Pain Meditation: 4 Wisdom Teeth Removed; No Sedation or Post-Op Meds

[My personal experience of the techniques I used to successfully overcome pain]

(WARNING: Slight graphic description of oral surgery)

Background:
I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed because they were causing crowding (crooked alignment) to the rest of my teeth. The top two wisdom teeth were fully developed and situated quite uniformly with the rest of my teeth. The bottom right was impacted at a 90-degree angle with it's neighboring molar, and the bottom left was slightly impacted against it's neighboring molar.

(This is not my actual x-ray, however this image perfectly illustrates a 90-degree impacted tooth.)

www.dentalorg.com...

I did not get sedated and was fully awake and aware for the entire procedure. I only had a couple jabs of novocaine in my gums. After the surgery, I did not take any pain medicines.

Story:
I was left alone in the operating chair for about ten minutes, while the local anesthesia (novocaine) took affect. It only decreased feeling, it did not fully suppress any pain.

During this alone time, I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing for a few seconds. I cleared my mind and brought myself to the blissful state of Peace. I began to talk to my teeth and body inside my mind. The conversation I had with my wisdom teeth went something like this;

"I love you and I thank you for being with me all this time. We must now part ways. You will go on to new experiences. This is a joyous moment. Go in Peace my friend."

Next I spoke to my nerve sensors;

"My friends, we are going on to new experiences, fear not! We know what is about to happen, so please do not become overly active, everything is going to be alright, trust me my friends. I am allowing this to be done by my own free-will, I am fully aware, so no need to send me signals of pain. Be at Peace and have no fear."

After speaking to my teeth and my nerves, I sat in a state of Peace, while in full awareness and acceptance of my existence.

The oral surgeon and his assistants re-entered the room and did all of the operating prep. They started with my upper wisdom teeth, for they were easier to extract. As the surgeon tied the tooth, I spoke to the tooth and once again reaffirmed my Love and the confirmation of new experience. I told my body that the moment was about to occur so to not be alarmed. With a strong tug, the first wisdom tooth was pulled out as I said my farewells. The pain was somewhat intense for a microsecond. As I sent Love and Peace to the empty socket, the pain nearly subsided.

I had similar words for the other wisdom teeth upon extraction. I felt no pain as I reassured my nerves to not become active. I did feel each of the surgeons actions, but it was mere sensory void of pain. 

When it came time to operate on my 90-degree impacted tooth, I sent all of the Love, Peace, and healing intentions that I had inside me, for I knew this would be the most intense extraction. The surgeon had to cut deeply into my gums to reach the tooth. After exposing the tooth, he drilled it up a bit before giving it a tug. It would not budge, so he had to drill more. After trying a second round of tugs, the first piece of tooth came out. Then he dug out the other pieces that he had drilled into bits.

During all this time, I sat in total Peace observing each moment. I was neither tense nor uncomfortable. I asked my body to heal the cut wounds as best as they could and to relax. I told my body to trust me to keep them safe, so just heal and don't send me signals of pain.

After the surgery the doctor said I was the bravest patient he's ever had, and that I made a believer out of him.

Directly from the operation I went on a brisk hike through the woods with my girlfriend, then afterwards I completed a 10 hour shift at work with no problems.

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Techniques Used:

• Embrace every experience, do not run or hide! It is easy to 'block out' events and experiences. Easy to train yourself to zone-out to escape. I do not recommend this method. By doing so you are not in control. You are compartmentalizing yourself... you are hiding in your mind and presenting an alternate persona to take the experience for you. In my lay-opinion, this may lead to you having slightly different 'alter' egos. You hide in your mind during unpleasant experiences, and another ego is created and steps forward to maintain consciousness. The movie 'Fight Club' comes to mind So you must learn to embrace all experiences, both pleasant and unpleasant.

• Clear your mind and step into Peace. I am able to clear my mind and reach the state of Peace in mere seconds, whereas it used to take much longer. Regular practice will also help you to get to higher states of being more quickly when called upon. This state of mind is very helpful to get your intents accomplished more efficiently. Stress, worry, anger, fear, regret, and such emotions must be understood at their root and overcome, for they are needed in their functions, but also serve as a hinderance to Peace.

• When I self-heal or increase tolerance, I talk to my body internally. I acknowledge that my cells and organs operate almost independently of my conscious. They grow, heal, replicate, and function without me ever telling them to. So I envision my cells and organs as sentient. In this way, I speak to them as friends and little pieces of me. I instruct them when I need them to behave in certain ways. But I always am sure to speak with the utmost respect, love, and confidence.

