Anyone know about toenail removal?

[yoopermom]

DS14 is a three sport athlete, and has been battling a toe fungus/infection in his big toe for the past few months. GP has treated with oral and topical antibiotics, creams, soakings, etc. She is now sending us to a podiatrist and feels that he will want to remove the nail, either temporarily or permanently. DS starts football practice in ten days and is VERY worried that this will slow him down, obviously. I'm more worried about it turning into something serious! She acted like it was no big deal to remove one "permanently", but that seems an awfully disfiguring thing to do to a teenager, IMHO.

So, let's hear your toenail removal stories, good, bad, and otherwise! Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

Terri

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Fungal infections don't respond to antibiotics. Antibiotics are for bacterial infections. Your son should be on antifungal medications. Bring the list of medicines he's been taking to the podiatrist, make sure that the problem isn't that he's been taking an ineffective medicine before you take the step of removing the toenail.

Also, have him culture the fungal infection to target which specific group of fungi are infecting the toenail.

Giving him improper antibiotics can actually cause fungus to grow wildly out of control because it upsets the natural fungal/bacterial balance in the body.

It's the same idea as when women are put on an antibiotic a lot of them come down with yeast infections-the lack of bacteria in the system allow fungus to occasionally grow wildly out of control.

 

[claudia]

DH used Lamisil and it cleared up in 3 months.

 

[yoopermom]

See now THAT'S the sort of thing I need to know! Thanks so much! I believe he was put on the antibiotic because his entire big toe was dark red almost purplish and very, very swollen, as if there was infection there, and not just in the toenail itself. Now it's just the toenail that's half black, but the other side has the skin kind of growing over it, ick. With hours of karate a week, plus hot, sweaty football starting soon, we just have to get it under control.

Thanks again, and anyone else?
Terri

 

[momrek06]

Do NOT do it. Do not remove the big toe nail.

I suffered with terrible ingrown toenails on both big toes. It was all because of the way my nails grew. They just grew INTO my skin. So 15+ years ago my podiatrist removed each big toe nail. I will tell you I have never had to suffer with ingrown toenails anymore (which btw were very very painful and always seemed to flare up when I had something important to tend to, ie; vacations etc etc.)
Well, subsequent to my ingrown issues, one DS started suffering with the same issue. TODAY the podiatrists do not take the toe nail OFF instead they STRIP the sides of your nails and leave the toenail in place.
That nail on your big toe serves a purpose to PROTECT your toe. With no toe nail your toes are very very sensitive. I have dropped items on my toes and my neice stepped on my toe once and it was so painful. I am rarely w/o sneakers, shoes, slippers on.

I would get another opinion, OP, before having your DS big toe nails removed completely. JMHO.

 

[moniot]

My DS16 had both his big toe nails partially removed. He had so many problems with ingrown nails. They took a strip off both sides of the nails. He was weeks recovering. The pieces never grew back. They look icky but better then the look of the ingrown and no pain now.

If you end up with this option my DS wished he would have just had them take it all off he thinks it might have healed faster.

 

[m&m's mom]

I know! I know!
I have been battling the exact same thing for years. I have been through rounds and rounds of the anti-fungal stuff (Lamisil I think) and special polish, cut the fungus out w/out any success; all your son has been through.
I was finally at my wits end and asked my Podiatrist just to rip it off and let's start over. He did so and the actual removal was not bad at all. I did wait until April when I could just wear sandals.
I could wear shoes in a couple of weeks fine but sports is obviously different. I did the temporary removal as I am a 43 year old female. I should say it was my big toe too.
All that being said- that was a year and a half ago and nail AND fungus are back. I am so frustarted!
I am in the process of deciding if I want to spend $1250 for the laser nail treatment. It has on over 85% success rate but it is also obviously expensive.
I have calculated I have spent over $2000 out of pocket already on this dumb toe.

Bottom line- if I was a boy and it was not painful- I would not do anything.
It will still be there but if not painful (mine is not) than I would just leave it.

