Hi,

I just got my wisdom tooth extracted (lower) 7 days back. The dentist cut the stitches today but what I was wondering is the pain.

I feel intense pain when I don't take a pain killer. The dentist says that it will take time since he had to cut a lot of bone to remove the wisdom teeth which was crooked.

I was wondering how many days would I have to take pain killers for the pain? Normally, how much time does it take for the pain to go away.

Sometimes it's just a few days, sometimes it's 2 or 3 weeks before the last bit of pain is completely gone. I really don't think there is an average. Your dentist knows how much work it took, so go by what he or she said.
Follow the directions for cleaning and rinsing and keep an eye on the socket in the mirror. As long as it is healing properly, the pain will end, even if it seems to be taking forever.
I have so many arthritis aches and pains that when given Vicodin for dental extraction, I wanted to stay on Vicodin forever, LOL, because it got rid of pain all over by body. So I tapered off by extending the time between pills bit by bit as I neared the end of them. You can start using Tylenol or ibuprofin then too.

Thanks for your answer, joypuly.

Well, the tooth was crooked so it did take some time to extract it. Right now, I can't do anything if I don't take a pain killer.

Just was worried that I may just end up staying on these forever! I will try your suggestion of tapering off the pills and see how it goes.

Any further suggestions would really be appreciated because I am just too exhausted with it!

Ibuprofin takes longer to have an effect than Tylenol.
I allowed 40 minutes for ibuprofin to work and 10 minutes for 2 Tylenol.
I started taking them alternating between Vicodins to see if I could extend the hours.
Don't take ibuprofin if you have any liver or kidney disease or problems.

Yes, you may be exhausted from pain, and some people get wiped out from painkillers (I'm one), so it's tough if you have to work.

Ah, yes, you are correct. I too get wiped out from the pain.

And right now the situation is that I got the flu. Imagine!

So, now I have fever. It is probably because of the cold rather than the surgery. But I have no way of knowing it.

I guess I will just wait out for the cold to subside and see if the fever goes.

Anything else that I should keep checking to ensure that things with the extraction are going well?

Take Tylenol for the fever (and drink lots of fluids), take your temp 20 minutes later, and if it has gone down, you have a cold or flu. Of course the fever will need periodic Tylenol.
If not, you could possibly have an infection in your jaw.

Well, fever does go down. So, it is cold and flu. Probably not jaw infection in that case. Will keep a watch though. Thanks!