topic Re: INGROWN TOENAIL? in Wellness

INGROWN TOENAIL?

Lindsays Grandma — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 03:19:29 GMT

I know that on my left foot, the big toe has an ingrown nail. If you have had experience with that will you please tell me your experience with surgery? I have so much pain everyday from other sources, the toe does not hurt, but I don't think I can take anymore pain if I can avoid it. Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

Kachina624 — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 03:32:46 GMT

Years ago I had trouble with a reoccurring ingrown big toenail. I went to a podiatrist and he somehow "killed" the edge of the bed for that nail and I've never had another ingrown toenail. It has been over 30 years ago so I don't remember a lot about it. It doesn't affect the appearance of the nail.

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

Lindsays Grandma — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 03:36:51 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
Years ago I had trouble with a reoccurring ingrown big toenail. I went to a podiatrist and he somehow "killed" the edge of the bed for that nail and I've never had another ingrown toenail. It has been over 30 years ago so I don't remember a lot about it. It doesn't affect the appearance of the nail.

I guess it is that I have visions of a doctor saying they have cut it out which means surgery. I know, I'm being a baby, first time in my life after having so many surgeries.

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

on the bay — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 05:31:16 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma

I know how you feel. I had a recurring one awhile ago too and finally went to a podiatrist who talked about that surgery-removing the nail if I wanted and would never have to worry about it again.

I think I remember him saying it wasn't a big deal but I have a friend who just had it done and she said its very painful afterwards.

He said to always cut them where the middle is lower than the sides and he cut them while I was there.

The most successful thing I did was use vicks vapo rub (generic ok) and glob it or neosporin or polysporin on with a bandaid until it grew out and healed. Now I am very careful to just cut straight across.

Also I would soak it in hot water and gently pull up the corner with one of those plastic nail things.

So I don't really have them anymore. (I never opted for the surgery either, had too many already!).

I know they can be so painful!

edited to ad-the podiatrist did say they can grow back (so not have to worry about it again isn't totally accurate!)

It's encouraging to know @J Town Girl,

your experience and that it wasn't painful.

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

Scooby Doo — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 04:15:26 GMT

I had one a long time ago. I soaked my foot in epsom salts twice a day and worked a nail file to lift the ingrown part while the nail was still soft from soaking. Then put vasoline on it to keep it soft. I was too chicken to have my nail removed.

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

J Town Girl — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 04:32:54 GMT

I just had that toenail procedure on my right toe 6 weeks ago. The nail was constantly growing into the side of my great toe. My nail artist would try to cut it out as best she could but within a few weeks, it would grow back. It really hurt quite a bit.

I made an appointment with a Podiatrist and she explained the procedure to me. I went back within the week and had it done. I was expecting some discomfort both during and afterward but there was absolutely nothing that was unpleasant. The doctor totally numbed my foot and cut the nail away then she applied an acid that completely destroyed the nail matrix. She explained that in 85% of the cases the nail will never grow back. For that 15 % of the cases, they just do the procedure again.

The morning I went into her office for the procedure she told me she had already done the same procedure on three other people before me. The whole procedure took less than 15 minutes.

There is no deformity to your nail because they just cut away a very small section on both sides of your toe. Unless you look very closely you don't even notice the nail looks different. You will have to keep it covered for a few days and you have to soak your foot in Epson salt 3-4 times a day for 5-7 days then you reduce it to 2-3 times a day for just a few more days. That was the only part that became a little tedious.

I thought that maybe my foot might throb or be painful the first night but I never had any discomfort. I only had the problem with my right foot but if sometime in the future my left foot starts to bother me I will not even hesitate to have the procedure done on that nail.

The Podiatrist explained that as we grow older our nails get thicker and it is very common to have a problem with ingrown toenails.

I am so happy that I had it done because my foot is totally pain-free and I was just cleared to have a pedicure. I had it done on Monday and it was such a joy to not have the nail artist dig around my toe to remove the ingrown nail. I could enjoy the pedi the way it was meant to be. For pampering and relaxation!

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

Kachina624 — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 05:32:25 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma To be perfectly clear, I did not have my nail removed.

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

hckynut — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 05:32:44 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma

I had the nail on my left big toe removed. It was about 2 months ago, and after many different attempts to correct it by my Orthopedic Foot Specialist.

My only concern about having the surgery was: "Will I be able to still get my foot in my ice skate"? He wasn't sure, but I had the surgery on a Thursday and skated on Friday. He told me "if you can handle the pain, no damage will be done". That was all I needed to hear.

Pain? Wasn't the most pleasant experience shoving my foot into my skate, but it did not effect my skating. Walking however? I limped into the rink and limped out, and everywhere I walked. Took about 2 weeks before I could walk without some discomfort.

That's my experience, my best to you with this.

hckynut

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

gidgetgh — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 10:22:00 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
Years ago I had trouble with a reoccurring ingrown big toenail. I went to a podiatrist and he somehow "killed" the edge of the bed for that nail and I've never had another ingrown toenail. It has been over 30 years ago so I don't remember a lot about it. It doesn't affect the appearance of the nail.
I guess it is that I have visions of a doctor saying they have cut it out which means surgery. I know, I'm being a baby, first time in my life after having so many surgeries.

