Guest guest Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 I have worked as a dental assistant who dealt most of her career in oral surgery and endodontics (root canals.) I don't typically make a habit of standing up for dentists, as most of them are quite capable of doing that themselves. But this time, I am going to, and offer a bit of a lesson from working experience. Allow me to say this: Yes, Debra, you are right. Everyone's pain tolerances are entirely different. What won't cause one to bat an eyelash sends another into painfilled spasms. Your oral surgeon's reluctance to prescribe medications for pain, unfortunately, is well founded. And not because of something you've done. Too many people out there actually do abuse prescription meds and will call dentist's offices every day sometimes requesting refills of codiene, low grade morphine, and even Ambien, which is a well used anti-anxiety drug. So doctors and dentists unfortunately have good cause to be suspicious of someone who calls the next day and asks for more meds, which will last a person who is in a more " normal " amount of pain for a day or two at least. If you've an abcessed tooth, chances are the infection is so great that little in the way of pain medication is going to relieve the pain until either A) the tooth is completely removed, or B) a root canal is performed, and the root of the tooth which houses it's nerve centers is removed and replaced with a permanent packing of sorts. When any tissue becomes infected, it changes something called the Ph of the tissues. Doctors and dentists on this list, please correct me if I misspeak, but the bacteria which cause the infection secrete forms of toxins which change the makeup or somehow manages to break the painkillers up enough to render them ineffective. What the dentist might do instead is something which is a fairly common practice -- prescribe antibiotics along with painkillers (I am a little surprised that they didn't to begin with as you presented with an abcessed tooth) and have you come back in a few days once the antibiotics have a chance to get a grip on the infection and help your body lessen it. Not only will some of the pain usually go away, but the xrays will be more clear and easier to take as the tissues aren't as swollen or sore. Gives everyone a better picture of what is truly happening. So maybe you should call this dentist back and request an appointment to see him/her and let them know EXACTLY how this abcess is making you feel. Not only just to say " Hey, this isn't working, " but for one other VERY important reason: If the infection spreads to the bones of the face or the rest of the body, it can potentially and quickly turn into a life threatening condition. Not to scare you as this really is a worst case senario, but it is possible... Just a few thoughts from a former dental assistant. Take what resonates in good health, and bless the rest. Dawn , Debra Martin <mycodismodis wrote: > > Hi. Lynn. You not the only one that has this issue. i have a herniated disk in my back. Amoung other problems. i had a major abseesed tooth . Gees you talk about pain. I went to see a dentist. he referred me to a oral dentist, But in the mean time I needed something for pain. I had to get some sleep. i was up night and day. He gave me something they use for arthritis. Needless to say it did absolutly nothiing. I called him back and they made me feel like I was a drug dealer or something. he gave me 6 pills. Wow that lasted a day or so. You would think that I was lying about the pain or something. What the heck are they making the medicine for if they are afraid to give out to patients who need it. I really hate that. Everybodys pain tolerence is different. I waited 4 months with pain before it was so bad I could not take it anymore. Sometimes people really truly need medicine. There should be a law about doctors making people suffer, There is > a difference between people pretending to be in pain. then people actually having excruating pain. I know how you feel. I felt like crawling through the phone line and screaming at these people in the office who don't give a hoot about you anyway, > Lynn Latham <blue_texasgal wrote: > Medusa, > This is so true. For those of us who are in a great amount of pain...and have to depend on pain relievers.....and the herbs. When you need a refill and do not use your regular doctor, like if you are on a trip visiting relatives, the doctors look at you like you are going to go out and sell them. Am I the only one who has had this problem?? > Lynn > > > medusa569 <medusa569 wrote: > The fact that a drug is available at a particular strength among others does > not speak to the fact of its addictive properties. It is not the only drug > available at