• "Know They Self." I understand human anatomy, which helps me to better direct my body. I will elaborate with the example of Pain. I understand that pain is merely the overactive signalings of my nerves through chemical and bioelectrical processes. In this way I envision my nerves, and I envision the way they transmit information. I instruct the nerves to not activate. Why is pain needed? It keeps us safe and saves us from further harm or damage to our body. I understand that pain is only signaled to warn and save me. This is why I give my nerves words of encouragement to not fear, to not worry, and that everything is ok. By me telling my little nerve friends that everything is ok, they trust me and calm down. This reduces pain. By understanding the mechanisms of all parts of my body, I become a better conductor. Know thy self.

• Heal through awareness and ask nicely. Your body heals it's self naturally and on it's own. But when you become aware of the processes of healing, it happens more efficiently. Employees know their jobs, but if a boss can motivate in a positive way, the employyes happily increase production. In this same principle we can envision our cells healing, regrowing, and fighting off sickness. I often envision and ask with love and respect for a lot of extra white blood cells to travel to any areas I need healed so the job gets done faster. A good leader can command his men into victory.

As far as I can tell having your wisdom teeth removed with only Novocain is pretty common, and using a general anesthetic is the exception rather then the rule. so.... linky

Hmmm

"Teaching is merely a vehicle to describe the truth. Don't mistake it for the truth itself. A finger pointing at the moon is not the moon. The finger is needed to know where to look for the moon, but if you mistake the finger for the moon itself, you will never know the real moon." [Lord Buddha]

Peace and Blessings be upon you all. It is my intent that my understandings may aid you to better realize your own understandings. Please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions, and experiences about healing and increased tolerances.

Nice meditation technique... kind of like the mindset I get into when I'm carrying a heavy object for a long distance.

As far as the wisdom teeth go though... my story went like this:

"Ok count backwords from ten"

"10"

"9"

"wawa wawa wawa waaaa waaaaaaa"

"Your teeth are in the cup... wanna see?"

Sri Oracle

Regardless of whether the surgery is done with or without a general anesthetic, I think meditation may certainly be of help. Thus your thread can show someone a possible way of going about it. S&F.

As for wisdom teeth being removed while only under a local anesthetic, I don't think that is standard procedure when someone has an impacted tooth like the O.P.

reply to post by davespanners


Thank you for the link. I did not cite my past experience as a show of toughness. It was only a story to illustrate techniques that I use in all self-healing and increasing my tolerances.

I do the same with paper-cuts, mosquito bites, sprained ankles, stitches, broken bones, common colds, and any other ailments.

Originally posted by Sahabi
[My personal experience of the techniques I used to successfully overcome pain]

Not this cowboy...I was given Valium to get me through the door (I have a dentist 'thing') and percocet for the aftermath. And I don't regret it a bit.

Kudos to the OP for the huevos to do it solo.

Originally posted by davespanners
As far as I can tell having your wisdom teeth removed with only Novocain is pretty common, and using a general anesthetic is the exception rather then the rule. so.... linky

Hmmm

edit on 22-7-2011 by davespanners because: (no reason given)

reply to post by davespanners


I don't think posting other peoples subjective experience does anything to disprove or prove another's subjective experience- since it's all subjective. So what is the point of doing it? It's like telling somebody that they can't like a movie because you and six of your friends don't.

Have you ever personally experienced an impacted wisdom tooth extraction?

S and F for some good meditation techniques.

reply to post by Sri Oracle


Haha, yeah, most people remember their wisdom teeth extractions that way

I do similarly when lifting heavy weights. Arnold Schwarzenegger even said to fully focus on all movements of the muscle when working out, and to envision yourself getting stronger and the muscles growing bigger. I guess his understandings of intention helped propel him to the title of Mr. Universe.


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reply to post by Redwookieaz


I do believe my personal methods help me, and that is very important because confidence is key. During my consultation the oral surgeon highly recommended against me getting impacted wisdom teeth removed on local anesthesia alone. He said it is fairly uncommon, let alone a 90-degree impacted tooth. He had to cut a lot more than I mentioned in the op. He tried every which way to convince me to at least do the 'laughing gas.' I assured him I was grounded in my meditations, and that's why afterwards he stated that I made him a believer. Thanks for weighing in.


