Anyone had surgery for ingrown toenail?

[Zandy595]

I'm scared (I don't deal well with pain) to go to the doctor, but I know I have to. I've had an ingrown toenail for over a year. I was hoping it would just get better on it's own, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.

What exactly does a doctor do to fix an ingrown toenail?

 

[Big V]

Ouch, I know how much they hurt! I had mine cut out about 10 years ago and it has never come back. It hurts a little when they give you the shot to freeze it, but it's well worth it. I think they just cut out the ingrown side down to the root of the nail so it never grows back. Good luck, I hope you get it done soon.

 

[Mickey's sunshine]

I had one removed too and like Big V said it is well worth it to get it taken care of. I think it is more painful having it ingrown than removed. The shot hurt a little but almost instantly went numb.

You may have some pain when the numbness wears off but mine was not bad (this was about 10 years ago also). Just make sure no one steps on that toe for a couple days. Good luck and go get it done, you will feel much better!

 

[Galahad]

I broke my toe last year and as it healed the nail became ingrown. As Big_V said above, they only take the part of it that is growing in. Very quick and for the most part painless. The shot was the only "painful" part and it wasn't bad at all. No discomfort afterwards as well. Two months later it doesn't even look particulaly odd. The sooner you do it the better.

 

[crazymomof4]

I had it done twice in my early teens. (many, many moons ago! LOL)

It doesn't hurt while he is doing it bc. your toe is numbed. Kind of like getting a cavity filled using novocaine. Don't watch what he's doing. Try to concentrate on thinking of a pleasant memory or thought, like your favorite WDW attraction.

You will have some pain during recovery. Take what ever the doc recommends for that. I seem to remember my doc prescribing soaks in warm water with epsom salt to speed healing- so ask your doc about that. For at least the first 24 hours you will want to limit your walking around. Be prepared to go shoeless for a few days or wear sandals that have nothing near the big toe (I'm assuming that it's your great toe)

In the future whenever you feel the beginning symptoms of an ingrown toenail do this: Take a whisp of cotton and pack it under the affected toenail. If it doesn't hurt a bit while putting the cotton in, you are not using enough. Pack in as much cotton as will fit under the nail. Make sure you pack it so that the corner of the toenail that you feel is becoming ingrown is raised. Change the cotton daily, replacing it immediately if it falls out. An ingrown nail is growing downward (toward the floor). Packing with cotton works bc. it lifts the nail up thereby reducing inflammation of the tissue that the nail had been growing down into. Leave the cotton in until the toe feels normal again (usually takes a week or two). Remember to where shoes that don't constrict your toe during this period.

Also, during the time that you are treating with the cotton packing, soak the foot (with the cotton out) in very warm water with epsom salt at least 2-3 times a day. If you see signs of infection starting (yellowish area surrounded by red, swollen area) then start using neosporin on the area too.

I know it sounds too simple to work, but it does! I have a family tendancy toward ingrown toenails (just the way our nails are shaped) and for years I'd get them 2-4 times/yr. Since I've been catching them early and using the cotton treatment right away, I've not had one get bad in over 10 years.

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00111.html

http://familydoctor.org/208.xml

http://health.allrefer.com/health/ingrown-toenail-treatment.html

 

[jenwolgey]

Both my husband and sister have had that done, and they are both very happy-have never had problems with those nails again. Please get it taken care of though-don't wait. My husband tried to "self-treat" his, and was soaking it, etc a couple of times a day...it got sooo infected he finally gave in and went to the doc. The nurse about hit the ceiling when she saw his toe-couldn't believe he could even walk-he'd been roofing in steel-toed boots the day before! He ended up having to have a bone scan with radioactive dye (not fun!!!) to make sure the bone wasn't infected. Luckily, it wasn't. He had the ingrown toe fixed and recovered completely. Needless to say, when the big toe on the other foot showed signs of being ingrown, he went to the podiatrist and had if fixed right away. No problems since!

 

[Towncrier]

Both of my kids have had surgery for ingrown toenails and have had the subsequent treatment to permanently narrow the nail. I had to have surgery once but elected NOT to have the narrowing done. I can say that the relief from the surgery was WELL worth the discomfort when getting the shot of lidocaine to numb the toe.

