Oral surgery today
 

Hello Everyone,

Writing Condor just now wore me out. I had to have a tooth extracted today. I am pretty wiped and my head is killing me. Healing thoughts are much appreciated.

The tooth failed for mechanical reasons that had nothing to do with CRPS so that's good. Losing a tooth is just sad though and I'll have to consider the daunting option of an implant since it was a primary molar.

The oral surgeon was wonderful and due to my history gave me light sedation with a dab of ketamine thrown in on top of the regional and local block. He was not reluctant at all to help on that front. Very grateful for the excellent care.

Thanks
Gentle hugs to all, :hug:

So glad your surgeon took the extra precautions for you. You have been through so much, and have come so far in these past 2 years, I would hate to see you have to take a huge step backward if it was not necessary.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers over the next few days. Try to take it easy, rest up, heal up, and hopefully everything will turn out to be just fine.

Many healing hugs:hug::hug::hug:

It's great that your dentist took such precautions.

Maybe I was a fool, but I took a list of all the medications I was taking to my dentist a number of years ago, who took one look at it and decided not to provide any numbing for a root canal (of a molar). None whatsoever! And I have a fear of going to the dentist! He had to rebuild the tooth as well because sides of it had broken off. So... yeah... I pulled every cable out that was on my chest and couldn't keep my mouth open (another thing, they don't use these things that keep your mouth open here).

Littlepaw, the good thing is implant dentistry has come a long way, to the point that the implant posts are not quite as large/thick as they used to be. I lost one of my last molars a decade ago, but opted on my dentist's advice not to have an implant. Fortunately, this hasn't been a problem, but should I lose another tooth I think an implant would be the smart thing to do, because of the improved technology.

I am glad you had a good experience with the surgeon, but I am so sorry about the loss of the tooth-I was devastated when I lost mine.

Thanks everyone,

After posting I conked out in my la-z-boy the rest of the afternoon with my kitty. She is, as always, a devoted carer who's more than happy to make sure I have company while napping.

Alaina - thanks, I am glad I had a frank discussion with the oral surgeon about my surgical history, nerve injury and the need to minimize pain signaling. He was interested, respectful and supportive. That made me feel better about having the procedure. It helps that he is both a DDS dentist AND an MD.

Marleen, that sounds awful on your tooth. I can't imagine. I am deciding that I am going to get very comfortable with asking for good anesthesia or blocks. ;)

Bio, thanks for that info. I would like to replace the tooth and am hoping that works out. I have never had any sort of metal placed in my body. I think that's what makes me nervous about it since I tend to be hyper-reactive, but I am told titanium is pretty neutral.

So the teachable moment came with the assistant before the surgeon came in. I was asked if I was getting anesthesia for my single tooth extraction (insurance only covers it for multiple teeth) because I was "just so anxious" about the extraction. When I said no, because I had chronic pain he said "well everybody's pain tolerance is different". Both statements felt snarky to me and I had to make an effort to remind myself not to feel slighted and that he just really didn't understand pain conditions. I told him I'd had a devastating nerve injury and repair and multiple operations, that my pain tolerance was insanely high, but we needed to prevent further changes to my system by minimizing pain input. The whole scenario reminded me of the kinds of prejudice out there against pain conditions and the need for education about how acute pain can contribute to chronic pain. My doctor got it and I'm grateful for that. Hopefully, the medical field in general will catch up on this in time!

Next time I will not be so foolish, lemme tell ya! My own damn fault, but well, it's kinda normal that you let them know what you're taking, right, for interactions. I guess he decided, I had enough "pain control". Yeah, right, even those meds didn't stop that pain!

Yeah, it's not always great, is it? Even difficult, these types of "discussions". If they make up their mind, they make up their mind. And then there you are. :(

Yesterday I had a similar conversation with a dermatologist who was excising a facial cyst. She was dismissive until I told her I had been bedridden and in so much pain I did not have the wherewithal to wash my face, brush my teeth or comb my hair. I think a graphic image is needed to accompany the clinical diagnosis. I may share my photos the next time I have to explain CRPS to medical personnel.

So sorry to hear about the loss of your tooth! My thoughts and prayers are with you for a quick recovery. I am really glad that you have a doctor who understands. I was impressed that he even used some ketamine.

I think you really did a good job explaining things to the doctor's assistant. I hope he got it. In the 8 years I have been dealing with CRPS, I have seen improvement in the knowledge that the medical community has about it. Unfortunately we still have a way to go. I truly believe in self-advocacy. Thank you for your efforts to educate the newly diagnosed and medical staff.

Take care and heal well.

Shay:hug: