How can excruciating pain suddenly vanish?

[carolinayellowdog]

Hey,

I'm hoping some medically savvy DUer can explain what I've just experienced. Had 2 wisdom teeth extracted yesterday, and by the time the anesthesia wore off I was in excruciating pain for hours. 2 Dilaudid pills every 4 hours made me sleepy but didn't make it stop hurting. But every time I woke up after 4 hours it hurt less, and when I got up at 8 this morning (18 hours after extraction) the pain was totally gone.

WTF is up with this? How can agony suddenly vanish this way? I'm in awe of the recuperative power of the human body but also mystified by it. What has been happening here? BTW I'm 50, and had the other 2 wisdom teeth out at 25 with no trouble whatsoever, but was expecting more trouble this time.

CYD

[GregorStocks]

1. Maybe it's symbolic.

The wisdom teeth represent Bush, the pulling out represents his election, the 25 years ago represents Sr, and the end is his not being reelected.

[Racenut20]

2. Normally it would stop if you died.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. You probably got a working amount of the pain meds in your system

for your body habitus, plus the inflammation naturally abates as your body's own endorphins or "gatekeepers" kick in to block the shock of the pain as occurs with surgery.

Best wishes on the recovery and if the pain even mildly starts to return, take another pain pill before it reaches moderate level and you should be able to remain comfortable. :D

[trof]

4. You weren't watching one of those televangelists, were you?

Maybe you got HEALED.

[Sir_Shrek]

5. Dilaudid....

I always think of Elvis when I hear or read the word Dilaudid.