You'll be fine and I am willing to bet that your toe will be healed before you know it.

 

[puffkin]

I had one and it was painful. The doctor examined it and then just cut it out since it wasn't too ingrown. I am not kidding, I passed out cold in the chair. They had to give me oxygen and make me lie there for 20 minutes to make sure I was ok. Apparently I don't do well with pain.

The way my DH's feet are shaped, he has gotten a few (once on outsides of big toes, once on insides of big toe). Since he is a Diabetic, they don't take any chances with him and he had surgery both times. The first time they numbed the area and did some kind of laser surgery. That wasn't too bad. The second time they put him under and cut out the nail and did some kind of laser surgery. There was significantly more pain and recovery from that one. It seems to have solved the problem though

 

[krcit]

I had it done with no anesthesia and just about hit the roof from pain! I'm not trying to scare you just let you know to make sure that the Dr numbs it first. I was sooooo mad at the Dr for not doing that for me, what a jerk. other than the initial pain while he was removing it, the recovery was fine-anything is better than the agony of an ingrown toenail. I think unless you have had one, you can't imagine the pain, lol.

puffkin, I'm not suprised that you passed out. I almost did too. It was over 10 years ago and I can still remember it!

 

[puffkin]

Yes, if I would ever get another one, I would make sure the doctor at least numbs the area first!

 

[Feralpeg]

After a couple of surgeries to just remove the entire nail, I had a surgery where the removed the part of the root of the nail next to the outer edge. You don't have to have your entire toenail removed, just the little portion on the side along with a small portion of the nail root. It never grows back right along the edge, so it never hurts again. Looking at my toe, you'd never know I had it done. It looks perfectly normal. It was the best thing I ever had done! I went through years of pain prior to this surgery.

The surgery isn't bad at all. You need to elevate your foot for one day, but then you can walk on it with open toed shoes.

 

[Zandy595]

Well, I guess it doesn't sound too bad. And believe me I'd walk right out of the office if they even tried to do it without numbing it first.

No problem wearing open toed shoes after the surgery, I have to wear them now or my toe hurts too much. I had to go through all last winter wearing sandals. Good thing I live in FL, but my feet did get cold. That's the main reason I'm thinking about getting it done now.

 

[Zandy595]

I finally had the surgery done 2 days ago (check out the date of my OP). If I would've known that it was going to hurt that bad getting the shots to numb it, I either wouldn't have had it done at all or would have made them knock me out first. I've never felt pain like that and I've given birth without an epidural (not by choice). The nurse kept telling me that if I've had a baby this would be nothing. WRONG!!! After my toe was numb the procedure was painless. However, a couple times I thought the doc was going to break my toe off because he was putting so much pressure on it. He cut the side of the nail off and put acid on the nail root to kill it so it wouldn't grow back. I was really surprised that it wasn't painful at all after the numbness wore off. I kept waiting for the pain to come and it never did. I'm glad it's done, but if I ever get another ingrown toenail I won't be getting the surgery again, unless they put me under completely.

 

[sugarpie]

I had a toenail that kept getting ingrown and infected, so I had it done. I was more worried that my toenail wouldn't come back than the pain. It was painful, but I didn't have it numbed or anything. My toenail did come back. It's not perfect, but it's still there.

 

[Narnian_Princess]

I finally had the surgery done 2 days ago (check out the date of my OP). If I would've known that it was going to hurt that bad getting the shots to numb it, I either wouldn't have had it done at all or would have made them knock me out first. I've never felt pain like that and I've given birth without an epidural (not by choice). The nurse kept telling me that if I've had a baby this would be nothing. WRONG!!! After my toe was numb the procedure was painless. However, a couple times I thought the doc was going to break my toe off because he was putting so much pressure on it. He cut the side of the nail off and put acid on the nail root to kill it so it wouldn't grow back. I was really surprised that it wasn't painful at all after the numbness wore off. I kept waiting for the pain to come and it never did. I'm glad it's done, but if I ever get another ingrown toenail I won't be getting the surgery again, unless they put me under completely.

