Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) has taken a toll on my teeth. Because of the impaired circulation, last summer they just started breaking off at the jawline. Only 3 bottom teeth survived, 9 teeth broke while eating. The last one to break didn't even happen on anything solid; I was eating pudding! That's how fragile they had become. I have had RSD for 5 yrs now. In that time, my dental problems had progressively gotten worse.
It has been suggested that the impaired circulation may be the culprit and I agree. All my extremities have been effected by poor circulation. My hands and legs fall asleep frequently. The neurologist who conducted test after test to find out why my legs suddenly stopped working, calls RSD "The Mother of All Neuropathies"......that pretty much says it all.
When you suffer from RSD, the last thing you want to do it have any surgery. It can cause spreads of the condition to unaffected areas, the healing process takes longer and
referred pain is a frequent problem. I kept putting off having my teeth fixed for months. Finally, Jan 21st, I had the nine remnants surgically removed. I could no longer eat anything solid and the damage to my self image was damaging.
This is day 5. I still can't eat anything besides soup, jello and pudding. My jaw is still bruised and the pain has been unbelievable. But, it is getting better. No spreads, as of yet. I was able to stop taking the strongest pain medication after 3 days and rely now on low pain meds to try and sleep. Talking is still a problem. The dentures went in the day of the surgery and act like a band-aide. It prevents any food from getting in the sockets and cold/hot fluids don't directly hit the open wounds.
My dentist took the normal precautions. He used long lasting Novocaine which didn't completely wear off for 2 days. I chose general anesthesia and had no problems with that either. He made himself familiar with my medical condition, RSD.
In closing, I just wanted people in my situation that dental work can be performed on us with good results. My fear of having the surgery could have caused medical problems if an infection had started. Before you have any surgery, take the normal precautions. Make sure the dentist and the surgeon are aware of your medical issues; and the medications you take.
If you are really concerned, print out documentation on RSD and Dental Procedures that can be found at
www.rsds.org
Once my mouth is healed and I can smile again, I'll post an updated picture of myself. I use an old pre-RSD picture that needs to be updated....
3 Comments
It has been suggested that the impaired circulation may be the culprit and I agree. All my extremities have been effected by poor circulation. My hands and legs fall asleep frequently. The neurologist who conducted test after test to find out why my legs suddenly stopped working, calls RSD "The Mother of All Neuropathies"......that pretty much says it all.
When you suffer from RSD, the last thing you want to do it have any surgery. It can cause spreads of the condition to unaffected areas, the healing process takes longer and referred pain is a frequent problem. I kept putting off having my teeth fixed for months. Finally, Jan 21st, I had the nine remnants surgically removed. I could no longer eat anything solid and the damage to my self image was damaging.
This is day 5. I still can't eat anything besides soup, jello and pudding. My jaw is still bruised and the pain has been unbelievable. But, it is getting better. No spreads, as of yet. I was able to stop taking the strongest pain medication after 3 days and rely now on low pain meds to try and sleep. Talking is still a problem. The dentures went in the day of the surgery and act like a band-aide. It prevents any food from getting in the sockets and cold/hot fluids don't directly hit the open wounds.
My dentist took the normal precautions. He used long lasting Novocaine which didn't completely wear off for 2 days. I chose general anesthesia and had no problems with that either. He made himself familiar with my medical condition, RSD.
In closing, I just wanted people in my situation that dental work can be performed on us with good results. My fear of having the surgery could have caused medical problems if an infection had started. Before you have any surgery, take the normal precautions. Make sure the dentist and the surgeon are aware of your medical issues; and the medications you take.
If you are really concerned, print out documentation on RSD and Dental Procedures that can be found at www.rsds.org
Once my mouth is healed and I can smile again, I'll post an updated picture of myself. I use an old pre-RSD picture that needs to be updated....