Considering I'm on suboxone, what might help? If opioid agonists are the only practical option, how should I deal with taking them considering I've got a good bupe tolerance (as in should I stop taking bupe or keep on it and take modified levels of the full agonists)?

Of course tramadol crossed my mind, but I can't imagine it helping that much (at least not more than ibu for tooth/nerve/swelling related pain). I can't imagine hydrococone in anyway shape or form helping either, so I'm kinda at a loss (plus not able to think to straight atm)...

Although significant dosages (130mg+) of DXM are not possible (again due to work), I kinda think that might be my most practical/effective alternative given that it's done amazing (like miraculous) things for other painful episodes I've experienced. Plus any dissociation atm would be AWESOME. Anywho there is no way I'm gonna get any coke to use to numb my tooth, although I will probably pick something like lidocaine up at the chemist...

Thank you SO much for any help/suggestions/etc to deal with this for the next day. I can hardly believe how bad this is considering I've experienced some nasty injuries before, all of which sound way more serious than fricken root canal...

Oh yea, did I mention? Fuck the dentist

 

[sekio]

NSAIDs and an opioid are pretty much the best you can do. If you can, add either THC or a low-middling dose of dissociative in there for good measure. And as you pointed out there are also local anesthetics you can use (local anest is probably the most reliable painkiller).

If you find ibuprofen doesn't do alot, try Aleve/naproxen or even acetaminophen. The dentists around my neck of the woods prescribe ketorolac (Toradol) as an NSAID, with no opioid for tooth extractions etc.
With buprenorphine you can't really adjust the strength of opioid activity, so you may just have to continue taking it as directed and wait the pain out. Switching off bupe to a full-agonist is a waste of your energy because by the time your body has readjusted your tooth will be healed.

If your tooth still hurts after 3-5 days, see your dentist to make sure it's healing properly. The pain should dull considerably with time. Just try to dope yourself into a sleepy stupor to pass the time.

By the way, don't slag on dentists. When you have a infected tooth or whatever, & you need someone to treat it, they're there for you. The discomfort from an extracted tooth or root canal is a lot less than having abscesses in your gums. If you would rather suffer with rotting teett you can, by all means, refuse dental treatment.

 

[Jabberwocky]

I know, I know, and I should say, the dentist I saw today was really a very nice, accommodating guy (let me in 1.5hrs early to give me local, as I had just left an appointment with another and they didn't quite patch things up correctly - omg given the extreme pain I was in, I'm particularly sensitive to oral pain/dental, that local was infinitely better than any shot of dope or whatever I've EVER had, utter agony to utter bliss in three minutes, like I was literally in and out of consciousness for an hour or so just like a heavy nod).... . The dentist I saw before the root canal this morning, well, let's say she isn't the most professional by any means (partly staff's fault though), although I have to say that since she does stuff at 6:30am before I have work and I can't really ask for more. And the dentist before that I had (back where I grew up) totally changed my initial opinion on dentists (by any standard my first ever pediatric dentist was an idiot), as he was super accommodating, cheap (like cutting costs by 50% when my insurance gave me problems) and did everything very efficiently. I was just in a particularly bitchy mood when I started this... I mean, it's true, I still hate dentists (or rather having to go to the dentist to get anything but a cleaning, which is rare enough), but I always feel so good and healthy for hours and hours after the appointment... Go figure

Thanks for your suggestions. I'm at the point where I'm almost used to the pain and discomfort from the swelling, and I take this at a very good sign. Funny you mention naproxen, as I was always a huge proponent of this (especially for bone related problems I've had) but I stopped using it when I got off heroin almost a year ago because I discovered ibu worked better overall for my withdrawal (first time w/ding I experienced rls and wasn't happy). I'll give that a shot instead of my next dose of ibu (440mg of naproxen/aleve is what I seem to remember taking) and keep my fingers crossed. I think I've used this for dental pain before...

Things are feeling better, probably has something to do with the ibu fully kicking in and helping with the swelling a bit and having taken a little extra bupe (I took it with tagamet, something I stopped doing months ago), so I can really feel it now (again it definitely doesn't kill the pain or even mask it, but it is a welcomed mental distraction). Wish I had some ket or cannabis right now (although the latter isn't possible thanks to work atm), but if things keep going the way they are and I continue to get used to the pain (something that always seems to make the biggest difference for me), I have no doubt I'll end up better off.

Again, thanks for your help sekio!

btw, I've used toradol for a variety of thing (back and tooth stuff) and I find ibu/naproxen to work better, but this is just me (could have been taking too little toradol too, who knows)

 

[sekio]

Good to hear you're feeling better! The drugs are definitely kicking in if the pain is becoming bearable. It's also a sign it's not getting any worse. Don't forget to keep dosing every 4 hours or so, so as to not have it start to get inflamed again.

All the favourable reviews of toradol I have seen refer to it being IV for severe pain, and at that point I am sure it's simple relief and not any sort of central "feel good" action.

Taking Tagamet alongside NSAIDs is also advantageous in that it will reduce stomach acidity/damage.

 

[Treefa]

i had to get some teeth pulled as a kid and was given tylenol #3, which at the time may have helped slightly, but to this day i'd have to take about 6-10 T3's so if i ever get some form of oral surgery, i pray to god for percs or something..i'll be sure to tell the dentist i'm a total bitch when it comes to pain and may even whip up some tears at his office lol..
my uncle got some perc 10's once when he got some teeth cut out or somethin. he sold some too lol i think i got 1 for free and that was my first perc lol..

 

[VerbumVincet]

I don't know if you're still in pain (I hope not,) but I'll tell you what I used when I had 4 wisdom teeth simultaneously excised: liquid benzocaine (Oragel or equivalent) and (3) 333mg. Aspirins every six hours. An hour after surgery, I polished off a triple bacon cheesburger, milkshake, bowl of chili and fries. Never had to touch a painkiller. Believe me, I tried to get some, though. I asked for Darvon Pulvules, which tipped the surgeon off that I might know a bit too much about rarely prescribed opioids (always loved propoxyphene!) I'm strange, though, because I actually enjoy dental pain. It feels great to me for some odd reason. If you take aspirin, just watch for excessive bleeding. Stop taking it if this becomes a problem. If you're still in pain, ask the doc for viscous lidocaine. Good luck.

 

[ugly]

I might get a mod swat for this but I generally get benzoed UP before and after big dental procedures.

I squirrel benzoes away (mom, husband and adult kids all have scripts) especially for certain dental work. I have learned it's better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them so I save up. I plan ahead.

Bank benzoes.

You'll be glad you did.%)

Y

 

[Jabberwocky]

Today doing waaaaaay better. Still taking 600mg of ibu every four or so hours depending on how I feel. I went to work this morning (I spend a good amount of time talking on the phone there) and had to leave after like four hours. The second I put anything near my head, especially the phone, even turned all the way down volume wise, I'd get a migraine from hell!

I think the vast majority of the pain, especially yesterday, had more to do with the intense swelling following the procedure. Today, with the swelling almost all gone (as far as I can tell at least, and I certainly attribute my consumption of ibu to helping). I also dosed a bit more than normal (still smallish dose, just a couple more times than normal) and I had no problems falling asleep, actually went to bed a little high without major pain!

I have taken toradol IM and PO. The IM route was certainly better than nothing, but I know for a fact that naproxen works better for me than PO toradol.

Some benzos would have been nice today or yesterday (especially today), as they have always seemed to help when I have migraines/headaches (which more often than not probably have been brought on from stressing out). The migraine still lingers, but like I said it's so much better than yesterday. I'm convinced a benzo, especially one like diazepam, would along with my ibu totally relieve my migraines. But alas, don't know anyone with them, whether friends or family or dealers (and even if I did I might still decide not to at this point). Hell, I haven't taken any since I was in college and prescribed them (I was prescribed ativan, but enjoyed bars, pins, etc, with my favorite benzo of all time hands down being diazepam!)....

Thanks again for all your replies folks!