Childhood Fear Run Amuck! (fear of needles)

[Guest]

Hello,

I've been visiting this site for a couple of hours now, and found the message board attached to it. First off, thanks for being in existence. You folks provide some very good information, which gives power over the demons for those who hate the various procedures.

Second, my reason for writng will be of no surprise. I am presently a 34 year old guy, living in the United States - Portland, OR to be exact. (I noticed that many posts come from outside the U.S. Is this a coincidence)? Anyway, back when I was around five years of age, I had to have a tooth pulled that was growing in crooked. The dentist at the time had poor bed side manner, and was really impatient. I have learned years later it was a military related medical/dental benefit, but a civilian doctor at any rate. My father was U.S. Air Force. Anyway, after arriving and getting settled in, it came time for the procedure. The dentist told me that he had to numb my tooth so that it would not hurt to take the tooth out. Ok, fine. To sum it up if you wish to skip forward, it was to be my first and last piece of good news. When he was preparing to stick the needle in, I got real scared. He told me to tell him when I felt the pain. He had gel-numbed my gum and I, thinking that would help felt really good right about then. I very quickly discovered how wrong I was about to be.

He injected the needle - immediate pain...followed by very loud screams from this five year old, followed by "his" thrashing, followed by "him" being held down by two people (neither of whom I knew); followed by the dentist at some point which felt like forever casually asking me if it HURT???!!! When I said yes, he kept going! My father, who had brought me there and was present while this took place...had been informed that the procedure had to be done, and by all accounts was feeling (or at least looking) powerless - as evidenced by his inaction of the then-present situation. When the injection was done, I was so terrified of what was next that death was more welcome than anything else. I don't remember there being much pain of pulling the tooth out - though I'm sure the pressure was not pleasant to me at 5yrs old. I remember feeling violated and tortured...and since then suffer PTSD at the mere thought of tooth extraction or anything involving "the shot".

Today, the most I've done for myself dentistry-wise (aside from brushing) in the nearly 20 years since that incident, is get a professional cleaning and dental X-rays. I've never been afraid of that. You could clean my teeth all day and I would not care. I've discovered that in this span of time, my molars should be pulled (specifically for example #17...for you Dentists out there, as it is impacted against the neighboring tooth and yet partially erupted...it also has decay), I need several fillings put it, and I'm considering looking into braces later. I can't begin to tell you just how excited and warm and fuzzy all this makes me feel...not!

I very recently went to a dentist (oral surgeon) to go through the procedure of having that tooth pulled I mentioned above. Filled out the paperwork, sat in the chair, did further intake questions, met the dentist (who suggested I get the upper wisdom tooth of the same side done at the same time), and at the moment of truth (making a decision to actually do it)...I wimped out! My inner five year old still remembers....

I feel emotionally paralyzed...and I don't know if there is anyone out there that can help me. I am so scared of the shot in the mouth, and any other pain related to the procedure, that I almost would rather live with the present conditions of discomfort - but that is insane, right? I mean, if it meant having less discomfort in the long haul, why not just go through the procedure? I've read of folks who don't mind the pain of the tooth as is, more than they desire the shot in the mouth to get that tooth out. Its crazy, but I'm in that club. In the 20 years since my trauma, dentistry still looks like its stuck in the stone ages.

I would prefer a response from a dentist (does not have to be one of the moderators), but I would also like to hear from those who have survived similar circumstances, and what they did that they found helpful. I've thought about the use of sedatives in connection with gas, or hypnosis (something that was not given to me when I was five...I swear it felt like it was more of a hobby with that guy - "Dentistry in a Box").

Anyway, thanks for reading this and I look forward to reading your responses.

- Shawn
Portland, OR - USA

 

[Guest]

Hi Shawn, thanks for posting here - and thanks for your kind words re. the site, everyone who has contributed to it appreciates the feedback ! I'm not a dentist, but I hope you don't mind if I add some comments off the top of my head. If you've read other posts on this forum, you'll probably realize that injections don't need to be painful. But you do get some dentists who are absolutely no use at painless injections. There has been quite a bit of discussion on the topic recently on this board, and I tried to collect some of the main points here:

Painful Injections and Needle Phobia

Are you terrified of dental injections? Find out why shots may be painful, how to make them comfortable, and what to do if you have needle phobia.

www.dentalfearcentral.org

You may have come across this already, but just in case.

He injected the needle - immediate pain...followed by very loud screams from this five year old, followed by "his" thrashing, followed by "him" being held down by two people (neither of whom I knew); followed by the dentist at some point which felt like forever casually asking me if it HURT???!!! When I said yes, he kept going! My father, who had brought me there and was present while this took place...had been informed that the procedure had to be done, and by all accounts was feeling (or at least looking) powerless - as evidenced by his inaction of the then-present situation.
...
I remember feeling violated and tortured...and since then suffer PTSD at the mere thought of tooth extraction or anything involving "the shot".

It's very common for people to describe scenarios such as this one when describing what prompted their phobia. Often, it's not pain on its own (there is much less of a psychological impact if pain is inflicted by a dentist who is perceived as caring), but pain coupled with cold and controlling behaviour. In your own case, this effect might have been heightened by the fact that even your father (an adult you looked up to!) was powerless and frightened by what was going on.

It's easy to say "well, if you're uncomfortable, just tell your dentist to stop". Back then, you DID ask them to stop, and they carried on regardless. Even if, on a rational level, you realize that this wouldn't happen again with a dentist you feel comfortable with, the seed of doubt is still there. I feel it would be important to build a trusting relationship with a dentist before any treatment ("the shot") is carried out.

Today, the most I've done for myself dentistry-wise (aside from brushing) in the nearly 20 years since that incident, is get a professional cleaning and dental X-rays. I've never been afraid of that. You could clean my teeth all day and I would not care.

That's a big bonus . A lot of people would have chosen to completely avoid dental care. You've done really well there!

I very recently went to a dentist (oral surgeon) to go through the procedure of having that tooth pulled I mentioned above. Filled out the paperwork, sat in the chair, did further intake questions, met the dentist (who suggested I get the upper wisdom tooth of the same side done at the same time), and at the moment of truth (making a decision to actually do it)...I wimped out! My inner five year old still remembers....

My feeling is that you're trying to jump in at the deep end here - the actual procedure (having a tooth removed) is virtually identical to what triggered your fears in the first place. Perhaps it might be a better idea to have an appointment for just an injection (so that you know that you can handle it) and no treatment at all - this apparently has worked well for some people who were deathly afraid of dental injections. If you feel that something like laughing gas would help you to relax, that might be another consideration. Once you're comfortable with the injection, you could then move on to having a filling done, and leave the rest till last.

I have to add that I've never been particularly frightened of injections myself (quite the opposite - I was routinely refused local anaesthesia ) and have found any dental injections to be pretty comfortable. So I can't give a personal insight. The ideas above are based on what have worked for other people on here in similar situations. But because no situation is exactly alike, they're only ideas - don't take them as gospel.

Please check back over the weekend, I'm sure others will add their comments, too !

 

[Guest]

Hello,

Thanks for the feedback...that was very kind. I also did my math wrong. its been nearly 30 years, not 20 since I last had an injection for tooth removal.

In any event, I would like to hear other comments.

- S.
Portland, OR - USA

 

[Guest]

