Post root canal pain - what's normal?

Oh no that's sounds awful!

I have had one root canal and it was nowhere near anything like that, I guess I was lucky, I did have pain afterwards but not vomiting and such severe swelling. I did go back because of the pain and there was some exposed bone (if I remember correctly) and they fixed that and pain went. My friend when she hers done did swell but again nowhere near what you have. I would go back to the dentist...

Hope you feel better soon!

My full sympathy.

I'm on Day 6 of post extraction with my jaw socket being drilled due to an absess, so now have like you feel ill with it. I'm on metronidazole, pain killers & clove oil packing - actually call your H & get him to get a bottle of it, does help.

I've been told 7 - 10 to ease.

Well I've been calling the surgery since 9am, but no answer. I rang the dentist's mobile (given on the bottom of the aftercare sheet in case of emergency) and his wife said he'd gone to work and left his mobile at home. Gah!

Mr K has bought me some Ibuprofen with Codeine, which has taken the edge off the pain a bit, but not much. Looking at the aftercare sheet it says you can take upto 800mg (i.e. twice the rec dosage) of ibuprofen every 4 hours in the first 48 hours if required. I'm just waiting for the dentist to call back and verify this then I'll take 2 more 'normal' ibuprofen and some paracetamol, and alternate 2 hourly.

I just wish I could move my head. The only good thing is the codeine is making me very drowsy, so as soon as I've spoken to the dentist again hopefully I'll be able to sleep.

Edited to add - thanks for the replies Mrs Ulli and Mrs JMP and thanks for the clove oil rec. Mr K has left again now, but I'll ask him to bring some home tonight. Anyway the dentist called and said it definitely is an infection so I've started on metronidazole and extra ibuprofen as well. I'm off to see if I can sleep, as I do think that's the best cure.

Mrs JMP - ouch, that sounds horrid. My sympathies!

Mrs JMp - thanks for the clove oil rec. I popped out to get some an hour ago and it has really helped with the pain. Thank you!

Doesn't it taste foul though?

I think it can be quite bad. I've never felt much pain, apart from in the jaw where the injections went, and having to hold my mouth open so long. However, my last one was in the US and they prescribed me Vicodin (the sooper dooper drugs that House is addicted to) which makes me think that some procedures can cause a fair amount of pain.

Double Ibuprofen every 4 hours even if you have no pain. If not touching it take paracetamol offset (10am Ibu 12 para, 2 ibu...)

Thanks GW.

At the moment I am taking 2 x ibuprofen with codeine, then 2 hours later 2 x normal ibuprofen and 2 x paracetamol. That with the clove oil appears to be taking the edge off it, but I'm not pain free by any stretch. Unfortunately I'm allergic to most stronger painkillers, so I have to be very careful. If it's still really bad tomorrow I can go back and get a script for dihydracodeine (Vicodin by any other name) which is one of the few meds I can take.

When I spoke to the dentist he said mine was one of the most complicated and 'traumatic' root canals he's ever done, so he's not surprised I'm in this much pain today. Lucky me.

For future reference there is an ideal time during a Womans monthly cycle to undergo dental treatment as Hormone levels & use of the pill alters your healing process.

I do hope it eases soon, I'm on OAP mush for food, as Anti B's need to be on a full stomach. I've exceeded my Ibuprofen emergency use due to a Liver problem, so only on paracetamol.

Clove oil is funny how it work's