About eight months ago I presented to the dentist with classic root infection pain - cold and pressure sensitivity, in tooth 18 (all wisdom teeth pulled approx two years ago). He decided to keep an eye on it. The tooth cracked and again there was crazy sensitivity. He couldn't see any sign on infection on x-ray so he crowned it. No problems with temporary crown but since he seated the permanent crown I have had pain. It's different from the original pain. It's more like a shooting pain and lots of irritation type pain - I have heard it described as spidery, which fits quite well.

All original sensitivity pains were no longer present so the dentist was still at a loss. Assuming it was probably infection he prescribed amoxycillin and told me that if that cleared the pain then obviously it is an infection and requires a root canal. The antibiotics did nothing - spoke with my doctor who prescribed augmentin. Still no relief. I also started visiting chiropractor because the pain was also causing a similar sensation at the back of my head when my skull meets my neck. It kind of feels as though someone has iced the area.

Dentist wanted to do root canal anyway since he couldn't figure out what else to do. I found a new dentist. New dentist found no evidence of infection so referred me to an endodentist. Endodentist also found no evidence of infection and suggested neuralgia. He gave me six days of steroids and ten days of muscle relaxants. For the most part this helped with the pain but less than 24 hours after finishing the last steroid, the spidery feeling is back (the shooting too, but not so bad) and it is worse than ever. It's in my jaw, cheek shoulder, ear, down my neck (all left side). I am going back to the endo tomorrow and he is going to look again.

Given this started within days of a root canal, I am still suspicious that this is so with to do with the tooth rather than just being neuralgia pain. Even though the pain doesn't seem to originate from tooth 18, but rather the jaw directly next to it, I am hopeful that really this is something to do with tooth 18, so I can pull it out and get on with my life. I'm so scared hat it is neuralgia because it is absolutely constant. The only relief I get is (strangely) when I am eating.

I have also contacted my PCP to see if I can get an MRI done of the area,to see if that can shed some light on what is happening although I'm sure I will be referred to a neurologist first.

Any thoughts.
Anyone experienced something similar?
TIA

I experienced something a little similar.
Did you have a root canal after the pain started?
Root canals are somewhat controversial.
I ended up pulling my tooth and it did NOT help me. I had no pain originally, but was to have a crown put on, many weird things happened and ended up with bad pain. No one actually saw an infection, yet I was given massive dosages of antibiotics and a root canal and then my tooth was pulled. The pain worsened and worsened. I spent thousands and thousands of dollars.
In my case, it was neurological damage very likely caused by the first dentist attempting to put on the crown.
I am surprised a dentist actual used the word "neuralgia" in your presence. Are you in the US?
A Tricyclic medication like Elavil might help.
You might need to get a few opinions before narrowing in on what the the problem or problems are. And neuralgia should be considered.
Unfortunately, you likely need an MRI, but it doesn't always show neurological damage. I have atypical neuralgia and it didn't show up on my MRI. But my pain in the dentist chair was severe , sharp and almost electrical. Afterwards, it is more severe and boring...like a severe pressure...very hard to describe. It is in my jaw, face and ear primarily. Consider seeing other dentists for opinions and a neurologist.
What a very difficult experience. I hope you get some answers soon!

Hi Popple,

I am in the dental field. Any chance you could post the pre and post op x-rays of tooth #18?

I am leaning the same way that you are.... the problem originated in this tooth and it is not a neuralgia but an infected, fractured tooth.

Please post the x-rays if you can. Thanks.

Hi Vowel Lady,

I know you've had a difficult time with your dental experience and lingering pain issues. Would you explain your opinion on what you feel the controversy is about root canals? Thanks.

Thank you both for your replies.

You sound EXACTLY like me with what you went through and your pain etc. I haven't had an MRI but have requested one. I don't really want a root canal done, especially since I have yet to see any real evidence that I need one.

You said many weird things happened? What kind of weird things?

I am in America, so maybe that is why the endo was comfortable throwi around words like neuralgia.

I have not had any of the normal infection signs since getting the crown, but prior to the crown I had sensitivity to cold and pressure for abut 7 months. Now I can eat pretty much anything without a problem.

This morning I woke up and I can't move my neck, the back of my head feels like it is on fire and my ear canal feels like it is bleeding, although there is no sign of any blood - not going to go poking around in there to find out though. I think some of this is due to the fact I possibly clench my teeth, although I do now wear a mouth guard at night.

I hope they can figure this out - I have two young children and can't live like this.

Bryanna, I'm not sure I really think it is an infection. It may be that the original crack went further than they thought and it is not being picked up by X-ray. I do not have a copy of the X-rays to give you. I will talk to all the dentists I have consulted to see if I can get a hold of them.

Seriously, this morning I am in so much pain I almost went to the ER but instead I am going to go to my endo appt at 1 and see what they suggest this time.

Oh yeah, I have not had a root canal in that tooth. Plus something else I should mention even though it is likely completely irrelevant. Around about the time I had the root canal I fund an enlarged lymph node in my neck. My doctor said this was likely because of the tooth infection. Of course, there was no evidence of a tooth infection at all, but this swollen node seemed to make everyone confident that my tooth was infected. I think they are likely unrelated since antibiotics did nothing for either the tooth infection or the node.

Vowel Lady - how did you finally figure out it was atypical neuralgia?

