Severe pain after filling

I had an old filling removed on one of my back teeth 2 months ago.  There was some decay around the old filling so that was drilled as well and the tooth filled.  I had some pain off and on, but the pain wasn't localized to the filled tooth - it radiated over that entire side of my mouth, from the middle to the back, top and bottom, my gums ache and my jaw hurts up into my ear drum.  I went back the other day and the dentist ground the tooth down a little more to improve my bite, but the pain now is excruciating - it comes and goes but almost causes me to pass out with the pain.  What's going on?  

[scottma]

Seeing an endodontist to evaluate dental pulp is advised.

[LynnOwen]

My pain was so severe last night when I went to bed that I took 1 800mg ibuprofen and 2 Vicodin before the pain would subside and I could sleep.  When I woke this morning there was no pain and then 30 min after getting up I could start to feel fullness and the tinges of the pain coming back.  It comes in agonizing spurts but lasts for 2-4 hours and is very difficult to get rid of.  And of course, this is a long weekend.  

[heavencanwait]

I had a similar problem months ago on a tooth that had been prepared for a crown.  The tooth hadn't quite calmed down before the crown was placed and it hurt more than usual after that.  In fact, it popped off when I went back for a cleaning and I made a huge mistake of agreeing to put a stronger cement so then it was impossible to remove it.  Then it really started hurting!  After a few months of taking lots of pain killers and trying some natural solutions my dentist concluded the tooth pulp had been damaged due to the trauma and may have been sensitive to the cement as well.  Clenching during the night, as I do, did not help the poor tooth to recuperate even with a mouth guard.  I then had a root canal done through the crown and had a lot of pain after that but eventually  the tooth started feeling better.   I cannot yet eat on that side as the ligaments were affected and may take months to get back to normal. And my clenching doesn't help either.

My advice to you is not to wait too long to see a specialist as the longer the tooth is in distress, the longer it will take to heal and you could lose it as well (that's what I was told).

Good luck!  I know how awful the pain is :((