ingrown toe nail
Discussion
Heal as in you have had it professionally sorted?
I had one done when I was about 16 and I have never felt pain like it as they put the needle in to my big toe and pumped in the anaesthetic.
A while after that the one on the other foot started to Ingrow, I attempted a series of home made attempts at cutting bits out but could never get down deep enough, which left a 'barbed' shaped part of nail that kept ingrowing.
The amount of blood and puss that kept coming out was grim. My solution was to wrap it in Zinc oxide tape and try to ignore the pain.
After I finally admitted defeat and went to the docs they cut it out and the 'barb' was long enough that it was right thru to the bottom of my toe!
My advice for anyone who gets an ingrowing toenail is DO NOT try to sort it yourself, get to a doctors sharpish.
Oh and be prepared for the pain!
I had one done when I was about 16 and I have never felt pain like it as they put the needle in to my big toe and pumped in the anaesthetic.
A while after that the one on the other foot started to Ingrow, I attempted a series of home made attempts at cutting bits out but could never get down deep enough, which left a 'barbed' shaped part of nail that kept ingrowing.
The amount of blood and puss that kept coming out was grim. My solution was to wrap it in Zinc oxide tape and try to ignore the pain.
After I finally admitted defeat and went to the docs they cut it out and the 'barb' was long enough that it was right thru to the bottom of my toe!
My advice for anyone who gets an ingrowing toenail is DO NOT try to sort it yourself, get to a doctors sharpish.
Oh and be prepared for the pain!
If I do nail surgery on a patient, (I'm a podiatrist) I advise them that it can take up to 3 months to heal fully, maybe less, maybe more, (likely to take longer if the pt has diabetes or picks up a post op infection). We use phenol on the nail bed to prevent the section(s) of nail(s) that have been removed from ever growing back again, this causes a chemical burn and it tends to weep, more so if you are active. If you have nail surgery you won't feel a thing, although you may feel the injections of local anaesthetic.
If you have not had nail surgery and just have an in-growing toe nail, (they typically have hypergranulation - over growth of a very vascular type of tissue -form along the side of the nail, become red, hot, swollen and very painful, then chances are it won't heal until the section of nail causing the problem is removed, usually done through surgery.
If you have a nail which has no hypergranulation tissue, but may be a bit swollen and/or inflamed and has a spike of nail casuing the pressure/pain you can sometimes cut it out yourself, although it can be very painful to do this, or you may need to see a podiatrist who may be able to cut it out without the need for surgery.
If in doubt, see your GP and ask for a referral to the local podiatry service, failing that, arrange to see a private podiatrist but make sure they are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, (HCPC).
If you have not had nail surgery and just have an in-growing toe nail, (they typically have hypergranulation - over growth of a very vascular type of tissue -form along the side of the nail, become red, hot, swollen and very painful, then chances are it won't heal until the section of nail causing the problem is removed, usually done through surgery.
If you have a nail which has no hypergranulation tissue, but may be a bit swollen and/or inflamed and has a spike of nail casuing the pressure/pain you can sometimes cut it out yourself, although it can be very painful to do this, or you may need to see a podiatrist who may be able to cut it out without the need for surgery.
If in doubt, see your GP and ask for a referral to the local podiatry service, failing that, arrange to see a private podiatrist but make sure they are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, (HCPC).
R1gtr said:
Biggest understatement ever!!
True. When I was at school my left big toe kept growing into the skin at the side and i've had plenty of injections before but this particular one is one of the most painful things i've ever experienced.They finally had to destroy the nail bed so that the entire nail wouldn't grow back but they kind of did a half assed job if it and it looks as if a little bit of nail is poking up out the nail bed. Also i've still got big red blotched on my toe where they injected me 12 years ago!
I've wondered about going back to the docs and asking their opinion on it.
Yep - needle between big and middle toe is something I won't ever forget either!
Had both mine removed and nail beds burnt out about 18 years ago. Both mine are also a bit half arsed and grow bits of nail too - look just fabulous, hmm. Don't seem to cause any problems now though which is nice.
I also spent many years before attempting self surgery to fix - which I'll admit was good fun but also, ultimately, no use.
Had both mine removed and nail beds burnt out about 18 years ago. Both mine are also a bit half arsed and grow bits of nail too - look just fabulous, hmm. Don't seem to cause any problems now though which is nice.
I also spent many years before attempting self surgery to fix - which I'll admit was good fun but also, ultimately, no use.
Head over here for story and photos, you're welcome 
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
illmonkey said:
Head over here for story and photos, you're welcome
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Pics don't work thankfully! I can still remember the experience vividly tho, imagine your body is one of those wine pouches you get inside wine boxes and your toe is the nozzle/tap. When the Doc cut the nail and tugged it out it was as if someone opened the tap fully, the amount of blood from a toe was amazing.http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The needle in to the toe is something I hope never to repeat.
Some GP's will do nail surgery, but they often do a slightly different procedure to that which a podiatrist will do. Typically they don't seem to use phenol, (phenol is what we use to prevent the nail re-growing). The nail is removed, but will regrow over the next few months. The damage this removal causes to the nail matrix, (the cells that produce the nail) can result in the nail growing back differently - thicker, deformed etc. although sometimes it may not cause any changes. The GP method usually involves removing the entire nail plate, and it may heal quicker. A podiatrist can remove the entire nail or just the sides. The phenol causes a chemical burn and so may take longer to heal. Usually both methods just require two injections of local anaesthetic, one to each side of the base of the toe. I've heard stories of patients saying someone did their toe previously and didn't make sure it was numb and the pt could feel everything. Anyone who is any good at it will make sure that you've lost all pain sensation before they go any further, however local anaesthetic will only take away the perception of pain, you can still feel pressure and movement, that is normal.
Good luck with your appointment.
Good luck with your appointment.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff