I've got a new problem with neuropathic pain in my teeth?
Question posted by sara12345 on 22 March 2013
Last updated on 23 July 2020 by kath333
Anyone have any other ideas of what to take? I'm currently taking opiate patches which aren't helping at all, and any other pain meds will cause me to have rebound migraines. A muscle relaxant of some kind? I can't believe that this new almost intolerable pain has found me.
It is as bad or worse than my migraines, except when my migraines get so bad that I have to go to the ER. Sharp pains that move around to different teeth. The pain is all the time, but at times is nearly intolerable. Very difficult to sleep. Can't think straight. Now I have to wait for one of my 2 neurologists to fit me in for an appointment which are very difficult to get. The doctor who diagnosed it wouldn't prescribe anything for me because my medical situation is "too complicated" with all my medications and problems. When I pressed him for what medication, he said Neurontin which made me nearly comatose at the lowest possible dose years ago. Maybe I'll be ready to become comatose, but I really couldn't do anything. Even turning my head to look at my husband was outside the realm of possibility. It was truly wierd. How would I eat and I'm very low in weight.
Added 23 March 2013:
Guess what, my neurologist prescribed, Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) which is in a group of drugs called anticonvulsants, or antiepileptic drugs. It works by decreasing nerve impulses that cause seizures. How interesting that the doctor came up with something to treat my nerve pain when I can't take Neurontin or Lyrica as some of you suggested. I can take at least the initial dose of Trileptal that was prescribed taking into account my kidney failure. But he prescribed it to be doubled by next week, so I'll get through to my nephrologist instead of the resident that I had to talk to after hours. I'm still afraid to take it, and am trying to keep off of it as long as possible. Finding out that there are no withdrawals from the new off-label medication that coincided with my teeth pain, I've stopped it cold turkey. Will try it again later after the pain subsides since it gave me significant relief from my migraines. But what will this new medication do to me? I'm still having terrible bone pain and skin pain from a Prolia injection that should have worn off months ago.
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7 Answers
KA
kath333
23 July 2020
I want to thank the person that suggested baking soda... I started using it because I had a tooth that became so lose it almost fell out. After using the baking soda and water to rinse with it was so much better, then I tried just brushing my teeth with the baking soda and within 2 days it seems like it is back to normal. Thank you again!!!
Votes: +1
MO
mommywoman
28 June 2014
Have you thought about botox. They now use it to help in the prevention of migraines. I'm not a dr but I don't think you can have neuropathy in your teeth. However you can have referred pain. Plus sometimes when I get a migraine I find myself gritting my teeth especially if I am able to sleep. That could be the cause of your tooth pain. Kind of like when a toothache causes ear pain or a sinus headache causing teeth to hurt. Would be interesting to see what a dentist has to say. Possibly you have TMJ which can cause horrible headaches and teeth to ache cause you tend to grit your teeth when you sleep. Hope this helps. Chronic pain sucks big time and most people just don't understand. A muscle relaxer may well help.
Votes: +0
SA
sara12345
29 June 2014
Thank you for all of your suggestions! I currently get Botox for my migraines and clenched up toes, both caused by a major stroke. I believe I asked about the Botox at the time. I was tried on a whole bunch of meds, but I was able to tolerate the muscle relaxant, Baclofen, which has helped a lot. No, I sleep with my mouth open, so teeth grinding is not the problem. I constantly wake up with a dry mouth and throat. But my neurologist did have me get a CT scan of my jaw and it showed a very badly abscessed tooth. I had been fully checked out by an MD dentist who did an all around the head x-ray which found nothing. I found out later that it would have taken a specialized x-ray to detect an abscessed tooth, but with so many teeth in pain, I can see why the dentist didn't opt for doing it. The tooth pain is gradually getting better on the side with the abscessed tooth, but I still have a trigeminal neuralgia pain on the other side. Thanks again.
SA
sara12345
17 Aug 2013
Since I'm no longer allowed to add to my initial question, the med that has helped me with most of the pain is Baclofen which I take 10 mg 3 times a day = 30 mg. total
Votes: +0
DR
drugs123123
17 Aug 2013
TMD pain management doc told me prednisone is the best solution for this type of pain. I had it after dental work, lived with it on and off for a month - worst pain I've ever experienced; my chronic migraines funtime in comparison. I tried everything in my med toolbox, then loaded up on Tramadol which helped best of what I had already, and an ice pack glued to my face. The pred was miracle drug. Doc said it was trigeminal nerve pain, but just a branch in my case, not full-blown.
