Wisdom extractions and muscular issues?
 

I had all four wisdom teeth extracted 7/11/13, so 11 days ago. All were impacted, bottom two were full bony impactions. I'm 37 yrs old but they did not erupt until the last couple years. By erupt I mean just a little broken through the skin.

They didnt really say much after the surgery and frankly I was out of it. I was prescribed amoxicillin, Norco, and methylprednisolone. I went back to work on day 4 but it seemed too soon as I was struggling with lower jaw pain. On day 6 I went back to the surgeon's office (saw an asst) because I was worried about dry socket... The pain was getting worse by the day, not better. The assistant assured me I'd be in much worse pain if it were dry socket and said she could see the blood clot so she believed it to be "muscular."

I had been using a lot of ice because it was necessary to sleep, even with the Norco. She said to use moist heat for muscular and that the ice was probably increasing the pain.

It's slightly better now but I'm left wondering what "muscular" means in this regard exactly? Anyone know or have similar experience?

Hi Nightlady,

I am in the dental profession and can offer you some help here.

If an oral surgeon prescribes ice packs.... they should only be used the first 24 hours after the extractions. If used after that they can disturb the blood flow which could result in swelling and pain. Many oral surgeons no longer even prescribe ice for post operative care.

It is common for a patient to experience muscular pain in the jaw after wisdom teeth extractions because the jaw has to be clamped open very wide to allow access to these teeth. So the muscles, tendons and ligaments are stretched pretty far in some cases. The best things to do are.... warm moist compresses on the outside of the affected area especially first thing in the morning and last thing at night.... stay on a soft food diet for several days to avoid over use of the chewing muscles and to give the stretched areas a chance to calm down ...... and avoid opening the mouth real wide as in yawning or biting into a sand which (not on the soft diet anyway).

Hope this information is helpful to you.
Bryanna