I had a root canal last year and was given a prescription for pain meds. I filled the script and never used it, not once. I didn't have a lot of pain at all.
Also, my dentist didn't give me antibiotics saying to come back if I had signs of infection since he's a big believer in too much antibiotics are a bad thing.
If you are having this kind of pain nearly a week later, I would call the dentist.
Until you get to your dentist, you might try aspirin if quarter or half of a Norco doesn't work - root pain is the only thing I've experienced that responds well to aspirin, and aspirin is the only non-'script thing that helped me with root pain.
I hope you feel better quick.
On my first root canal, the pain afterwards was unbearable. I kept thinking it was normal and after about a week I called the dentist and was instructed to come in immediately. Turns out the temporary crown was just slightly too high and my teeth were hitting improperly. He ground the temporary crown a bit (took about 10 seconds) and the relief was almost instantaneous. I was so upset at myself that I waited when it was such an easy fix.
I had an endodontist do the 2nd one, and I don't even remember any pain. The experience was night and day.
