My dentist was pretty strict about switching to heat too, but honestly, I get why your son wasn't into it. Warm packs made my swelling feel way worse, almost like it was throbbing more. I ended up alternating cold packs longer than recommended, and it worked out fine. Every mouth heals differently, and sometimes the textbooks just don't cover how individual pain feels. Sounds like you're doing great trusting your instincts...it really does get better each day, even if it's slow going at first. Hang in there.
I had a similar experience after my graft. Heat packs made me feel worse too...like it intensified the ache somehow. I stuck with cold packs longer than advised, just like you did, and it seemed to help more. Honestly, recovery can be pretty unpredictable—you're right to trust your gut. It does ease up eventually, even if it's hard to believe right now. Hang in there.
My daughter went through something similar after her bone graft last year. She hated heat packs—said they made her leg throb more. Weirdly enough, she preferred cold packs way past the recommended timeline too...guess everyone's different. It does get better eventually, promise.
"Weirdly enough, she preferred cold packs way past the recommended timeline too...guess everyone's different."
Haha, glad it's not just me breaking the rules with ice packs! Heat packs always felt like adding fuel to the fire for me too—made my leg pulse like crazy. I swear, sometimes the docs' recommendations feel more like gentle suggestions. 😂 Anyway, hang in there...it really does ease up eventually, even if it feels endless right now.
Totally get the ice pack thing...I was paranoid about following instructions exactly, but honestly, sometimes your body just knows better. Pain after grafting is rough, but you're right—it does fade eventually. Just gotta trust the process, even when it's frustratingly slow.