 

[momrek06]

I know! I know!
I have been battling the exact same thing for years. I have been through rounds and rounds of the anti-fungal stuff (Lamisil I think) and special polish, cut the fungus out w/out any success; all your son has been through.
I was finally at my wits end and asked my Podiatrist just to rip it off and let's start over. He did so and the actual removal was not bad at all. I did wait until April when I could just wear sandals.
I could wear shoes in a couple of weeks fine but sports is obviously different. I did the temporary removal as I am a 43 year old female. I should say it was my big toe too.
All that being said- that was a year and a half ago and nail AND fungus are back. I am so frustarted!
I am in the process of deciding if I want to spend $1250 for the laser nail treatment. It has on over 85% success rate but it is also obviously expensive.
I have calculated I have spent over $2000 out of pocket already on this dumb toe.

Bottom line- if I was a boy and it was not painful- I would not do anything.
It will still be there but if not painful (mine is not) than I would just leave it.

CRAP, m&m, I have heard that happens. The new nail grows back as well as the fungus.........why the HECK does that happen??

 

[PurpleSurfer]

My father had his removed after years of battling them and was up dancing the next day. I do agree with PP that this is the measure of last resort. Removing anything from your body will create problems. In a 60+ year old man not such a big deal but a teen boy will want to go barefoot, wear flip-flops etc. it will be different.

 

[kathie859]

OH ICKY. icky, icky!!!! to your DS. I've only had a minor fungal thingie which cleared up rather quickly and never came back. No one else in the family had had toe/foot issues.

I guess the question I would ask is how long his toe/foot will be out of commission? How long will he be impacted with his sports and is there anything (i.e. an orthotic device) which would protect his toe during the healing process?

Good luck

 

[paintnolish]

My sister did the topical things for years and when she was old enough, tried Lamisil, but it still didn't work. She had the big toenail on each foot removed. There is still a bit of toenail there and it ain't pretty! She sticks on a fake big toenail during sandal season. It still looks and feels better than the thick, nasty ones there before. She had this done when she was around 15, by the way. She is now 21.

 

[yoopermom]

Thanks, everyone, you're the best! We tend to be VERY conservative when it comes to medical issues, so I'm not treating the GP like a god or anything. Just trying to see the best to worst continum. DS is really pretty good at following drs orders (took care of his own braces for years), but it's hard to keep a healthy nail when your foot is "in use" all the time! I'm going to print out this whole thread and keep it in mind as I listen to the podiatrist's list of possibilities on Thursday.

Sort of a funny: When DS was told of the possibility, he turned to me and with a panicked voice said, "Will it hurt if they cut off my toenail?" I couldn't lie, especially since he had just had a wart "frozen" off his thumb that hurt like the $%^&%$!! Poor kid!

Thanks again!
Terri

 

[jen0610]

Do NOT do it. Do not remove the big toe nail.

I suffered with terrible ingrown toenails on both big toes. It was all because of the way my nails grew. They just grew INTO my skin. So 15+ years ago my podiatrist removed each big toe nail. I will tell you I have never had to suffer with ingrown toenails anymore (which btw were very very painful and always seemed to flare up when I had something important to tend to, ie; vacations etc etc.)
Well, subsequent to my ingrown issues, one DS started suffering with the same issue. TODAY the podiatrists do not take the toe nail OFF instead they STRIP the sides of your nails and leave the toenail in place.
That nail on your big toe serves a purpose to PROTECT your toe. With no toe nail your toes are very very sensitive. I have dropped items on my toes and my neice stepped on my toe once and it was so painful. I am rarely w/o sneakers, shoes, slippers on.

I would get another opinion, OP, before having your DS big toe nails removed completely. JMHO.

You and I must have had some of the same problems. My ingrowns were buried so deeply on the side of my big toes that the nail was actually growing out the tips of my toes. I can't believe that the Dr took the whole nail on yours. I had mine taken care of when I was 17 (24 years ago) and my Dr removed the sides of my nails, killed the roots so there would be no more growth. I no longer get ingrowns on either big toe.

