Abscess...serious pain...need some help here?

lastnight I was in the worse pain imaginable...I felt the tooth pulsating...sharp pain..and well this morning I just couldn't bear the pain...called the dentist...answering service said go to ER...and my left arm was getting weak with every sharp pain...needless to say they said...what started as a minor infection had lead to an abscess...because the infected tooth wasn't treated...again I'm talking only 2days...I would rather have a c-section again..than feel this pain...the side of my mouth this morning had a small lump (abscess)and now looks like I have a large golf ball...on meds now..they gave me a temp block on that side of my face to stop the pain...and the word pain is an understatement..I now have penicillin..tramadol..and naproxen..how long does this take to start going down...it seems to be getting worse then this afternoon...now I feel the pain under my chin (glands)..which hurts to touch..on top of all this..I now have I guess pockets of puss (yuck)in different places

I get regular visits 2 times yearly..and have good teeth..so don't understand the cause...I hear horror stories on here about the airway closing etc...can't get to the dentist til monday...should I listen to the ER and wait before returning...or go back asap

Rinse your mouth out with warm salt water; try doing this several times a day. Use a cold ice bag on the side of your face/jaw that's swollen. Leave it on as long as you can tolerate the cold. This will help reduce the swelling, which will really help reduce the pain. I broke my arm last summer. This helped reduce the pain a great deal.

Did the ER tell you to call them back if the abscess gets larger? What would you do if this were your child? I bet you'd be on that phone with the ER telling them this is unacceptable and that they WILL be doing something NOW!!!

If you're like me, you'd be a mama bear for your child, but sitting quietly without a peep when it's you in pain. So take care of yourself with the same care you'd give your kids.

They only gave you Penicillin? Seriously-you need to ask them to give you a stronger antibiotic! Penicillin is like the baby aspirin of antibiotics. Amoxicillin is about as effective. Not the biggest gun available. Inexpensive. If the infection is in an upper tooth, it can spread into your sinus'.

Good luck...

ETA: I forgot about the tea bag! And cloves. I went to the dentist just a couple weeks ago to replace a crown & he used a clove soaked cotton pellet (for me to bite down on). If you have cloves, you could soak them in a small about of (just boiled) water, then soak a cotton ball in the water. Swish your mouth with warm salt water. Use table salt.

Poor thing! Oh, I remember those days...home alone with the kids. Hang in there mom!

if you get feverish or start puking go back to the ER right away because an abcess can spread to your blood stream

It may take a day or two for the abcess to start going down. If the pain is still that bad and the swelling does not go down then go back to the ER and get a stronger antibiotic because the penicillin may not be strong enough for the abcess.

you havent been taking old antibiotics also i hope as the abscess will become resistant ,and you will have a superbug to deal with,never take antibiotics like this ,and always finish the prescribed dose ,even if you think it is better

What do you mean you have pockets of puss in different places? If you just got the antibiotic today, you need to try to give it about 24 hours to get into your bloodstream before you notice it starting to work. Try to relax in the meantime and continue to take your medicine at the right time. If you do not feel any better by tomorrow go back to the ER and maybe they can get you a stronger antibiotic and do another block to numb the area that is hurting. Hope you feel better.