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Dry Socket

I have posted before but still need some answers with this ongoing dry socket misery/pain/discomfort. Do dry sockets go through different healing stages? My oral surgeon says the socket is healing nicely and I can visually see the socket hole shrinking. The pain within the socket is tolerable. However, now I am experiencing discomfort and inflamation in the gum area surrounding the socket. My oral surgeon says this is part of the normal healing process but I would like to know if anyone with dry socket has experienced this? When can one chew on the side of the mouth where the dry socket is? I know I am nowhere ready for this but just curious. The more I read and hear about individual experiences with dry socket, and my own experience, I am convinced it is a major blow to one's physical well being, ones mind and definitely not a quick healing process.
I have been on pain meds on/off since the dry socket ocurred on June 5. which is a concern. I have taken Vicodin only when it was necessary for excruciating pain and most of the time Motrin or Advil 3-4 tabs three times a day. I know this cannot be good for the body. Does this hurt the body to be on these for so long?
Thank you for any comments on this subject.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your adivce. Yes, I am trying very hard to ease off the meds. I use them only when absolutely necessary.
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Avatar universal
Hi Jo,
I am so happy to hear from you. You can never imagine what your help and support through this seemingly endless ordeal means to me,  I am very grateful. It is very kind of you to take your time to share all  this information considering that you still suffering yourself. However, it is WONDERFUL!  that you are able to be without pain relief.  Also the fact that your previous dry socket is healed and that you are now ready for your implant is wonderful news. How long did it take for the dry socket to fully close?

I, like you, read endless articles, mostly on the internet. One dentist said it can take over two months with pain throughout that whole period of time. That is the only realistic article I have seen yet.

Since you and I appear to be experiencing the identical situation, it appears that my own situation is running true to course and it does give me ecouragement to know that  in the near future I will feel normal again as you will also.   I am going into my sixth week now and when I look back and compare to the beginning of this whole ordeal, I can see there has been improvement even thought it is very slow.  Some of my worse times seem to be at night and even though I try to make it through the day without pain relief, I do need it at night to help me at least get an hour or two of sleep. It is hard to get comfortable and have just resigned myself to sleep with about three pillows almost sitting straight up.  I cannot remember the last time I had a good night's sleep. I guess that will come in time.

It is good to know that the pain relief had no ill effects on you because that is one of my concerns.  I too, like you, am always asking my husband if I will feel better and he gives the same answer as yours.  My husband has put up with so much through this and has been so patient. Again, I don't know how you did it with young children. Mine are grown but I have three young grandsons with whom I normally have over for outings, etc once a week and have not been able to do that all.

You are very right about trying to stay active and keep your mind off the pain because at times I  tend to  sit and dwell on it and that does me no good. I have begun to take walks in the evening. I live in Florida so right now it is so hot that it is hard to be out in the daytime. I have been doing an extra amount of reading and that helps. Your cross stitching  was a great  way to keep yourself occupied and the end result was, I am sure, very lovely.  I admire your constructive ways of coping with this misery.  That is  something I should take up again as I used to cross stitch many years ago and will keep my mind occupied.

I completed my two root canals and they are now ready for restoration so hopefully that will go well. One of the root canals is still a little sensitive but I will see how that goes. Compared to the dry socket, a root canal is "piece of cake".

Thank you again for your help, encouragement, and wonderful, constructive advice. I hope that everything continues to go well with you and even though I don't know you, I know that you must be a very kind person to take so much time with me.  You are ever in my thoughts as the one person who was able to help me through this.  I will keep you informed and I will look forward to that day, like you, I will be pain free.

The very best to you Jo,
Veronica




Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Veronica! I am only too pleased to help you. It is good to know that my experience can ease your suffering.

First of all, the inflammation around the socket area can last for a long time too I am afraid! My socket remained swollen and tender for a long period, even once the socket had closed. I could not touch around the area with my finger and certainly had to be very careful when brushing my other teeth.

The extraction I had done on 15th of June this year (the one I mentioned which I also had dry socket with) is coming upto 5 weeks on Friday and it is the same. It is still very swollen and I cannot bare to touch it yet but I know it is normal and that in another month or so it will be getting better. I have learned from experience that sockets that have been problematic do not get better over night but take time, time which unfortunately cannot be accurately estimated! Even the pain you are still experiencing I also got. One day no ache, the next an ache all day, but not in the same way as when the socket was totally open. I remember on week 7 saying to my husband "do you think this will ever go??". He told me everyday, "course it will!" - but I never believed it would! And, eventually, it did and now a year on I can prod and poke the area without even a twinge and it is so normal and now ready for the implant I am longing for!

As for pain relief......I took it for best part of a year and it certainly had no ill efffects on me just made life bearable while the pain decided to go! I certainly would have been a lot worse off without it. I did find that going for good walk helped the situation too. It is so easy to sit and worry, especially when all you can do is think about it, which is only natural when you have a pain!

This last fortnight is the first time in a year I have not used any pain relief and it is wonderful! I never thought the time would come but it did  - AND SO WILL YOURS! Be patient and don't lose your faith that it will do because it will!! I bet you'll find by the end of August (and I know this seems a long time away) the worse will be over. I cross-stitched my way through the pain which helped and now I have this on my wall framed as I know the effort it took doing it!!

I hope this may have helped a little more.

Best wishes, Jo.
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Avatar universal
JoTown would like to hear from you on my latest comments. You were such a great help to me with your experience.  When I start feeling pretty low, I re-read your comments and realize someone else has experienced this also and got through it.
Thanks and hope to hear from you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is true that dry sockets can be very painful and at times debilatating. You can eat on the area as long as it feels comfortable.I would ease off the meds if possible.
Helpful - 0

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