Insane from pain.

[Laced_with_Lacy]

Hi. I'm at my wits end on what to do and need another opinion. I also had all 4 of my impacted wisdom teeth removed this past Monday Nov. 10th, and it is now Saturday. The pain is excruciating and unbearable. I was given a prescription for hydrocodone but get no relief whatsoever. I called my dentist office yesterday to let them know I am still suffering and they had me come in immediately to check my progress out. Of course everything looks wonderful and she said the healing process is going right at the pace it should be and inquired on my pain. I told her that it wasn't just something that was flaring up but constant and unbearable so she wrote me off another prescription but only for 800mg motrin to take with the hydro and in between as needed. However I am still in a great deal of discomfort and pain and I am still unable to find any relief whatsoever. It's so bad I can't stand to do anything nor sleep, and it has now become such a great problem that I've even had to take off work because I can't stand it. It's only the left side of my jaw and mainly the top from the extraction site and radiates through the next couple of teeth in line. I don't know what else to do, I feel like they don't understand just how much pain I'm actually in and I don't understand why it's this bad if there's no nerve endings from the teeth being removed. Is there any other reason(s) that can explain this. I'm so miserable and feel on the verge of insanity it's so bad, and to think I just have to sit here and deal with it for weeks to come is too much. Please help.

[SOS_Advocate]

I have a friend who told me she horrific pain after wisdom teeth extraction. The roots had grown into her jaw and the dentist did not know that.

I'd call an oral surgeon for a second opinion.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Yes, I would think that the dentist may consider something stronger if the pain hasn't improved.  But again, the most important thing is to figure out what is the cause of this pain.  Normally the area heals up within a week and the pain is much improved.  There may be some complication in the extraction socket that may need to be addressed.

If the oral surgeon isn't available, there should be some way to have your dentist contact the surgeon to discuss your particular case.

[Laced_with_Lacy]

Thankfully,I do not have any dry sockets. Its now monday and its still very uncomfortable and painful, do you think she'd still take into consideration something stronger? (since it's been a week) She's just the regular dentist and not the one who preformed the extraction. The oral surgeon did but he however is only in this office location twice a month and it's next to impossible to find out where he'll be next to consult him. I know everyone's different as far as how fast they heal and how long it could possibly hurt but should it still be this bad after a full week? Since it's not a dry socket or infection, is there any other possibilities that could explain why I'm still having these problems?

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

If the area is healing fine, then there's not much that the dentist can do to help with the pain.  She may want to pack the socket in case its a dry socket.    

Also, if the hydrocodone and ibuprofen 800mg isn't working, she can prescribe a stronger pain medication than that.  You may want to her try a stronger narcotic in conjunction to the ibuprofen.

If you feel that the dentist can't help you, you may want to ask for a referral to an oral surgeon to evaluate the area.