Hi

I'm in the middle of a nasty flare-up. For the first time I have a lot of gum and tooth pain where I had dental work done last year.

Does anyone have ideas on how to relieve it? I'm a recovering alcoholic (21 years sober) so pain meds are out of the question for me. Addiction potentail is especially high for me.


Thanks Pam

Hi Pam, Welcome to this wonderful group of RSD friends. We are all in the same boat, so I have found a lot of compassion and education. Dental work scares me to death, the last time I went for the first time I had the gas mask. I don't know if that's on the list of things not to use. My best friend is a counselor for a A&D facility. Her husband is a recovering alcoholic and also in the medical field. My friend is pro compounding pharmacy.
I know my last visit to Dr. we discussed a compounding cream for my burning. Could you talk to your RSD Dr. about putting together a compounding paste for your gums-maybe a compounding pharmacist talk to first and then talk to your Dr. I am on several meds including vicodin. There are several meds that help with nerve pain, and I don't think they are on the list you wouldn't want to take. Antii-depressants help with nerve pain. I'm on antii-seizure drug, lyrica and I believe that helps with nerve pain as well. I used to have lots of nerve jolts, electric jolts , spasms. myoclonic jerks.
I've read on this forum or maybe another forum, dental work can start the beginning of RSD in the mouth. My dentist read up on RSD. I do take antibiocs before and after dental procedures. I think there is some other information on dental procedures on rsd.rx.com puzzles There was a Dr. in Florida that put up the web site- it's possible he is retired now. I'm no sure.
21 years WOW good for you. It must be difficult dealing with the pain. I've had it for 12 years full body now the last few years. How did you get RSD? and where? Mine began the day after surgery in left arm, then frozen shoulder and therapy for at least a year. Then moved over to the other shoulder and more therapy & so on.
I'll talk to my girlfriend, we talk on phone a lot and they are coming to visit in May. If she, hubby, or her pharmacist have any ideas, you could ask your Dr. about them. Her husband has done so much research on RSD.
Wish you the best and I'll let you know on this post what I find out. Loretta

Hi Pam! I sincerely hope you find some relief from your pain. Congratulations on the 21 years of sobriety....that is quite an accomplishment!

I just wanted to welcome you to NeuroTalk!! Happy to have you here!

Hello and Welcome to Neurotalk Pam!! I hope you find the answers to some of the questions you have here ... we have a great bunch of members who I am sure will be happy to help you in anyway they can!!

I'm sorry to hear that you suffer from RSD and that you are in so much pain at the moment . I have RSD in my left leg and right arm, I developed it when I was 12 years old - I am now 13, if I can help you, please just let me know, I know how scary it can be dealing with this horrible illness.

I also have some dental pain from time to time, especially when I am in a bad flare or when the weather is cold. I have just had an appointment at my Dentist and I have to have a Root Canal in 3 weeks time, which I am not looking forward to!! My Dentist said one of my nerves is exposed into the air and is dying so that could be why I am in so much pain. He has given me something to try and kill the nerve and I have to go back for the Root Canal and for quite a big filling. He did say that he would have extracted my tooth but he wants to try and save it if he can. I also have pain in my teeth where they are not chipped which is pretty strange, my PM Doctor said that it could either be from the medications or the RSD. I would suggest that if you haven't been already you go and see your Dentist to see if he/she can find any problems with your teeth or gums. I would also speak to your PM Doctor to see if he can suggest anything that may lower your pain.

I'm sorry that I can't help you all that much ... if you need anything I am here for you.

Take care and again, Welcome to Neurotalk!!

Alison

Thanks for your welcom. Alli you are just amazing. I hope if any of us go into a true remission it will be you! I got this monster at 52. I want you to have your youth pain free. Dr Hooshmand used to say that RSD went away for some people during puberty. I sure want you to be one of them.

I don't have a pain management Dr anymore. I can't take addictive medications.

Does anyone have any suggestions for tooth and gum pain caused by RSD?

Pam

hi pam and welcome!

i don't post often, but your screen name caught my eye (for obvious reasons).....were u a sports coach?.....the 'v' on my name is for volleyball - i coached a junior hi team.

congrats on the long sobriety.....i grew up with an alcoholic mother, so i'm always delighted to see someone fighting back against the beast.

re: your teeth......is the area inflamed?....can u take anti-inflammatories?....have u tried basic dental first aid, like a peroxide rinse or a salt water rinse?....a warm compress on your face?....have u seen your doctor and/or dentist to be sure that there isn't an unrelated problem?

i'm BIG on being certain there's no unrelated problem....i have twice blamed rsd for what turned out to be something else - one minor, one could have become very serious.

if there's any chance your rsd is spreading, would u consider taking anti-oxidants?.....some of us here take vitamin c or grape seed extract and think this might limit or slow symptom spread.

let us know how you're doing.....good luck with this.

liz

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm in Arizona now but when I return to Colorado I'm going to the dentist and get some xrays.

I was a personal trainer before the monster RSD and failed back surgery. Now I'm doing some life coaching and lifestyle fitness coaching. My pain is very limiting for me.

Are you able to be active? I can barely walk somedays. I miss my active lifestyle so much but acceptance is my only real hope.

As Byron Katie says "To argue with reality is insanity." I've done a lot of that in the past 8 years.

Sorry you had to grow up in alcoholism. I did too. Never thought I'd be one!


Thanks again, Pam

pam,

you're welcome.....i just hope it turns out to be something easily treated.

i'm still fairly active.....my big outings tend to be to the pool....we have a physical therapy/fitness place near us with a heated pool and i go 2 or 3 times a week (okay, usually 2)......i read ages ago that rsd patients should NEVER be in water below 85 degrees and it's true for me, but this pool is usually about 88 and it does me lots of good.

my biggest problem is that i have no tolerance for vibrations, which REALLY limits travel of any sort.....it just isn't worth the pain......i rarely get more than 10 miles from home.....i function reasonably well within my own world, but my world has shrunk considerably.......i use a cane sometimes when my balance is bad or my proprioception is poor, but on the whole i manage okay if i respect my limits.....like all of us, sometimes i just push till i wipe out.

and that reminds me of my favorite definition of insanity.....according to einstein, insanity is "repeating the same procedures and expecting different results"......so i guess that, now and then, i'm just plain nuts!

keep us posted on how u r doing.