Is this dry socket? Please help (post-wisdom tooth extraction pain).

Hi there, I just had my wisdom tooth taken out and it's been really painful. I'm now off the painkillers as it has given me other side effect I'd rather not have, so now I have this throbbing pain in my mouth, mostly because my teeth are moving (I wear retainer, but haven't been since the extraction). But now I have this little mouth ulcer on the side of my mouth by the back of the tongue very near the extraction site and it has been really painful with that around. I just want to make sure that it is the ulcer and not actually a dry socket that is giving me all the pain.

I looked it up, and found the symptoms of dry socket, yes I do have pain that I could feel as if it's coming from my ear. When I have a look at the extraction site, I could only see the stitches though, no bare bone, etc. However, if it was a dry socket, will the pain be continuous? At the moment I feel the sharp pain everytime I move my tongue (that includes while I speak, drink or try to eat). If I stay still it's fine. The swelling has gone down and almost all gone. Can a tiny mouth ulcer cause this much pain? Please help.

Please help. Thank you.

[scottma]

If you google dry socket, you probably can find detailed information. The most important clinical features to make a diagnosis of dry socket is excruciating pain and loss of blood clot. Going back to your surgeon to have a post-op exam is advised.