I do know that when they did my surgery, I was on soft sided shoes for three weeks. NO SPORTS....period. Even after the three week period, he suggested that I not do anthing that might lead to my feet being injured. Of course I just had to get back to playing ball and the 2nd game back, slid into 3rd base jamming my toe on the spike holding the base into place and opened the healing areas back up. Was put back on NO SPORTS for 4 more weeks.

I know it may be really hard for your son to sit out the sports, but in the long run it will be the best for him. It takes time for the thing to heal. You don't know how much pressure you put on your toes, until one or more of them are injured and you can't walk as you normally do.

 

[nanalisa]

My big toe toe nails were infected and nothing helped - I had a dermatologist and podiatrist working on them. The removed part of the nail but then the part that was left started to grow into my toes. I finally had them both removed and it was a blessing. You have to be careful not to drop anything one them at first, but they heal and toughen up. I've had acrylic nails built on my toe bed - especially for summer or I can attach fake nail. Sometimes I just paint the toe nail bed area. I am so glad to be pain free.

 

[disney1990]

I go to an internist and she absolutely would not give me Lamisil for a toe infection. She said that there is a high incident of it affecting the liver and was not worth the risk. She said that the fungal infection wouldn't really cause me any harm and using Lamisil wasn't worth the risk.

As for the person that mentioned laser surgery, what happens when you spend $1250 for the treatment and the infection still comes back -- 85% isn't 100% and that's a pretty expensive option. Ouch!

Important information about Lamisil

Before using Lamisil, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, or an autoimmune disorder such as lupus or psoriasis.
Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Lamisil will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. Some people taking Lamisil have developed severe liver damage leading to liver transplant or death. It is not clear whether Lamisil actually caused the liver damage in these patients. In most cases, the patient had a serious medical condition before taking Lamisil.

Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of liver damage, such as nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). These events can occur whether or not you have ever had liver problems before.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood may need to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

 

[momrek06]

My big toe toe nails were infected and nothing helped - I had a dermatologist and podiatrist working on them. The removed part of the nail but then the part that was left started to grow into my toes. I finally had them both removed and it was a blessing. You have to be careful not to drop anything one them at first, but they heal and toughen up. I've had acrylic nails built on my toe bed - especially for summer or I can attach fake nail. Sometimes I just paint the toe nail bed area. I am so glad to be pain free.

Ohhh, with the pain I was having from my "ingrown" nails I agree it was and is a blessing. I never ever have to worry about ever getting ingrown toenails and I have had my nail tech attach acrylics as well IF it is a special occasion in the summer months...wedding, grad, etc.

I go to an internist and she absolutely would not give me Lamisil for a toe infection. She said that there is a high incident of it affecting the liver and was not worth the risk. She said that the fungal infection wouldn't really cause me any hard and using Lamisil wasn't worth the risk.

Did you leave off a word? Hard ..... ?

Thanks.

 

[yoopermom]

Good to know about the Lamasil. My DM, after years of antiinflammatories, ended up with liver issues, so it's not something I take lightly.

And that's so funny about the "fake" toenails, because he asked me that, "Mom, do they put acrylic fake ones on if you have to have yours removed?" I asked him, "Why? Do you want to be a foot model?"

Thanks everyone!
Terri

 

[mill4023]

See a podiatrist.

 

[Christine]

I had my big toenail removed due to fungal infection. The Lamisil made me sick and it scared me too. The nail wasn't attached well anyway so a podiatrist suggested that the best treatment was removal. I didn't have anything permanent done, just had the bad nail removed. It all grew back, no fungus, and it looks perfectly normal. I was out of commission for 2 weeks or so but then fine.

My mom had an infected big toe for years and she did the vinegar method which worked for her but it doesn't on many people and you've got to be fanatical with applying it twice a day.

If you want to wait until football season is overwith, there's no real harm in that but I would soak his foot in white vinegar everynight to keep it from getting worse.

 

[nanalisa]

I don't wear the fake nails all the time, like Momrek06, just for special occasions. I wear Keen shoes (I read about them on these boards). The bottom of the shoe comes up over the big toe, so not only does it protect the toe, but covers it if you don't like how your tootsies look.