Hi to Shawn
I understand your pain. I have been to a phobia-dentist specialist (2000) in S.F., CA. I was told that he understood everything about my phobia. I paid outside of my insurance at a preimum price. I paid for my terror, my lifelong phobia, I paid for him to understand my phobia. At a moment of terror I was pushed back into the chair to have the dental caps put on. It was yet another sequence of terrifying medical events in my life. I searched this help out in my moment of terror, in my moment of need. I researched on the internet to get his help. I needed to get help to deal with this. Now my belief is that the dental profession is trying to "commercialize" your fear and project a "solution". This "solution" only traumatized me more. I am now seeing both a psychiatrist and a therapist. I believed this brand of denistry was my "saviour" and my "solution" only to end up being my terror. Don't randomly believe "help" from these sites. Go in and "feel good" about the office and their help. Are they the same people at the desks every time? or are they interns that are anxious to make a commission? (I had that happen to me when I was the least prepared). Shop "local" dentists, not "shops" that run you through the mill. That is the least helpful to an anxious patient. I am a lifelong phobic. I need "connection". A shopping mall "mill" does not suit my needs. The "old guy" downtown may actually be better, even if he doesn't have the state of the art dentistry equipment. He will have more "people skills" and be willing to listen to you.
I am a lifelong medical phobic. I am going through life-changing therapy right now. I am willing to die than go through medical treatment. What I advise is not without some lifelong consideration. I am contributing to this board for the first time and may be "edited" in the future. (I believe this board to have a commercial dentist bias).
Good luck. I am paying big bucks to finally go through analyzing this lifelong phobia (post traumatic syndrome/ phobia from birth/severe anxiety regarding medical phobia).
I have placed the trust and mislaid the wrong bricks in the pathway; so if you want to talk, I am available.
Truly,
Juli

 

[Guest]

Am I making too much fuss?

In my lifetime I have had a broken shoulder (7 or 8 yrs old); a gash from a fall on one of my shins (12 or 13 yrs old...which needed and had an injection and stiches); a broken foot from a car hitting me and driving over my bicycle - trapping my foot and breaking it (17yrs old); three second degree burned fingers (in a high school cooking class) which healed; a steel step ladder fall on my head from out of a truck (19 or 20 yrs old); and a dog mauled me and cut my thigh open (mid 20's). Not even to mention the countless blood draws and illness shots I've recieved throughout my life that I barely flinch at anymore.

You'd think my pain threshold would be pretty good by now so as to edure a dental injection. I can pulll a hangnail out of my finger and then go on to something else. So...would it be an understatment (or even an overestimation of the injection pain itself) to think I'm making too much of this injection stuff? I mean, after its done and my jaw is numbed in that area, I would not feel pain in that area...right? I would only feel the pressure of the tooth be processed out. I feel like a wimp...leaning on a bad dental memory from when I was five, and thinking that the same pain level would be unbearable now....given all the other situations I've mentioned and gone through.

I'm just wondering if anyone has thoughts on this idea.

- S.
Portland, OR - USA

 

[Guest]

I think it might be an overestimation of the "injection pain" itself. I've had quite a few injections and never felt much. You got really unlucky as a kid, and what you experienced is not the norm. Just my two cents worth!

 

[Guest]

Hello,

That is perhaps one of the kindest comments I've ever seen on here. Thank you so much for your words. I've been doing research on needle gauges...and have discovered (although my partner who is a nurse has told me this before) that the larger the number of the needle (referring to the "bore" - the end with the hole, the less pain one feels. So, a 27 or 30 gauge needle causes far less pain (than a 14 guage needle - something you'd use on a horse)!

You're right...it was a bad incident I had as a kid. I've hung onto it like a horrible trophy. I swear in my memory the needle looked like one of those comedy sizes that took two hands to use! The ones they have today are real small...and they look like they fit in the palm of your hand.

Again, this helps alot. Thanks for your thoughts.

- S.
Portland, OR - USA

 

[SASHA]

Shawn i have had same experiences as a small child like you i had to be held down at times and even got thrown out by the dentist and told i'm a childish little cow and to come back when i have grown up, i am still traped in that childs mind and haven't built up the courage to trust another as yet . I aint scared of needle's as i am fine haveing them in the docters ect (thats haveing 2 kids and loads of blood tests) I am just really scared of the dentist and cant build up the courage to go.Tomorrow i am going to phone a few and see if they are willing to help me overcome my fear i dought it but i need help with all this pain i have in my mouth

 

[letsconnect]

Sasha - best of luck with those phone calls ! Let us know how you get on - in case you don't find anyone tomorrow, there may be other ways to ask around!