Novocaine question

[Cindyluwho]

Here is a seemingly strange question: Are you a natural red head? There are several studies that show being red headed has an effect on anestetics and pain killers with red heads needing more and benefitting less.

If you are requiring that much navacaine then it is time to try something else. It could also be that since it isn't working, the stress and anxiety of "knowing" it won't work makes it worse.

That is SO true!! I have had nothing but problems with anesthetic my whole life! And finally, finally the medical profession is catching on. It does help if you are sedated a bit before being given the anesthetic, either with Valium, Xanax, etc. I have woken up during a breast operation, novacaine only works for a short while and my last surgery they had trouble putting me under. I just would NOT go to sleep. And that stuff in the mask smells AWFUL!!, like an open sewer!! I must've counted backwards from 10 at least 5 times and they kept asking me questions and I just kept answering. I must drive the doctors crazy

 

[dismom2]

I guess I can join the club, too. Dentists always have trouble numbing me, and have to repeatedly give me shots. Valium does absolutely nothing for me, and I am extremely anxious when I am getting drilled---because I know they are going to hit a nerve any time and it's going to hurt a lot. Happens every time. I really dread going to the dentist.

As for the poster who mentioned the toe shots.... that's in my top 5 worst pains ever. Been there, done that....it was aweful. Worse than aweful....

I have a lot of sympathy for all of you

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I, too, have problems with staying numb at the dentist (and my teeth are not so good-not a good combination). Oh, and I have major dental anxiety on top of it.

Anyway, my brother is a dentist and I need to have a tooth worked on that may require a root canal. He said he's going to do some sort of ?nerve? block I believe it was called, where he'll inject the novocaine into the main ?nerve? leading into my jaw on the affected side of my mouth. Apparently it makes you more numb and lasts longer than a typical shot. It's not used often because it takes longer to get feeling back so you can eat/drink. I reallllly hope it works!

THAT is what he gave me to BEGIN with and it did not work.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I guess I can join the club, too. Dentists always have trouble numbing me, and have to repeatedly give me shots. Valium does absolutely nothing for me, and I am extremely anxious when I am getting drilled---because I know they are going to hit a nerve any time and it's going to hurt a lot. Happens every time. I really dread going to the dentist.

As for the poster who mentioned the toe shots.... that's in my top 5 worst pains ever. Been there, done that....it was aweful. Worse than aweful....

I have a lot of sympathy for all of you

I had toe shots too and they did not bother me. I think that the poster who said they do not use novocaine anymore(but rather lidocaine or xylocaine) might have hit the nail on the head. Too many people are having this problem just in my own personal circle.

 

[GraysMom]

THAT is what he gave me to BEGIN with and it did not work.

Uh oh, that's not good .

 

[EdiePA]

You might want to check with your dentist and see which anesthetic he is using. Some (maybe even most) dentists prefer to use carbocaine, which has a really short half-life (wears off quickly). Lidocaine/xylocaine lasts longer, but not all dentists use it. Also, if used in combination with epinephrine it can cover a bigger area. The longest acting is marcaine, but many dentists don't stock it or use it.

I'm not a dentist, but my son is a third-year dental student and this was his explanation why some anesthesia is wearing off too fast. It's worth asking your dentist about.

Edie