25yo w/sle & fibromyalgia
When working on one of my teeth (#12), my dentist said I may need a root canal. The tooth didn't really bother me until last Friday (3 months later). It felt like the tooth was stabbing me in the jaw with a knife. The tooth and jaw both hurt, from the joint to the nose and went as high up as the cheek bone. The pain was so bad, I couldn't do anything but lie in bed. I tried pain medication, Oragel, and everything else people suggested. The only thing that helped, I discovered on Saturday, was ice (and not talking or eating). Sunday, the general, all-the-time pain was a little better, but I'd get a sharp, kill-me-now kind of pain if the tooth was touched and the whole area would hurt if I talked. I also developed a slight fever (which isn't very abnormal for me). I planned to go to the dentist as soon as possible, but when Monday came, the tooth and general pain felt a lot better (as long as I didn't talk too much or let my upper and lower teeth touch). I put off going to the dentist 'cause I just can't afford it.
At first, the pain was bad enough that I was sure I had an absessed tooth. When the pain got a little better, I thought maybe the absess was leaking, relieving the pressure. Now the tooth feels almost normal. What the heck happened and should I be concerned? Do I need to go to the dentist? (please say no)