Bryanna...I have read your posts on root canals. I see merit. It seems to me that it is possible that they entrap infections. I accept that there could be an issue ...hence "controversial." And in some cases, maybe they are not a good idea. I've also read Dr. mercola's opinion's on the topic. I spoke to a well known and respected oral surgeon in my area who performs implant "surgery" ???? And he felt that they (root canals) might be appropriate in some cases (did not elaborate), but probably the better route in many, if not most cases, would be implants. (But when a graph was done on me, my pain and health worsened). So, for now, that (for the most part) makes sense to me. I think they might be ok for some instances. I do know people who are up in age, who have had many root canals without any issues. At the moment, and likely indefinitely, I would double or triple check any procedure a dentist suggested to me and listen to my instincts as well.

Popple....my entire story is lengthy and insane. There is a good book that talks about these things called "Striking Back."

I originally had no pain at all, and wanted a crown....long story.
The dentist had great great trouble putting on the crown, many re-do's and oddness, etc.... and I ended up with very bad pain.
I went from dentist to dentist trying to get the crazy pain to STOP! The last dentist said I had an infection (wrong). He pulled my tooth. Then he did a graph. I had more problems after the graph. Then I had an oral surgeon, who was also an MD, remove the graph. After that, I got sicker. I didn't think it was possible. My blood pressure was through the roof. I had to QUADRUPLE my blood pressure medication, PLUS add a second medication, just to get it to be decent. A biopsy was done and I took something like 12-15 (can't recall, but it was nuts) vials of blood to test for infection. No infection was ever found.

To my SHOCK, the oral surgeon/MD apologized for the dental profession and strongly hinted I had neurological damage likely caused by my original dentist. He said I needed to see a neuro.

BTW, in my case, and in many cases I hear about, dentists are reluctant to mention neurological damage. I wish someone had said this to me earlier. It cost me dearly to continue getting unnecessary procedures. I hope you don't have neuro damage, or that if there is an issue here, it is mild. You are fortunate that someone said something.

Anyway, my first neuro dx'd me with ATN. My neighbor, who is a neuro, said to go to this other guy who was more experienced, so I switched. He also dx'd me with ATN.
I also went to a pain management guy to see what he could do for me. He dx'd me with ATN. I went to a very well known oral surgeon (different one) who dx'd me with ATN. All felt it was caused by dental work, likely the original dentist office attempting to put on the crown.

I take Desipramine daily. I use a compounded cream on my face with Gabapentin, Lidocaine and Capsaicin 4 times a day...sometimes five. Exercising is very hard. Traveling is very hard. Vibrations, wind and cool air cause flairs. Flairs are very horrible. I have strong medication to take for emergencies.

This is why I think it is important to make sure your dentist is well qualified and to get second opinions and to trust your instincts.

Hi Popple,

I am going to re-post some of your post and answer in bold type to try and keep this easier to follow.

<<I have not had any of the normal infection signs since getting the crown, but prior to the crown I had sensitivity to cold and pressure for abut 7 months. Now I can eat pretty much anything without a problem.>>

NORMAL INFECTION SIGNS CAN BE ABSENT WITH AN INFECTED TOOTH AND XRAYS GENERALLY ONLY SHOW IF THE INFECTION IS LARGE ENOUGH TO BE PICKED UP BY THE RADIATION. COLD SENSITIVITY AND DISCOMFORT TO PRESSURE ARE ALSO INDICATORS OF DECAY AND/OR FRACTURE. THESE ARE ALSO SYMPTOMS OF A CLENCHING OR GRINDING HABIT AS THE FORCEFUL MOTIONS OF THE TEETH GNAWING TOGETHER CAUSE INFLAMMATION TO OCCUR IN THE NERVES OF THE TEETH, THE LIGAMENTS HOLDING THE TEETH IN THE BONE AND THE LIGAMENTS, NERVES AND MUSCLES IN THE FACE/NECK/HEAD/SHOULDERS, ETC. PEOPLE WHO CLENCH/GRIND THERE TEETH ARE ALSO MORE PRONE TO FRACTURING THEIR TEETH

<<This morning I woke up and I can't move my neck, the back of my head feels like it is on fire and my ear canal feels like it is bleeding, although there is no sign of any blood - not going to go poking around in there to find out though. I think some of this is due to the fact I possibly clench my teeth, although I do now wear a mouth guard at night. >>

NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE YOUR NECK IS NOT INDICATIVE OF NEURALGIA. THE OTHER SYMPTOMS YOU DESCRIBE COULD BE RELATED TO YOUR CLENCHING HABIT AS I STATED ABOVE. IS YOUR NIGHT-GUARD PROFESSIONALLY MADE BY A DENTAL LAB OR IS IT ONE YOU BOUGHT AT THE DRUG OR SPORTS STORE?

<<Bryanna, I'm not sure I really think it is an infection. It may be that the original crack went further than they thought and it is not being picked up by X-ray. I do not have a copy of the X-rays to give you. I will talk to all the dentists I have consulted to see if I can get a hold of them.>>

CRACKED OR FRACTURED TEETH ARE NOT ALWAYS PICKED UP CLINICALLY OR RADIO-GRAPHICALLY. HOWEVER DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION AND SEVERITY OF THE FRACTURE, IT IS COMMON FOR A PATIENT TO COMPLAIN OF VARIOUS WIDESPREAD PAIN AS EACH TOOTH INTRICATELY CORRELATES WITH ASCENDING NERVES, LIGAMENTS, MUSCLES, ETC.

IF THE DENTIST TAKES DIGITAL XRAYS, HE CAN EMAIL THEM TO YOU AND YOU CAN POST THEM HERE. IT IS TYPICAL NOWADAYS FOR PATIENTS TO ASK TO HAVE THEIR XRAYS EMAILED TO THEM.