Pain down right side after 9 months

  I hope there's an answer! In April of 1998 I went to get some routine dental
  work done, and found that I required a root canal, which I assented to.
  Almost immediately after the procedure, I started experiencing excrutiating
  pain in that tooth, which seemed to inflame the entire right side of my face.
  It was so bad I wanted to be knocked out and have it removed on site.
  However, since I'm 23 all doctors advised me against removal and assured me
  that within a month the pain would subside. Well, the pain became so bad
  twice that I went to the emergency room because I couldn't take it, and they
  gave me Percocet, Which I ended up being on for about two months. During this
  time period, I started feeling a burning pain sensation "creeping" down my
  arm and my leg, as well as the already established pain in my face, eye,
  saggital plan, which led to a facial tic that I have to this day. But as this
  pain started creeping down my extremities, I found it more and more difficult
  to move my hand and my foot, writing was very difficult, I had trouble
  holding the pen. Gradually, the excruciating pain gave way to a lesser pain,
  and I was moved off of Percocet down to Hydrocodone, Then just OTC pain
  relievers. I'm not lying prostrate in pain anymore, but I still have a
  constant, low level pain that's down the right side of my body. When I sigh
  or yawn or exhale deeply, I feel "bolts" of pain race down my right arm until
  it 'hits' at the tips of the fingers. I also experience a phenomenon when I
  hold my computer mouse, where my right hand will get 'cold shots' all over
  the top of my hand when surrounding the mouse. There seem to be pain focal
  points at the top of my spine and the bottom, and I feel the pain connected
  and start to run down what feels like the center of my leg and arm where the
  limb is subumerged in a burning sensation. Anyone know what this is, how it
  came about, and the cure?Any answers appreciated,Dave Canova,
  ***@****
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Dear Dave:
I am unaware of any instances of pain occuring over the whole half-body after dental work. A careful neurological assessment and some additional tests (such as brain and cervical spine MRIs, EMG or evoked responses, or even spinal fluid examination) are clearly indicated to rule out a coincidental neurological problem as a cause of the widespread pain. In addition, non-narcotic pain killers such as gabapentin or carbamzepine, which are especially effective in the treatment of neuralgic pain, may be indicated.
Good luck!