Dull intermittent pain, what can I do?

[Xenon]

Hello all, in the last 5 days ive been having some dental pain. Its seemingly starting spontaneously but I dont really know how to tell if thats true or not. It started out as a sort of zapping under my chin that would happen every 15ish seconds and last for a few seconds, as well as a short dull pain in the tooth directly above (21 or 20 couldnt tell since those teeth are very close together) and then a pain dull short pain in one of my molars that needs a root canal. It has since over the days progressed, its still short pain, and hurts for a few seconds but now theres typically anywhere from 5/10 minutes - hour/hours between the flares versus happening every 15 seconds to couple of minutes like it was at the start (and only in the molar).

I also have pain with cold that lasts about 5-10 seconds, and pain with heat that goes away immediately after the stimuli is removed, as well as a very slight soreness/tenderness in that tooth when I bite down on something hard and or chewy. However no pain on tapping or any swelling or redness in the gums that I can tell of.

I do have some pain that comes in goes every few hours right under my ear and in my jaw but I think those might be from clenching. Ive also noticed if im heavily distracted/about to go to sleep/waking up the pain frequency drops. In the mornings I have about 30-hour before the onset of pain and at night when I lay down if the pain is there it only lasts a short while before dissapating. I also have yet to be woken out of my sleep by pain or had pain that over a 3/4 on the pain scale.

Right now Im absolutely terrified of what this could turn into. For the last day ive been taking 400mg of ibuprofen and 1000mg of acetaminphen every 6 hours on the hour, but still having pangs here and there that last a few short seconds.
I think its helping but I honestly cannot tell. I dont have any lingering pains or anything, its all short and dull. I also have sleep bruxism and struggle with clenching during the day time. Im unsure if that is having any effect though im sure it is.
It scares me that I am having pain that is making its way through the OTCs, the fact that I have to get a root canal done, and the fact that I knew i needed them done 5 months ago but didnt have the capital due to other health and life situations so they could and probably are significantly worse now.

In short I'm really worried that the pain is going to severely increase before my root canal appointment at the start of next week, considering pain is still finding its way through the combination OTCs. I believe I have irreversible pulpitis though im not sure. Does anyone have any recommendations for what I can do if the pain starts to get any worse or any idea as to what might be happening?

Im trying not to use google to self diagnose as everyone presents with different symptoms, but is incredibly hard to sit here without knowing what is happening. Espically when I have a non existant pain tolerance, and dental fear so bad it makes me sick to my stomach. Im really hoping that the pain levels stay the same and dont increase before my root canal appointment, because knowing myself I will not be able to handle it in the slightest.

Also I know this is a longshot question because none of you are my endodontist, but would they be willing to give me valium or some sort of sedation like laughing gas to help me be at ease? because just the thought of going in and sitting in the chair is giving me so much fear I feel like I might hurl lol.

Thanks for any and all advice.

 

[Gordon]

Right now Im absolutely terrified of what this could turn into. For the last day ive been taking 400mg of ibuprofen and 1000mg of acetaminphen every 6 hours on the hour, but still having pangs here and there that last a few short seconds.

Split them up, take one dose every 3 hours while you're awake.

Does anyone have any recommendations for what I can do if the pain starts to get any worse or any idea as to what might be happening?

Ask the endodontist if they can get you in any quicker, even for a quick look/see to see if they can get you out of pain.

Also I know this is a longshot question because none of you are my endodontist, but would they be willing to give me valium or some sort of sedation like laughing gas to help me be at ease?

Possible, but you'd need to ask them. They might not have equipment or training for nitrous.

 

[Xenon]

@Gordon So it turns out my endo wants me to get re-evaluated since it’s been 5/6 months since I last had xrays. However my dentist can’t get me in until next monday. I’ve tried doing 3 hours apart for the meds, and it didn’t seem to help any or at least that I could tell.

I took a hydrocodone apap 10-325 which seemed to punch down the frequency and the pain but not by much. I also have been having some jolts of pain(lasts less than a few seconds) that are like a 5 or 6/10 on the pain scale. that happen very randomly, much different from the dull pain that I get.

I’m not sure if this is an indication that’s it’s about to turn servere, but i’m really worried that the pain is going to become severe before I can get in.

It also worries me since I don’t have an abscess or any swelling that if i do have to show up for an emergency appointment at my dentists they aren’t going to be able to do anything.

And I know i’m not in severe pain now, but those jolts of pain that are happening every so often (just as of today) are very worrying to me.

 

[Xenon]

@Gordon Also, I decided to stop talking/moving my jaw, opening my mouth fully when I talk after taking my 2nd hydro about 3 hours ago now, and the pain and frequency has gone down drastically. Like 40min-Hour between each pain and even then the pain is much less. I’m not sure whether this is a good sign for me or a sign that things are about to get much worse.

 

[Gordon]

It might be a sign that it's a TMJ issue rather than an impending abscess, but without seeing you it's impossible for me to tell you anything useful, sorry.

 

[Xenon]

@Gordon That’s okay, are there any specific signs i should took out for besides what im dealing with now?

 

[Xenon]

@Gordon That’s okay, are there any specific signs i should took out for besides what im dealing with now?

sorry mean to ask if there are any specific signs of abscess i should be looking for

 

[Gordon]

Abscess? A lot of pain on pressure/biting, pain on heat, reduced by cold things.

If it gets that far, then swelling, movement of the tooth in the socket, feeling like the tooth is being pushed out of the socket almost.