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reply to post by JohnnyCanuck


There's nothing wrong for you to have enjoyed meds to give you comfort. I chose not to because I try very hard to take medications only when it absolutely must be taken. I felt grounded enough in my meditations to experience the operation without sedation or post-op painkillers. Thanks for the compliment about the huevos


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reply to post by jawsismyfish


Nearly all of our experiences are indeed relative and subjective. It is my intention this op helps others better understand their own techniques and potentials, for we all walk different paths. Thanks.

reply to post by Sahabi


Inspiring, well expressed, effective and educational, thanks for sharing.
I like your breakdown and visualizations. To engage the tenseness, is to release it, whereas resisting it, tenses/constricts it.

Reminds me of a documentary about a clinic for people with, debilitating and constant pain, that had tried everything with doctors and surgeons. First he brought in a Relaxation Therapist(how do I get that job), who taught the people how to relax their muscles and control their breathing. It was amazing to see people respond as if they had never known physical relaxation, or were unable to because of their ailment. Some simple lay down meditation was used, but the therapists(who was also a back surgeon) began discussing ways to address the pain that were new to the brain. He said one should 'dance' with their pain, and then set it free or let it diminish. He emphasized too, that resisting and fighting the pain often sustains the pain or further injures the area(s). I know some scoff at this but I have used it with success myself, and the people's faces in the doc represented grateful relief as well. While it may not be the only answer it is one to consider as supplemental at least.

Peace
spec

reply to post by speculativeoptimist


Sounds like an interesting documentary. I'd be interested in seeing it if you happen to have the name handy. I have problems with chronic pain from a sports injury that led to a botched surgery to chronic pain. It can be quite maddening

I had my apendix out quite a few years ago now and after i came to from the operation i had one injection of pethedrine and that was it, oh and a couple of paracetamol a day later. Beat that !

I did hear about a guy who had his apendix removed without any pain relief and his reason was "to prove i was a man". A quick check in his pants would have been easier but what ever floats your boat i guess.

reply to post by Hopeforeveryone


As I mentioned earlier, the intent of this thread is not to show off toughness. I simply used the experience as a way to share techniques to self-heal and increase tolerances. Foregoing medicine is not an indicating factor to toughness. My reasons are because I know my limitations, and secondly I'm extremely conscious of what goes into my body. Doing machismo type things doesn't prove manhood in my opinion, manhood is about maturity and responsibility. Sorry you mistook my intentions.

reply to post by Sahabi


Ah no worries my post was more representative of my own psychology than yours ! Seeing as how women push babies through their most sensitve parts i reckon the pain resistance award goes to them anyway so it's not a macho thing really.

Funny story from when i had my apendix out - one guy in the hospital ward with me was a gruff old builder type who tried to show off by walking about after his op - he ended up going green and passing out on the floor - sometimes it's best to play it safe.

you are a better man than I

i was fully sedated...out cold

i went through 2 or 3 vicodin prescriptions and was out of work for 4 days

they did have to remove a bit of my jaw too, otherwise the same operation

when i had my 4 removed i didnt get any pain meds either i did get laughing gas to put me out though it was really good. id do it again just for the gas.

I really don't go to the doctor/ dentist unless it's a life or death emergency. Last Easter I was eating jelly beans by the bagful and shortly after that I got two cavities, I ignored them and they turned into abscesses. With one on each side the pain was all the way up to my eye sockets.
I swished warm saltwater around my mouth twice a day and followed that up with Listerine mouth wash several times a day. It hurtt like hell, especially when that listerine hit my tooth, but after two weeks I was back to normal. Besides saving money it helps increase your pain threshold.

reply to post by Trublbrwing


I'm not a dentist but i've had enough run ins with them. It could be that the nerves died and the infection could be eating away at the bone behind the tooth. Had a friend do something similar to what you've described and he ended up on the operating table having a plate put in his jaw. I'd see a dentist and get an xray to be sure. On the other hand it might be fine but its better to check.

Yeah i hate visits to the dentist too - had one do £500 worth of root canal work and cap fitted all for it to go horribly wrong and ended up having it all removed anyway. Months of pain and cash outlay for absolutly nothing !

reply to post by Trublbrwing


Yeah I'm with Hopeforeveryone on this. You may really need to see a dentist. You can die from tooth infections. In fact a boy died a while back just from not having a tooth pulled. It would have cost about a few hundred bucks to save his life. Not something to mess with.

Toothache Kills Boy

Take Care.

reply to post by Redwookieaz

Hey Redwookieaz, I am trying to dig that doc up, I saw it 15 years ago during a time I was getting my hands on as many docs/books on healing I could find. If I find it I will surely PM ya. Best wishes for the pain man....

spec