Wow, that sounds very unpleasant. I had this done a few years back and the worst part for me was after the numbness wore off. I guess I have a relatively high pain tolerance level because I just blocked out the worst of the numbing shots, but it was hell for a few days after.

 

[beattyfamily]

About 15 years ago, I had an ingrown toenail that would come and go and I finally decided to go to the doctor to have it fixed.

Well, that was the most painful needle in my life and I've had fillings, root canals, moles removed, a needle in my back etc....

He numbed it and pulled the nail out! I almost fainted when I sat up and saw the blood all over.

I regreted it and wished I continued to try and fix it myself!!

Sorry, but that was my experience.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I finally had the surgery done 2 days ago (check out the date of my OP). If I would've known that it was going to hurt that bad getting the shots to numb it, I either wouldn't have had it done at all or would have made them knock me out first. I've never felt pain like that and I've given birth without an epidural (not by choice). The nurse kept telling me that if I've had a baby this would be nothing. WRONG!!! After my toe was numb the procedure was painless. However, a couple times I thought the doc was going to break my toe off because he was putting so much pressure on it. He cut the side of the nail off and put acid on the nail root to kill it so it wouldn't grow back. I was really surprised that it wasn't painful at all after the numbness wore off. I kept waiting for the pain to come and it never did. I'm glad it's done, but if I ever get another ingrown toenail I won't be getting the surgery again, unless they put me under completely.

I had this done same thing to my right foot big toe. They can spry your tow with a cold solution so the needle doesnt hurt as much.
THe needle isnt fun, thats the worst part.

On my other foot I had to have the nail completely pulled out two times and it finally grew back ok. That hurts after. BADLY and it is sore til it grows back in which takes time.
Its important to take care of your feet after they do it
you can get an infection easliy

 

[Zandy595]

I had this done same thing to my right foot big toe. They can spry your tow with a cold solution so the needle doesnt hurt as much.
THe needle isnt fun, thats the worst part.

On my other foot I had to have the nail completely pulled out two times and it finally grew back ok. That hurts after. BADLY and it is sore til it grows back in which takes time.
Its important to take care of your feet after they do it
you can get an infection easliy

They sprayed my toe with the cold stuff and the needle still hurt like h*ll! They put up a screen so I couldn't see anything, but it felt like the nurse was sticking a HUGE needle straight through my toe, in several places. I have nasty red marks, which I assume are the injection sights. I think it took longer to numb it then it did to do the actual surgery. It was awful. I'm starting to wonder if someone else could have done a better job. Some nurses are better at giving shots than others.

I'm on oral antibiotics and I have to clean, medicate and re-bandage it twice a day so I'm hoping it won't get infected.

I also had to have x-rays after the surgery. Did anyone else have that done? I should have asked why they do that because I've been wondering.

 

[Honu]

I finally had the surgery done 2 days ago (check out the date of my OP). If I would've known that it was going to hurt that bad getting the shots to numb it, I either wouldn't have had it done at all or would have made them knock me out first. I've never felt pain like that and I've given birth without an epidural (not by choice). The nurse kept telling me that if I've had a baby this would be nothing. WRONG!!! After my toe was numb the procedure was painless. However, a couple times I thought the doc was going to break my toe off because he was putting so much pressure on it. He cut the side of the nail off and put acid on the nail root to kill it so it wouldn't grow back. I was really surprised that it wasn't painful at all after the numbness wore off. I kept waiting for the pain to come and it never did. I'm glad it's done, but if I ever get another ingrown toenail I won't be getting the surgery again, unless they put me under completely.

Sorry I didn't see your first post. I would have warned you. That shot is worse than anything I've ever been through too. They tell you it's gonna hurt, but mine omitted that there are a whole bunch of nerve endings in the tips of your toes and it's REALLY GOING TO HURT! I'm glad your surgery went well. One of the reasons I get pedicures more often than needed is so my toe nails never have to be cut. I never want another ingrown nail.

 

[Zandy595]

I did an internet search and found out why they did the x-rays.

No X-rays or tests are usually required, unless there is suspicion that infection may have spread to the bone.

Nice of them to tell me that.