Thank you all for your helpful replies. I called two other OS offices this morning and neither would see me as I have an active issue and they "don't want the liability." I guess I could understand that, but not really sure how someone is supposed to go about getting a second opinion then. I called my original OS office even though he is out of town on vacation and they are going to set me up with an appt. to see the OS who is covering for him, so at least it will be a second set of eyes checking everything out. It's not that I don't trust my surgeon, I think he's super capable, I just feel like something else is going on and I'm not really getting enough explanation from him.

I woke up at 2:30am in pain again, but this time I had the ibuprofen by the bedside and was able to get back to asleep within an hour or so. It's so crazy to me that I slept fine right after surgery and the following two weeks, but all of a sudden in my third week of healing I'm waking up in the middle of the night. Maybe it's just the nerve healing and I'm feeling things more now? I don't know, I don't notice any change in the numb area. It's harder to open my mouth today, my jaw just seems to be very limited.

To answer the questions asked:

-The stitches were removed last Thursday by the OS
-The area had been stitched closed so I don't know if a blood clot ever formed, but there's definitely not one there now, the socket is just an empty gap.
-I've been rinsing with salt water 4-6 times a day, not sure if that is too much
-I only did a tea bag one time (yesterday) which seemed to help a little bit but not enough for me to try it again.
-I don't smoke or drink alcohol or soda so no potential culprits there.
-The OS didn't tell me anything really about the infection (i.e. what is actually infected). There is a hard lump on my jawbone that hurts so bad I can't even really touch it. There's also a lump in the same area on the inside of the cheek, it's probably the same one. Maybe the jaw bone is infected?

What I don't understand is if I have an infection and the socket is open, wouldn't that mean the bone graft failed?

Just got back from the on-call surgeon's. Long story short, it sounds like my bone graft isn't there anymore? He rinsed out the socket and all this stuff was coming out and I asked if that was the bone graft and he said that it was actually food (!!!) and when I had it cleaned out at the other OS on Thursday most of the bone graft was probably removed then. Would've been nice if my original OS explained that to me since I paid $600 for something to get washed right out of my mouth. Anyway, apparently there's something in the socket that was catching food particles and he got it all cleaned out. None of that really hurt though, and I told him how the pain was actually coming from the lump in my cheek near my jawbone. He took what I'm guessing was a syringe and needle to it to open it up and oh my God, the pain was so bad. I was instantly crying. Cried for a good 15 min. after I left the office. He said that it was "soupy" and that it was blood and "milky" stuff. He put me on another round of steroids and extended the Clindamycin until my original OS gets back from vacation. I'm in so much pain right now, I really hope this gets better soon, this is absolutely miserable. I still don't know what this damn thing is in my cheek! I asked the assistant if it was an abscess and she repeated what the surgeon had said. I'm to call their office if there's no relief in the next day or two, otherwise he said to go to my original OS as soon as he's back in the office.

Oh and I should add he didn't drain whatever this thing is because he said he didn't want to use local anesthetic or put me under, so I still have the lump. Does this mean I'm going to have to get it drained at some point?

The lump you mention could be any number of things. It needs to be evaluated and properly diagnosed and treated.

Bryanna

Sorry, one more thing! The OS I saw today just called to see how I was doing and mentioned if the antibiotics don't work, I may need to have a conversation with my current OS about debridement. What all would this entail? I mean, I understand it's wound care, but that's about all I know.

You really need to find a lawyer who will guide you to an oral surgeon in another town. Jeez has the original OS bothered to call at all?

Hi Cleo! No, I haven't heard from my original OS since Sunday when we corresponded via email and he told me to give it another couple of days. I think he may be out of town. One positive is I am feeling a lot less pain, not sure if it has to do with the addition of the steroid (I don't think it would work that fast, but I don't really know), or cleaning out the wound (I'm still washing pieces of bone graft out - pretty gross), or from the attempt at draining it earlier today, but whatever it is, I'll take it. Hopefully the numbness will go away soon, too. I haven't had any more nerve pain since early yesterday morning, not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

I'm supposed to follow up with my original OS on Monday and I want to try to get some answers, and if this persists any further, I'm definitely going elsewhere. I actually think if it starts to bother me again, I may just go to the ER, see if they will do some cultures and blood tests, and then refer me to another OS. Hopefully it won't come to that, though.

Hi kmd,

In your original post you stated:

<< Immediately after surgery and ever since, I have had numbness of my lip/ chin area (including the teeth and gums in that area). I've had pain varying from constant, dull throbbing to excruciating, stabbing pain that usually lasts around 10 min (I think these are "zingers"). I have not been able to chew or open my mouth fully since surgery.>>

In your recent post, aside from the numbness, you mention that things were pretty much okay until the 3rd week of healing.

Either way, there is an abnormality going on and it needs to be evaluated asap. I am not so sure that the covering OS for the OS who performed your surgery is going to be all that informative with you as he might not want to step on his colleagues toes. But it's worth a try. I personally would suggest that you see an OS in a different town, one who has no affiliation with the OS that did the extraction. When you call for the appointment do not give a lot of detailed information. Just say you are seeking a consultation with the OS about a swelling in your lower jaw. If she asks if the tooth is still present, tell her no. Avoid sharing all that has happened with the receptionist as much as possible. It is imperative that you obtain your pre op xrays of that area and the surgical report of the actual procedure and type of graft material that was used and take all of that to whomever you see.

Only rinse 3 times a day with warm salt water. There is no need to do it more than that. Do not eat on that side of your mouth, avoid spicy and very hot foods, avoid chewy foods and anything with seeds in it.

It sounds to me like you may have a dry socket and possible infection. If that is the case, then the bone graft may need to be removed. You could also have some nerve trauma there but the possibility of a dry socket and infection needs to be rules out first. Otherwise you are going to be misdiagnosed and mistreated for something you do not have.

No more tea bags on the site. They are only good immediately after the extraction when the wound bleeds excessively. Otherwise the tannin in the tea will dry out the socket.

I hope you get in to see someone soon. Please keep us posted.
Bryanna