INgrown toenail, ouch!

[mafibisha]

If you think it's just painfully irritated, I'd say it would be okay to wait. If you think it's infected, I'd say to do it now. Or at least go in, get some antibiotics and maybe the podiatrist can do a little bit to help until you can schedule a time to get it fixed for good.

Its somewhat better today!? Not nearly as red or painful!?

HOW do you know if its infected or just irritated??

I think it depends on how severe it is...my DH has awful toes/nails, he had to have one cut open once..not fun or pretty, but it worked....for myself, when I feel one brewing (not to often) usually epsom salt soaks,plus a careful lifting of the edge a few times a day till it's out works.... I use the clipper flat part and just ease it out....

THanks for all the continuing replies everyone.

I am so confused!! Sounds silly I know but its not that bad today!!!??? And I haven't really been soaking it, just applying Neosporin antibiotic cream.

But as someone said earlier, I don't want to wake up on Christmas and not be able to walk, ugh!

Someone please decide for me!! (asked my mom, sister and DSIL and they all say stuff y'all said.)

 

[JediBonas]

Its somewhat better today!? Not nearly as red or painful!?

HOW do you know if its infected or just irritated??

THanks for all the continuing replies everyone.

I am so confused!! Sounds silly I know but its not that bad today!!!??? And I haven't really been soaking it, just applying Neosporin antibiotic cream.

But as someone said earlier, I don't want to wake up on Christmas and not be able to walk, ugh!

Someone please decide for me!! (asked my mom, sister and DSIL and they all say stuff y'all said.)

Is it warm (warmer then the rest of the skin around it)? Any weird smell or discharge? Those are signs of infection.

 

[Sadie22]

Thank you all for the replies. I feel educated now!!

Ok, so one more question please

Considering its the holidays and I have a ton of stuff to do.... IF I can stand the pain (it comes and goes surprisingly?!) are there any major disadvantages waiting until the new year? Like Jan 2?

It won't make a difference with our insurance.

Possibilities would be skin overgrowth requiring surgery and a more advanced infection being more difficult to treat and cure.

Just go and get treatment now already and/or learn how to care for your feet from a medical professional.

 

[mafibisha]

Possibilities would be skin overgrowth requiring surgery and a more advanced infection being more difficult to treat and cure.

Just go and get treatment now already and/or learn how to care for your feet from a medical professional.

I DID IT! I Went! LOL

And it didn't really hurt too much!

No anesthetic / needle numbing was needed either!! PHEW! YAY!!

Turns out I had a brand new, lovely nail growing under the top one (with the pretty polish LOL) and since it was just 'hanging on', it became ingrown (eww LOL)

So in less than *ONE* minute, he took off the old yucky nail and ingrown part to see a NICE new fresh nail underneath!! SO funny to me! Its a little short but not gross short!!

Left there with NO bandaid in my regular shoes!!

The doc DID say to toss the ADORABLE but painful shoes that probably caused this

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I HEART THE DIS!!

 

[JandJ]

Great news! So glad you went and it was an easy fix

Many years ago I let an ingrown go too long, got an infection, and had to have 1/2 the nail surgically removed. I was in the special shoe for a week. It was BAD! That part of the nail never grew back, but it's not super noticeable now and my pedicurist does an excellent job

 

[shells4]

I have had an ingrown toenail cut out twice as well. ALOT of pain before it was done, almost immediate relief of the pain. I wore my normal shoes home, just loosely tied and drove myself home with no problems. I worked the next day 13 hours on my feet and had no pain. I have a chronic ingrown nail now, just very careful to keep toenails cut and always cut a V shape in the center. I am also careful to wear shoes that are big in the toes, if they are too tight I get an infection. Haven't had an infection in about 4 years.
The first time I had the toenail cut out I regretted that I waited so long. No reason to suffer for such an easy fix.

 

[Priorityonecb]

I am so proud of you for going! Not sure why, I don't even know you! But, I know how scary it was! I am glad you went and got such great results!

