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Old Abscessed tooth extracted - still in pain

I have been thru the ropes!  I was suffering from severe head pain up to my temple back in beginning of January.  The pain was so much worse when bending over, picking something up, and  movement.  It would really hurt to kiss my daughter goodnight b/c i'd lean over!   I went to ER and had CAT scan and spinal tap done at that time (rule out anyerism).  I also had a full sinus scan done b/c i was on antibiotics for Sinus infection at the time (family doc thought head pain was due to sinuses).  I was indeed sick with a really bad head cold a few weeks prior.  It may have been a sinus infection, but the headache started once all of the congestion was GONE!
The CAT scan showed an abscessed tooth on tooth #14 (upper left), same side that all my pain!  So, I had that tooth and two upper wisdoms removed on Jan 23rd.  
A little history on #14.  That tooth had a root canal done when i was in my teens (now 34).  The abscess had been there for YEARS, as it would get a little pimple on the gum and would go away... I didn't realize the danger in that.  Anyway, the abscess used to grow "out" onto the gum, but apparantly this time was growing "up", as it was "very close to my sinuses" as told by the Oral Surgeon.  So, the tooth was pulled and the infection was "cleaned out" and stitched.  however, I am still in pain.  THe pain DID subside, as it no longer hurts to turn over, bend down, or move around.  However, I am still in constant pain.  I went to an ENT to make sure that it was dental.  He sprayed novacaine up my nose to use a scope.  I was PAIN FREE for the rest of the day!  I have no idea why numbing my NOSE would eliminate the headaches, it did!  I wish I could buy that stuff.
When i get the pain now (one month after extraction), i tend to push on my cheek right above that tooth, as if that's where the pain is stemming from!?  Is it possible that the abscess irritated a nerve?  Could there b an infection brewing back?  After extraction, i was put on penicillin and 2 weeks later a Z pack and steroids!  I went back to the Oral Surgeon 2 weeks after extraction and they were "90% healed" with no dry sockets... so it's not that~!
Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.  I just can't help but think that it has something to do with this tooth.  Could i have ruptured a sinus?!   All other teeth on that side are fine.  Is there a nerve right near there?
Where to turn to next?!  
thanks.
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5269550 tn?1365780980
I had a tooth pulled in the same area #5 i too waited a LONG time to get this taken care of and experienced the same symptoms you have its been 4 days and I get random headaches in the left temple area that come and go all day. The dentist said give it a week so I will but the pain hurts and i too am on penicillin and ibprofen 800..hole where tooth was seems to be healing fine the only issue is this headache.
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Avatar universal
Oral surgeon found 3 bone spurs in there!  Removed them.  I was so much more swollen than i was the first tme having 3 pulled!  It was awful.  The head pain is changing, but is definately still there.  Getting it less times per day, but more intense when i do have it.... hopefully, i just need to heal?  Been 4 months now.... i just want it to be GONE!
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Avatar universal
a leftover piece of the root?... merely a guess
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Okay... MRI/MRA was totally normal.  However, the pain i'm getting seemed to be revealing a trigger point now and it's near the abscessed tooth spot.  So, upon feeling around, i feel a pretty large "bone" type thing above the hole there.  IT was not a wisdom tooth... it was #14 (3rd from front) and it was an old root canal, abscessed, and pulled 8 weeks ago.  The pain is the same... stems from above it, goes up my nose (left side) and to temple...  WHAT is this bony thing that i can literally tap on above my gum line?  I can run my fingernail over it from side to side... almost like another tooth was there!  But, there shouldn't be anything!  
Anyone?  Thoughts?
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Avatar universal
Update:  MRI/ MRA both completely normal.......  which is good, but NO ANSWERS.  Neuro on tuesday still, but reg doc thinks it's unexplained migraines?!  Nahh... i'm not buying it.  I know what a migraine feels like... this is more a shooting pain stemming from behind my throat up to my left temple.  And, it comes and goes... mostly in pm.
WHO KNOWS?  I don't know where to go next!
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Avatar universal
update:  Had MRI/MRA done last week and have to wait until TUESDAY for the follow-up results consult!  The waiting game...while i'm in pain!!!
Results tba.........
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Avatar universal
I've done a lot of research on TIC b/c my symptoms do match.  I have to go to a neurologist yet.  I wasn't absolutely convinced that it WAS the tooth, but that seems to be what everyone thinks.  
How did u make out with the TIC?  Pain subside at all?  
Mine is really strange b/c I had the pain really bad when moving and bending over (sinuses were clear).  After tooth was extracted, the pain is more in waves (constant) but i can bend over and kiss my daugther goodnight now without cringing in pain!  So, the extraction did bring some relief, i guess.  I thought maybe the infection in the tooth was pushing up causing some irritation to that nerve, but Oral Surgeon doesn't seem to think so.  He says that it could be residual pain from the tooth...  I am so sick of being told what it "could be"!  The neurologist can't see me until 3/10, so i have to wait til then and continue the motrin around the clock!  Did motrin help your TN?  I don't get pain from activities, like applying makeup or from a breeze outside, etc.  It's just a constant ache like pain up near left temple.  I describe it like someone's in there doing a river dance on my nerve!  I get weird popping noises in my nasal area too in when i go to sleep and wake up.  i am such a mystery.  I just can't wait to get a diagnosis from someone!  The worst part is not knowing....i think tension is adding to these!!!  

Thank you so much for your reply.
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Avatar universal
Wow, I am so sorry you are going through all that, could it be possible it is not your tooth??  I had some trouble years back and they actually extracted two teeth one was slightly absessed and one I just told them had to be what was causing the pain. It ended up that the pain I was getting was from what was called Trigeminal Neuralgia nicknamed TIC.  Worth checking out and asking about.  It is the 5th nerve and is horrible.
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Avatar universal
Update:
Back to OS yesterday... he believes that i had an abscess for so long that everything up there is just kind of "finding its resting place" again...needs more time.  I am still in a lot of pain and taking motrin around the clock.  I get no relief during the day whatsoever if i don't take the motrin.  
Neorologist appt in a few weeks to rule everything else out....
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Avatar universal
Is it possible that the infection was never cured and has returned?  up in there somewhere?  This was a very old infection!  Maybe it could take long to get it?  Was on penicillin for 7 days and 2 weeks later, a Z pak.  Maybe it didn't get it??????????  Anyone????
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Avatar universal
No.  I can tell that this isn't sinus pain.  It's more like someone is "ringing out a nerve" in my temple.  Like a nerve is being pulled at in there?!  So strange.  Im going back to Oral Surgeon tomorrow to make sure tooth abscess infection didn't return.  AND, then to Neurologist in a few weeks...if i can last that long?!  
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
If head bending and stepping downsatirs triggers or exzacerbates headache, it strongly suggests sinus headache. If ENT can not help you get rid of pain, seeing an orofacial pain specialist is advised.
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