Severe throbbing pain 2 days after root canal

[ClaudiaML0205]

I went to the dentist about 2 days ago to get a filling re-done that had fallen out 3 days prior. ( my bottom left molar in the back) my dentist started to prep the tooth for the filling and while drilling the nerve was exposed. So then I had to get a root canal. She did it and then put some filling in and gave me a RX for amoxicillin and told me to call with any tooth pain.

the first day no pain.. and the second day no pain til about 930pm that night. I was sitting down then all of a sudden I had this horrible pain that was something i've never experience with a root canal since i've already had 2 before this one.

I've called and called my dentist but no one seems to call me back, I took some vicodin that I had left over from a dental procedure I had in October and it helped but 3 hours into the medication the pain came back!

What would cause this? and do you think I should go to the ER since Im in so much pain

Thank you

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

You can definitely try the cold pack to see if it'll help with some of the pain.  If its vicodin 5/500, you can take it every 4 hours but only one tablet, not two.  

[ClaudiaML0205]

Thank you, I called 3 times lastnight to the emergency line they have at my dentist but no one called me back.

The pain is in my tooth not around the gum, what could that mean? that she didn't kill all the nerves?

i've been taking the vicodin (generic)  every 4 hours. Should I put a cold pack on my face to help also with the pain or will that make it worse ?

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

I would recommend calling your dentist again and going in to see her as soon as possible.  I would continue taking the vicodin every 4 hours (only 1 pill at a time if its regular vicodin 5/500 concentration) for the meantime.  You may also want to take some ibuprofen too as its safe to take it with the vicodin but don't take anything with tylenol (acetaminophen) in it