@Lindsays Grandma -I’ve also had this done, on the big toe on both feet. I know you’re apprehensive, but it’s really no big deal. It’s over quickly. You don’t feel anything and the ingrown toenail never bothers you again.

My left one hurt so badly that when I got to the podiatrist and he offered this I said heck yeah and he did it right then. He numbed the toe and before I knew it, he was done.

I consider it a “procedure”, not surgery.

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

PinkyPetunia — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 12:15:38 GMT

Go to a foot Dr. and have it treated. It is no big deal. My son had this procedure done several times when he played lots of basketball. Quick recovery and the problem doesn't come back. The toe is numbed with injections first. That may be the worst part.

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

sidsmom — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 12:19:24 GMT

‘Toe Bro’ on YouTube fixes ingrown nails in many of his videos.

Gives me the creepies watching it but understand it’s a

very simple procedure with little down time, if circulation is not

an issue. Big relief, tho...

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

riley1 — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 15:09:22 GMT

Make an appt with a Podiatrist who should be able to fix this issue without removing the entire toe nail. They will probably numb your toe, cut the piece that is growing into your toe and use some solution so as not to have it grow back.

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

hckynut — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 15:38:12 GMT

@gidgetgh

When any doctor starts cutting and removing pieces of any part of my body? I've had tons of "procedures", none of which required a sharp instrument/local or general anesthesia, and removing parts of my body.

Once something involves those instruments/blood and big bandage wraps, to me it is surgery, or if you prefer, "a surgical procedure". Guess that is what my hernia repair was, but I'll regress.

hckynut

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

Group 5 minus 1 — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 16:03:57 GMT

I have had those repairs done to an ingrown toe nail. It is not a big thing . But,it is surgery. Go to a podiatrist.

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

software — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 17:20:06 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma wrote:
I know that on my left foot, the big toe has an ingrown nail. If you have had experience with that will you please tell me your experience with surgery? I have so much pain everyday from other sources, the toe does not hurt, but I don't think I can take anymore pain if I can avoid it. Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

Go see a podiatrist.

let them explain everything to you first, then decide.

it's a relatively simple procedure, the doctor probably does one every day.

I can tell you are worried, don't worry. Go see about it.

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

shoesnbags — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 18:55:01 GMT

@PinkyPetunia wrote:
Go to a foot Dr. and have it treated. It is no big deal. My son had this procedure done several times when he played lots of basketball. Quick recovery and the problem doesn't come back. The toe is numbed with injections first. That may be the worst part.

I had this done about 20 years ago, and agree the the injections were the worst part. In fact, those 4 shots were pretty bad! But after that, it was just as everyone described - easy peasy. I was even told that I could go to a Mardi Gras parade the next day lol.

PS I thought they didn't remove toenails anymore. That wasn't even a consideration 20 years ago.

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

Grouchomarx — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 19:00:54 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
‘Toe Bro’ on YouTube fixes ingrown nails in many of his videos.
Gives me the creepies watching it but understand it’s a
very simple procedure with little down time, if circulation is not
an issue. Big relief, tho...

I just started watching this show. Gives me a new sympathy for people with ingrowns, I never knew it was so severe. The treatment looks just awful but seems to solve the problem. I think I would pass out if I had to have it done. That show is worse than Dr. Pimple Popper in the squeamish factor! Good luck to all with the problematic toes.

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

wagirl — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 14:47:06 GMT

Watch the show called ---the toe bro--that will answer all your questions

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

sophiamarie — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 17:26:25 GMT

About 30 years ago, I had an ingrown toenail. Big toe. It was all red, hot and painful. I went to my Derm and she immediately called a well-known Podiatrist, who was about an hour away. This was on a Friday afternoon about 3 pm. He drove back to his office, here in town and told me he had to remove the edge of the nail. They told me it was "cellular"..... I had no idea what that meant.

Anyway, they numbed my toe, I looked the other way and next thing I knew, that part of the nail, the edge, was removed. He said it would never happen to that nail and so far, he was right. He sliced it from the top down to the bottom and it even grew back straight.

It's really not a big deal. Don't stress over it and try not to listen to other people who give you horror stories. It seems to be prevalent over here. If it doesn't relate to your problem, I don't know why people have to tell you their "stories"....

I agree with those who watch Toe Bro.

Re: INGROWN TOENAIL?

Tyak — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 21:08:39 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma wrote:
I know that on my left foot, the big toe has an ingrown nail. If you have had experience with that will you please tell me your experience with surgery? I have so much pain everyday from other sources, the toe does not hurt, but I don't think I can take anymore pain if I can avoid it. Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

You'll get your toe sprayed with something that will freeze it so you won't feel the injection into the toe. Then the doctor will remove the ingrown part of the nail, put something on it that kills the nail bed in that area so it won't grow back in the area and you're done. At least that was my experience. In about 6 months time, a new nail had grown in, the old one fell off and all was well. Then a few years alter, I injured the toe and had to have the whole nail removed. That time it hurt for almost a week afterward. Not pleasant but there are things a lot worse.