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Mental Health Mental health problems & pain management

Survival0200

Survival0200

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Dec 27, 2005
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A wisdom tooth of mine was removed. I asked the dentist for some painkillers for it. Then he was like "go buy some OTC acetaminophen". The dentist knows about my history of mental health problems. Do you think this has something to do with the fact, that he didn't want to prescribe me anything? I've heard of people getting some mild opiates for removed teeth, but we didn't even discuss this possibility. I wonder if doctors (dentists) have some attitudes towards people with mental health problems, when it comes to pain management. It's true that many people with mental health problems also have a drug problem, but labeling all people with mental health problems as possible addicts is a bit questionable. 8)
 
I was told when I got my wisdom teeth out that the level of painkiller one takes is contingent on how deep/close to the nerve the tooth to be removed is/was. For some people they need a serious dose of opiates. Others barely need to take any pain relievers.

It's my understanding that people with mental illness are more prone to abuse drugs, but I don't think that alone would have led to him saying that. If one has a history of drug abuse, that could do it, but they might, unless someone is just starting to recover from opiate addiction, they would take the question seriously. But I of course don't know.
 
In general, opiates for dental work is being discouraged right now. I would bet that it has more to do with that than with mental health problems.
 
I didn't get opiates when I had mine extracted...I didn't know that was an option lol. I don't think it has anything to do with your mental health issues.
 
I got Ibuprphen for mine. If the tooth is out and no problems with gums and nerves the pain isn't really worthy of opiates. NSAIDs work better at lowering the inflammation that is causing pain. I'd suggest if the pain is that bad or worsens to see a doc. After extraction the pain should subside in a few days
 
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When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, the rheumatologist literally said he wasn't going to treat my pain because I had a pre existing mental illness diagnosis. It also took me three years to get a diagnosis for my gallstones because doctors kept seeing "bipolar" on my chart and saying "you're probably just having a panic attack".
 
SixBuckets said:
When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, the rheumatologist literally said he wasn't going to treat my pain because I had a pre existing mental illness diagnosis. It also took me three years to get a diagnosis for my gallstones because doctors kept seeing "bipolar" on my chart and saying "you're probably just having a panic attack".
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Jesus, that's just shitty. I could understand him not wanting to treat you unless you were also seeing a psychiatrist, but blacklisting you for having a mental illness is cowardly. I guess I'm lucky that my bipolar diagnosis hasn't resulted in any bullshit like that in my pain management or other areas.
 
silverwheel said:
Jesus, that's just shitty. I could understand him not wanting to treat you unless you were also seeing a psychiatrist, but blacklisting you for having a mental illness is cowardly. I guess I'm lucky that my bipolar diagnosis hasn't resulted in any bullshit like that in my pain management or other areas.
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Yeah, it's total bullshit. I have lost count of the times I've gone to doctors about a physical ailment and been told "Oh, it's probably just a side effect of your medication". I know they don't want to be responsible for messing around with my psych meds, but it's frankly lazy.
 
^A friend of mine that died of stage 4 colon cancer tried to get an answer concerning abdominal pain for 3 years from various doctors--all of them attributed her vague symptoms, even when they worsened considerably--to being a menopausal woman. It amazes me sometimes the number of doctors that let their perceptions of a whole class of people completely derail good medical practices.:!
 
^^^^Amen^^^^ Crying shame!

Herby, I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. I can relate to having multiple specialists telling me "there's nothing more they can do".

They should be honest and say "there's nothing we're WILLING to do". My last best hope was a specialist in endometriosis in St. Louis. I gathered, scanned all my records to him recently. He advised I see a general surgeon. He knows full well that a "general surgeon" knows jack shit about this disease.

Meanwhile, my colon and bladder are being choked to death.
 
My bf has no mental health problems or and drug history and his doctor didn't prescribe him anything for one wisdom tooth and another regular tooth (it was extremely deep since is wasn't a wisdom tooth). We called the next day, but unfortunately it landed on a holiday or something so we couldn't get any. The dentist said that they stopped giving it automatically and the patient had to have called and make a specific request the next day.

So yeah, they seem to be harder to get either way. :/
 
herbavore said:
^A friend of mine that died of stage 4 colon cancer tried to get an answer concerning abdominal pain for 3 years from various doctors--all of them attributed her vague symptoms, even when they worsened considerably--to being a menopausal woman. It amazes me sometimes the number of doctors that let their perceptions of a whole class of people completely derail good medical practices.:!
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The official diagnosis when I first went to the doctor about my kidney stone pain was "probably something to do with your period". It took at least three more doctor visits before someone finally referred me for an ultrasound and found the stones. Fortunately, though, once they were diagnosed I was booked in for surgery within a matter of weeks.
 
Survival0200 said:
A wisdom tooth of mine was removed. I asked the dentist for some painkillers for it. Then he was like "go buy some OTC acetaminophen". The dentist knows about my history of mental health problems. Do you think this has something to do with the fact, that he didn't want to prescribe me anything? I've heard of people getting some mild opiates for removed teeth, but we didn't even discuss this possibility. I wonder if doctors (dentists) have some attitudes towards people with mental health problems, when it comes to pain management. It's true that many people with mental health problems also have a drug problem, but labeling all people with mental health problems as possible addicts is a bit questionable. 8)
Click to expand...

doctors don't normally have anything against scripting narcotics for somebody with mental health problems, but they will think twice about scripting narcotics to somebody with addiction problems. If you're in legitimate pain, you have a right to adequate pain control.
 
I had my wisdom teeth (all 4 and impacted) removed in 75. They gave me Percoset for pain.

All they did was make me puke. I had some "Motrin" left over from a RX from my orthopedist and decided to give that a try. Worked better than the Percoset and didn't make me puke.

Mind, the Motrin was RXed at 800mg. This was just after it had been released to the public.
 
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