Dentist - anaesthetic not numbing (EM sufferers)

[X-Woman]

I hated going to the dentist because I couldn't seem to numb up with the anaesthetic. The dentist would argue telling me that after 3 injections if the anesthetic, I was just imagining the pain because according to him, it was impossible to feel anything.

How wrong was he!

I came across an article on the Internet of somwone who also had this problem and indeed suffered with EM too.

I've since been a study at the Liverpool Dental Hospital regarding my treatments and finding anaesthetics that actually work. They do have to work pretty fast because it doesn't last very long although given in seriously ridiculously large amounts - seeing the needle alone almost had me pass out with fear!!

I'll post the article I found. Now the dentist near to me keeps it on file for future reference as does the Liverpool dental hospital. Also they held a talk on this problem of not numbing up with all the trainee dentists and are keeping it on the course work from now on (YIPPEEE!!)

[X-Woman]

Oops I forget to add, it would appear that this 'not numbing up' with local anaesthetics was a kind of warning that I was getting Erythromelalgia, because I wasn't numbing up a good few years before I started to get any sort of EM flares.

Could this actually be something worth considering when both treating and diagnosing Erythromelalgia?... It's must be worth investigating or at least looking into I'd think.

[honeybug in reply to X-Woman]

Hi XWoman

I’ read your post and then pondered about my past dental numbing injections. I do recall on 2 occasions where I too had to have more shots because I wasn’t numb. I had no clue it could be EM related. Thank you for bringing this to my/our attention.

How are you doing overall?

Oh I forgot to tell you something my childhood dentist taught me.

Keep your eyes closed during dental work. I never stress out because I never see any tools during procedures.

My EM robs me of my sleep. As soon as I get under the covers the heat turns up. I apply Aspercream with Lidocaine to my feet which does help. However the weather will derail this especially with high humidity and FOG. I really cringe whenever I hear that word. Does it bother you too?

😊🌸

[Hidden]

Have they tried Novacaine? That’s what my sister has at the dentist (the usual anaesthetics don’t work on her either for another medical reason)

[EOLHPC]

GRRRREAT post! THANKS! Here is a link to the pdf:

stephenhancocks.com/downloa...

I have simultaneous RP&EM, and have always blamed my Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome for my extra need of special + stronger anaesthetics for any health procedure including dentistry...so am fascinated by your report

🍀🍀🍀🍀 coco

[X-Woman]

They eventually tried a cocktail of local anaesthetics and lots of them, along with a tag team of dental surgeons working together around me. At first it was very scary so I closed my eyes an thought of England!!

They did want to put me under to do any work but there was no way on earth I was doing that, not knowing if I'd feel the pain still, but be unable to respond due to the muscle relaxants also given with general anaesthetic!!

[EOLHPC in reply to X-Woman]

YIKES: you are truly courageous!

Are you diagnosed with any type of hypermobility?

[X-Woman in reply to EOLHPC]

Funny you should say that, but every time a doctor wants to look at my hands, as soon as I hold my hands out they always say right away that I'm hypermobile. How just holding out my hands can show that is beyond me. I am flexible and always have been, but no idea if that's just being double jointed like kids would say or not??

[EOLHPC in reply to X-Woman]

Their comments re your hands make sense to me because there are several characteristics in my hands that contribute greatly to the diagnosis of my type of hypermobility (Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome aka hEDS):

the joints pop out quite easily & the joint range of movement is very great, i get spontaneous paroxysmal haematomas (these just happen with our obvious cause eg pressure injury), my skin is very silky & hyperelastic and my fingers are very long & slim: called arachnodactyly:

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ara...

This official uk website is a great source of info about hypermobility of all types, their diagnosis etc:

hypermobility.org/help-advi...

And on this same website they explain hypermobile probs with anaesthetic etc: very clearly & concisely:

hypermobility.org/help-advi...

I bring hypermobility up cause most forms go under the heading “collagen vascular disease” which is noted in your report as being associated with secondary EM

[X-Woman]

It's not me then, I have large hands for a woman but sausage fingers and dimples where my knuckles are. They are like a giant babies hand.

My youngest son (he's 22) has problems with his shoulder forever popping out. He puts it back in using the door frame (*shudders) It's been like this for as long as I can remember.

[EOLHPC in reply to X-Woman]

You have made me chuckle! I love the “giant babies hand”!

You needn’t have all the same signs i’ve got...hypermobility can involve a very “individual” combination of significant signs..the website explains

The temporary, often self-correctable, popping out & in of joints is called “subluxation”...in my case, happens most to finger, shoulder, sacroilliac, ankle joints... am sending your son a big “well done”! If we can self-manage the way he is, that’s great! I get advice from a senior NHS physio expert in hEDS