How do I manage the broken molar tooth and jaw pain?

Hi doctor,

My weight is 115 lbs, and I have several decaying teeth after seven years of using Vyvanse (medicine for hyperactivity disorder) and two pregnancies. I have always been an avid brusher and flosser, but I neglected to get my impacted wisdom teeth removed about five years ago.

The molar next to my left canine tooth is broken in half and it has chipped off. I have almost always had pain and sensitivity in one tooth or another, so I used Anbesol and Sensodyne and continued to ignore them since I have no dental insurance and a low income.

About five days ago, the pain started getting worse, and the numbing liquid and Ibuprofen no longer helped. I have gotten this a lot, but it would usually only last a couple of days, and I would be fine. This time it only got worse.

The pain has grown to my jaw. I made the mistake of using a hot pack to soothe my jawbone, as that was the only way I could get some sleep along with some sleep aid. Later I read heat can make the by-product of gas expand and hurt things more, so I switched to using an ice pack. Two days after using the ice pack many hours a day, the pain is now bearable as long as I do not chew on the left side or put any pressure on my jaw or teeth. Still, I have to take several hundred milligrams of pain reliever several times a day.

My worry is now my jaw is what hurts the most. I can feel a huge buildup of pressure from the top of my chin to my ear. I can feel an enlarged spot around my jaw and neck where the broken and affected tooth is. I get a random numbness in my chin and lip multiple times daily, and I have never had this problem before. Am I risking letting some infection get to my bloodstream? I have already assumed I have an abscess which I have had before, just not as painful. Can I wait another week or two before seeing a dentist when I can afford to pay the dentist? Or do I need to go to the emergency room?

Thank you.