Wednesday, April 16, 2014

What it feels like after 4 years

At this point I'm really just annoyed. I'm not in the kind of mind-splitting pain I was for the first 2 years, when I could think of little else but how to relieve this discomfort, and spent hours and hours pouring over the Internet, trying in vain to find better doctors and cures. I learned that there are none.

Now it's become part of daily life. I can manage to go through my day without constant obsessive thoughts about dental pain, so long as I take low doses of painkillers. Every day, every couple of hours, the pain ramps up to the point I notice it, and take a little something to tamp it down again, being careful not to take so much to the point it makes me sleepy. I always feel like I'm keeping this big secret, and I'm not comfortable with dishonesty. But it's necessary in this case.

So, painkillers have also become part of daily life. Granted, the dosage of medication is very low, but still, I need a constant input of pain relief in my blood stream or symptoms escalate to the point of distraction.

This also means having to go to the doctor's office every month, then pray I'll have no trouble filling my prescription; and the time and expense involved with that. Since I am unemployed (again), getting the time off is no longer an issue, but the tests and so forth are not affordable for me with no income coming in. I'd actually like to find new doctors, but I dread starting the process all over again, for really the same result.

I've put off visiting the dentist for cleaning and x-rays for a few years now, so will be going to a new dentist next week. I'm terrified that they will find a cavity that needs to be filled, which is how this whole thing started. But, my teeth have become quite yellow and they just need a cleaning, I feel kind of gross. My toothbrush and floss, no matter how diligently applied, just do not do the job well enough. Professional cleanings are still a must.

I love hearing from others about how they are doing better. I'd especially like to hear from anyone in the state of Florida, as the qualify of medical care I've found is pathetic. If you can recommend any, especially if you have a Naturopath, please don't hesitate to post here or on our Facebook page (you can also message me at Jane Fisher on FB)

Hope you are feeling well. Keep the faith! :)

14 comments:

  1. I read through your blog and decided to comment. I am a 26 year old female, living in Florida. About a year and a half ago I had three wisdom teeth out. When the procedure was done, I was left with injured lingual nerves (both sides). I am in constant pain. My tongue, mouth, head, and ears hurt daily. I also have problems speaking. Recently the pain has gotten worse. I have seen another dentist, but all they can recommend is neurontin or surgery, which they claim will more than likely fail.

    I was told that this was a very rare thing. But reading through your blog, it seems it is more common than I was led to believe. I've come to live with the fact that I will be in pain everyday of my life. It just is pretty hard to believe that dentists can go around doing this and nobody seems to see a problem with it. How can this keep happening?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Anonymous, I am also dealing with the same issues you are talking about. I've dealt with this for over 20 years! I am looking to find someone with similar symptoms as myself, and seems that you have these. I am a rabbinical student that make a practice of saying psalms related to health in the morning time. I have been told that it has helped others. Perhaps I can be of help to you. If you are interested, give me your full name and your mother name. I will try to help. Email to: rock.fridman@gmail.com

      Delete
  2. Hello fellow Floridian! Wow, injured on both sides - who was your oral surgeon? I am starting to believe it is incumbent upon us to start warning others...I mean, how else would anyone know?

    You go to the dentist without any real way to size up your doctor, or even know this can happen, or how many people your dentist has injured before, unless there's a malpractice suit on record, which is extremely rare in U.S. dentistry. I found 0 of the 6 lawyers I interviewed wanted to take it on due to the likelihood that we would lose - lack of precedent and difficulty proving any pain. - JF

    ReplyDelete
  3. My oral surgeon was Dr. R. Thayer at Florida Oral and Facial Associates. I have contacted several attorneys, none of them could assist me. Like you said, it is hard to prove negligence and pain caused by the injury. As far as I know he does not have any malpractice suites against him. I could report him, but it is highly unlikely that it will affect anything. I always warn people now if I hear they are considering a wisdom tooth extraction. Most people have never heard of this happening before and then become alarmed after what I have told them. It is not my intent to frighten, I just want others to be informed of this consequence, because nobody else is going to tell you.

    -NJ

    ReplyDelete
  4. I recently had my wisdom teeth out (15 days ago) at 41 years of age as recommended by the dentist and oral surgeon and have suffered lingual bruising as a result of the procedure. I certainly do not have as severe issues as you write about and my heart goes out to you and the hellish journey you have gone through. The right side of my tongue is numb and burns and tingles. The first week was agonising, just a constant level of 8 to 9 in pain on the tongue, very little sleep and reading all the horror stories of life injuries online sent my anxiety through the roof which only made my tongue burn that much more. The second week was a little bit better but with flare ups that would send the pain back to around the 7 to 8 range but then drop to about a 4 to 6 range and on to my third week I am hoping for my improvements. I have started taking one 100mg Tegretol tab at night as prescribed by the oral surgeon. Have taken them for the past 3 nights before bed and my pain levels are down. I am feeling the good signs are that I only have to take 100mg of Tegretol at the moment which is quite a low dose which takes the burning away at night when I sleep – takes it down to 0 just have some minor tingling now and again when I brush my tongue across my teeth but no burning at night. I can feel pressure on the right side of my tongue from a tooth prick or my nail, though no actual prick of the toothpick can be felt, my tongue no longer feels rubbery and I am noticing shorter durations of flare ups and my jaw is recovering now and I am able to eat normally again. I do not find eating or drinking to really flare up the tongue – well not as much as my anxiety. Further, I have no headaches or ear aches. Have some impact in my ears occasionally (like they want to pop) but I relate this to when I can feel my anxiety building which is normally has I am driving to work. It’s not painful just annoying. I can live at the moment with the occasional tingles I get and the numbness but the burning is the worst sensation. Just hoping for the best.