 

[mafibisha]

Great news! So glad you went and it was an easy fix

Many years ago I let an ingrown go too long, got an infection, and had to have 1/2 the nail surgically removed. I was in the special shoe for a week. It was BAD! That part of the nail never grew back, but it's not super noticeable now and my pedicurist does an excellent job

Ouch!! I'm thinking a pedicure may be a good investment every so often!!

The first time I had the toenail cut out I regretted that I waited so long. No reason to suffer for such an easy fix.

ITA. Well, now that I've BTDT too

I am so proud of you for going! Not sure why, I don't even know you! But, I know how scary it was! I am glad you went and got such great results!

Aww, thanks! I often feel like that too after reading threads here.

I love the DIS!!!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

When my DH had one he soaked it in warm epsom salt, then we used dental floss to go in between the nail & toe. Did that once a day & it worked. You do have to start as soon as you know about it & watch for infection of course.

This is what our dermatologist recommended. She also said not to trim my toenails so short & to cut straight across, not at an angle. It's always the same spot on my 2nd toe so now I just leave that one longer than the rest & it doesn't start.

It's excruciating, I know. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[NYCDiane]

I have had an ingrown toenail cut out twice as well. ALOT of pain before it was done, almost immediate relief of the pain. I wore my normal shoes home, just loosely tied and drove myself home with no problems. I worked the next day 13 hours on my feet and had no pain. I have a chronic ingrown nail now, just very careful to keep toenails cut and always cut a V shape in the center. I am also careful to wear shoes that are big in the toes, if they are too tight I get an infection. Haven't had an infection in about 4 years.
The first time I had the toenail cut out I regretted that I waited so long. No reason to suffer for such an easy fix.

Where do you find shoes/sneakers that are big in the toe area? I can't seem to find them anywhere. I wear a (woman's) 11W. The shoes I buy fit perfectly everywhere EXCEPT the toes!!!

I think I have an ingrown (big) toenail right now but I'm not sure. I can fit a folded piece of paper under it and to the side as well as a piece of dental floss. However, I have a huge red bump all the way up the side of my big toe (where the toenail is). It looks like a blister but it's not a blister. I stuck it with a pin (thinking it was a blister) and nothing happened except for it to bleed a little. It is SO painful!!! It will be fine if I'm not standing or walking for a while but, the minute I get up to walk or put shoes (or slippers) on, it hurts.

I don't have any medical insurance (lost it when I lost my job back in January) and I can't afford to pay the podiatrist out of pocket.

Does anyone have a clue what this might be???

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Where do you find shoes/sneakers that are big in the toe area? I can't seem to find them anywhere. I wear a (woman's) 11W. The shoes I buy fit perfectly everywhere EXCEPT the toes!!!

I think I have an ingrown (big) toenail right now but I'm not sure. I can fit a folded piece of paper under it and to the side as well as a piece of dental floss. However, I have a huge red bump all the way up the side of my big toe (where the toenail is). It looks like a blister but it's not a blister. I stuck it with a pin (thinking it was a blister) and nothing happened except for it to bleed a little. It is SO painful!!! It will be fine if I'm not standing or walking for a while but, the minute I get up to walk or put shoes (or slippers) on, it hurts.

I don't have any medical insurance (lost it when I lost my job back in January) and I can't afford to pay the podiatrist out of pocket.

Does anyone have a clue what this might be???

It could be a plantar wart. Hard to say without a picture. I don't recall my ingrown toenail looking like a bump or remotely like a blister. It was just red where the nail touched the skin and any pressure like touching with fingers or shoes would hurt.
You should try google images on plantar wart and if it looks like that's what you might have you could try Dr. Scholl's Freeze Away Wart Remover. That has worked for me in the past but not always. If after a few applications it still doesn't go away, I see my dermatologist.
I'm not anti-podiatrist but I prefer an MD.

 

[blanq]

Honestly I have a chronic one that my pedicurist removes when it needs it. Takes a couple of minutes of discomfort but that's it

Same here.