Can my shooting jaw pain post-extraction be nerve pain?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I read your query and understand your concern.

As you already have a history of a dry socket and extracted teeth, your sharp shooting pain should have subsided long ago, technically.

A dry socket usually creates dull throbbing pain. You do not need to worry. It might not be a TMJ (tempro-mandibular joint) disorder or a sinus infection if you have never had such a history previously.

It also might be a form of neuralgia, the most common condition being trigeminal neuralgia, which causes shooting pain, usually in the lower jaw nerve.

But the differential diagnosis of this condition can vary, too. You do not need to panic, as your maxillofacial surgeon will ensure that he addresses your issue non-surgically.

Treatment for trigeminal neuralgia may be a combination of anticonvulsant medications and painkillers for a few days, depending on the extent of unilateral pain you have.

I recommend that until you get physically checked by your surgeon, you follow some immediate precautions to stop worsening the symptoms.

1. Firstly, rinse with warm salt water several times a day, five to six times at least.
2. Take a painkiller only when you have intense or severe pain.
3. Observe the statistics of pain and its modulations, but don't keep popping the painkillers now and then.
4. Avoid painkillers until your physician recommends them after diagnosing your condition.
5. Rinse your mouth morning and night with 0.12% Chlorhexidine solution.
6. Also, start taking antioxidant tablets or Vitamin C-rich foods once a day as recommended by your physician to prevent soft tissue infections.

I would refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who can diagnose your condition after not just checking the oral cavity, but mainly the facial muscles and the temporomandibular joint as well.

I suggest you get a CT (computer tomography) scan done.

I hope this was helpful. Please get back to me if you have any further queries.

Take care.

Regards.