    Michael V

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Dear Michael.
      I have read your words and i can say i could copy paste your every single word and put it into my current situation actually.
      I had my wisdom tooth surgery 4 days back and i got exactly the same symtoms like yours.
      so i am very curious to know your current status of your injury.
      it's been 10 months since u post it here.
      I will be greatly thankful for your humble reply.
      Look forward to hear from you.

      Best regards,
      Singh

      Delete
  5. Quick update....eating and speaking does flare up the burning in the right side of my tongue...Tergretol 100 mg is all I'm taking at night...last 48 hours pain is constant but below 5 as long as I'm resting my mouth...no headaches but do feel like my ears need to pop sometime.....cheeks on right side still feels slightly tight/swollen but no numbness or pain...taking course of steroids...right side jaw hurt a tiny amount but think that is from clenching so trying to relax..keep pushing my tongue into upper mouth, so trying to stop that...I,m only 2 and half weeks, so early days but feel alone..friends, work etc, they don,t get it but do try...everyone says it will b ok but the constant pain whether low or high, just always being there...it's hell ! Mike V

    ReplyDelete
  6. i had a wisdom tooth extraction in 2000 , though I've always noticed a little numbness on my left side of tongue i never gave it much thought ....though in 2012 i had a major flare up /...from 1 to 10 it was at a constant 8 0r 9 so it was pretty bad ...i was in and out of psych .and nuero clinics for a year or more ...at that time i was dosing with nurontin , lyrica , colonipin ...i was also dipping with cayenne pepper 3 or 4 times a day . i did get relief from big red chewing gum , i was so tired of the pain decided to try acupuncture and i believe it has helped me tremendously ...also smoking cannibis helps relax me too though i only smoke it a few times a week ..it puts my nerves at ease ...i also treat myself to smoothies whenever i damn well please ;) Now the pain has gone from an 8 or 9... to a low 1 two or 3 ...occasional 5 it took awhile but came though all of this in 2 years time ...theres far worse you could have like a broken back or neck or blown out knees whatever , i do reccomand acupuncture and natrupaths as they know how to treat your conditions better than most doctors ...the issue is letting go of the past ,,and finding things to keep you calm and happy ...oh and one more thing ...usually when the burning starts it usually means theres some regeneration going on and it will pass over time ...be well my friends

    ReplyDelete
  7. st johns wort and healing http://theradiclereview.com/2010/07/04/youve-got-a-friend/

    ReplyDelete
  8. VAMPLAD79

    Just thought i would give a quick update as i am at the 2 month mark. I will probably not be back here so this will be my final posting here. I have not fully recovered but over the last 2 months have had a lot of healing and now believe I will fully recover. My right side of my tongue for the first 4 to 5 weeks burnt horribly and was numb. The burning was very high in for 4 weeks ranging in the 8 to 10 range for pain. It went down very slowly after week 4. Further my jaw on the right side was so tight that when I tried to open my mouth fully my jaw and tongue would burn and be sore for hours. At about the week 5 to 6 week stage my numbness slowly disappeared and the burning went to the tip of my tongue only though when the numbness went my teeth felt like knifes on my tongue whenever I rubbed them. My tongue felt rough and raw with a burning tip that when I rubbed felt like an open cut on the tip. Now at exactly two months my tongue feels slight rough when I rub my teeth on the right side (no burn or pain) and the stinging/burning tip feels more like lite carpet burn and is improving dramatically as the days go on. I can rest my tongue in my mouth and feel very little to no pain. Only when I rub the tip on my teeth or mouth do I feel that carpet burn feeling and it is lower than say a week ago and has no sting to it now. My jaws is a lot better, I can finally eat and talk with no flare up and throughout my condition it has never got worst only better. I believe in the next couple of weeks the carpet burn feel on the tip will go as this seems to be the progression I am getting. Unlike some I have not had a rollercoaster of healing where things are good then bad then good. My recovery has been steady and consistent. Though I am getting a lot better and feel about 90 percent healed I do want to say having this injury was a nightmare and I truly emphasis with those that have had this for years. I don’t know how you do it and I am so sorry that you have to go through constant pain. It fully turned my life around as I do not take things for granted anymore and am certainly more compassionate with others. I hope if you’re a newbie and find this site this post will give you hope that you can recover and that the horrid burning and numbness can go away and I feel in a lot of cases it does.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jane,
    Hi I am having facial pain sore cheeks constant non stop headache and jaw pain for 4 months straight. I live in south florida just 20 miles north of ft lauderdale. I found the class IV laser may help you if you commit to it longer term. Look up carmen care in Boca Raton. They are so wonderful and they have much success with this crazy stuff no one else can help with. It's so great you created this blog. I didn't have a dental I jury I had a facial injury that caused all this and I don't know if it will go away.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks so much! I have never heard of Carmen Care, but just looked them up and they are near FAU. I will call this week, but am guessing insurance does not cover. I may have to wait until finances are in better shape to try it out. I hope you are feeling better soon. Thanks for commenting, and I hope some of what you read here will help you, as well.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dear God this is what I am going through from a bottom left molar being pulled 2 wksa ago my lower teeth throb and my chin feels likes it's on fire! I live on tylenol now!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are still early in your injury, you may be able to get steroids that will help. But don't wait too long, the window is only about 6 weeks. Do keep me posted. Best - jf

      Delete