Votes: +0
SA
sara12345
17 Aug 2013
The last thing that I would want to do is to take a steroid (prednisone) which is terrible on the bones and every other organ in the body--especially for an unlimited amount of time. Since I posted this, I have been taking Baclofen-10mg 3x a day=30 mg total. That mostly helps me. I was told that this pain would keep coming, so that I must keep taking the Baclofen. I am waiting to hear from a neurosurgeon about whether surgery can help it. There are other meds that can also be used--Lyrica, Neurontin, Trileptal. The pain pills don't help much for this sort of pain as I'm currently on 15-20 mcg of opiate Butrans patches. Hope that you will consider the other meds. Also during dental work, make sure that the dentist doesn't spray any water on the side with the pain. That sent me through the roof. Instead, my dentist sprayed it on the other side which allowed it to warm up before I swished to the side with pain. Good luck.
DR
drugs123123
17 Aug 2013
I have good results with pred. Many drugs can effect bone density, there is no reason to be particularly afraid of pred. Longterm treatment can be a problem, but short (7days or less at a time) rounds can be very effective to gain some control, with no loss of bone density. I know it can be difficult when you are in chronic pain to not fall into a pattern of extreme fear & anxiety about certain medication usage, but if you are careful and well-informed, you should be ok. Everything is a trade-off, and managing anxiety is one more issue when one is in severe pain - there are very good meds for this available. Bone density will also decline from lack of exercise, a likely side-effect of not managing your pain.
SA
sara12345
18 Aug 2013
Glad that you were able to keep it to such a short period of time.
So so sorry to hear of such intolerable pain u are experiencing!! I had many patients with varied health problems on Neurontin that tolerate it well. Although I am most familiar with derm problems such as neuropathy for shingles. How about lyrica?
Votes: +1
SA
sara12345
22 March 2013
Sorry, I became comatose on Neurontin and could not tolerate the Lyrica either for other reasons. But thanks for your response.
ME
meyati
22 March 2013
The only thing I can think of is what they use for mouth sores from radiation, and radiation burns in the mouth. Put a teaspoon of baking soda in 8 oz of water. I put mine in a water bottle. Just rinse your mouth out about 6 times a day-swish and spit. It calms my teeth down. I'm keeping my teeth, but sometimes they had funny nerve feelings-and the soda rinse helped. It can't hurt, it takes about a week to work-it soothes the gums. It's sort of relaxing to the mouth.
Votes: +1
SA
sara12345
22 March 2013
Meyati, Thanks so much for the tip! I will go right out and buy the baking soda today. Today, my neurologist did prescribe Trileptal for the problem, but I don't know if I can take it yet, since I read that it should not be taken with kidney disease which I have. So I have a call into my nephrologist to check on it. I have so many problems, it's a real challenge--LOL.
ME
meyati
23 March 2013
I like gabapentin, at least the way it used to be. They probably added Tylenol to it and ruined another decent med. I'd definately think that you're right to check with your kidney doctor on this. The gabapentin might not work anyway, and then to add to your pain with worse kidney problems just isn't cool. Comatose is OK if your 6 minutes from dying or maybe not--- Does ice bother your mouth? I use ice packs on my legs for neuropathy. I'm wondering if popsicles and icy drinks might help you- It took a few weeks, before I felt better but it worked. I can't imagine what you have to go through. I'm wracking my brain for none medical things that won't make you worse
SA
sara12345
23 March 2013
I spent all afternoon since 1;00 p.m. trying to get the answer from my kidney doctor who never responded. Then I called the emergency after hours resident who had to call me back after not understanding my question for the longest time. Finally found out that the Trileptal would be okay at the initial dose, but didn't know about the increased amount prescribed after a week. Then I called the main pharmacy only to find out that my primary doctor's office had still not sent in a refill to treat my involuntary body jerking at night after calling a third time in 9 days for it. ARRGGG. Then I called to find out if my highly regulated Butrans patches had arrived at the other pharmacy as I had ordered them. No they hadn't requested both dose amounts in. So then I managed to find another pharmacy who had both dose amounts in stock. Couldn't anyone do their job today so that I could get my meds without soooo much work?
ME
meyati
23 March 2013
I hear you. I swear -I hate the Presbyterian pharmacy board-changing a cheap med to something that started a thyroid storm, being behind for weeks in approving a refill-and I requested it while I still had a 3 week supply-I was almost getting hospitalized sick from cutting my dosage down to one pill every other day-lying.
Have you ever tried lyrica? I don't think a muscle relaxer would do much for nerve pain. Can you take things like ibuprofen? That might help.
Votes: +1
SA
sara12345
22 March 2013
I couldn't stand the side effects from Lyrica and couldn't get the dose up. And I can't take any anti-inflammation medications due to Stage 3 Kidney failure. Now I'm further depressed by your response, but thanks so much for responding. I do appreciate it.