higher dosages and frankly anyone getting 80 mgs tablets and > then cutting them up are not familiar with the correct usage of the drug > aside from the fact of the huge disparity between its minimal dosage (5mg) > and the 80 mg pills. I have heard also that methadone is just as much a > problem to kick from and perhaps at this point we become embroiled in a > matters of opinions of which > kick is worse. I don't see the point because its like trying to decided > which kind of pain is worse. Pain is pain and it all deserves respect and > adequate care on a patient by patient basis. Withdrawal also deserves the > care and respect to try and ensure the patient suffers as little as > possible. Unfortunately though some practioniers have a different attitude > and will mark any and every addict equivalent with street addicts who seek > out the drugs for the high or escape it offers versus true pain patients. > Some drs seek to punish the addict to " teach them a lesson they won't > forget. " For me the worse enemy in this scenario aside from the FDA is the > " street addicts " which make it a dismal scene for a great many pain > patients. > > medusa > > " Jenny Kernan " <rainysnana > " Oxycontin is now available at such > > a high dosage that most people who would even think > > about taking it at that dose would immediately > > overdose! > > > > I have a friend who is a surgical tech and surgical > > instructor who was telling me about this. 80 mg pill > > would have to be cut into 16 pieces to make this a low > > enough dose for someone who was not addicted or had a > > very high tolerance to it. One 80mg tablet can easily > > cause overdose. > > > > And heroin withdrawl and opiate withdrawl are similar > > in that they are the same chemicals. Methadone is more > > addictive than heroine and is worst to withdrawl from > > in my personal experience watching what the ex and > > other good friends went through when they came back > > from Nam with a bad habit. > > > > Jenny Kernan > > > > --- medusa569 <medusa569 wrote: > > > >> It has the same addictive properties as any other > >> agent including ultram > >> which is being given out with the disclaimer that it > >> is NOT addictive! Sadly > >> the patients are finding out differently. The fact > >> that it is the favorered > >> pilfered drug of the hour does not speak to its > >> potency or level of > >> addictiveness. I suspect that its targeted as it is > >> now the general next > >> step advanced in pain management with its lesser > >> forms and its " on the > >> shelves " although that is now being affected as well > >> along with its > >> prescription availability. It is no stronger than > >> any other opiod. Physical > >> withdrawal from heroin is worse although any > >> withdrawal IMO is to be taken > >> seriously and respectfully.not being flavored with > >> FDA propaganda that is > >> touting the agenda of the day. > >> > >> medusa > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> - > >> " Jenny Kernan " <rainysnana > >> > >> Sunday, February 04, 2007 8:25 PM > >> Re: Re: Oxycodone > >> addiction > >> > >> > >> > Oxycontin is highly addictive and in recent months > >> the > >> > reason for so many pharmacy robberies. Every time > >> I've > >> > heard of a pharmacy being held up it was for this > >> > drug. It's one of the strongest pain prescriptions > >> on > >> > the market and one of the highest demand on the > >> black > >> > market. In my opinion it is every bit as addicting > >> and > >> > difficult to detox from as heroin. Withdrawls from > >> it > >> > can be just as harsh and dangerous as heroin. > >> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > ********************************************* > > Peacefulmind.com Sponsors Alternative Answers- > > > > HEALING NATURALLY- Learn preventative and curative measure to take for > > many ailments at: > > > > http://www.peacefulmind.com/ailments.htm > > __________ > > > > -To INVITE A FRIEND to our healing community, copy and paste this address > > in an email to them: > > > > http://health./subs_invite > > > > _________ > > To ADD A LINK, RESOURCE, OR WEBSITE to Alternative Answers please Go to: > > > > http://health./links > > > > ___________ > > > > Post message: > > Subscribe: - > > Un: - > > List owner: -owner > > _______ > > Shortcut URL to this page: > > http://health. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 In a message dated 2/15/2007 8:31:51 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, houstonqidaocoach writes: B) a root canal is performed, I would really check into this........root canal..............they are not a good thing........do a search on it. beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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