Ingrown Toenail

[dairyou]

I just figured out I have an ingrown toenail. I've never had one before. I knew I cut my toenail too deep, but I didn't realize it would come to this. I cut it last like 4 or 5 days ago.

They say to soak it and if it isn't too bad it may help heal it. It's kinda red, but nothing oozing out yet.

Do you think I have to go to the Dr. and have them surgically take care of it?
How painful is it?

Help!

Deb

 

[MI mom of 3]

I have heard that this will help. Take a nail file and file the center of your nail from the top of the nail to the cuticle. Kind of wear a groove in it, not too deep. Your nail will grow in from the sides to fill in this space helping to relieve the ingrown nail.

Again, I HEARD that this works, I have no first hand knowledge of it. But it is worth a try. Good luck

 

[momrek06]

I suffered with Ingrown Toenails for YEARS...finally in 1993 had the nails on BOTH my big toes completely removed. It was not a clipping issue, they were like sort of deformed and I was destined for continued ingrown...finally NO MORE...but that type of pain I will not forget...horrible and ALWAYS when I had plans to go somewhere or someplace special and then the PAIN !!!
I would call your Foot MD and follow up with them. My sons BOTH started getting plaqued with ingrowns and NOW TODAY they STRIP the sides...they no longer remove the entire nail but strip the sides of each nail hence preventing you from getting further ingrown toenails....ugh!!! My sons have had this done and never suffer anymore.
OP: call your foot md!

 

[poohandwendy]

I have heard that this will help. Take a nail file and file the center of your nail from the top of the nail to the cuticle. Kind of wear a groove in it, not too deep. Your nail will grow in from the sides to fill in this space helping to relieve the ingrown nail.

Again, I HEARD that this works, I have no first hand knowledge of it. But it is worth a try. Good luck

(i am a manicurist by trade) Do not do this, it will not work and you will just damage more of the nail.

The very best thing you can do is to apply antiseptic (soaking if possible) and antibiotic ointment, wear loose fitting shoes and allow the nail to grow back. Sometimes a doctor will suggest placing a small piece of sterile cotton under the edge to get the nail to grow over it instead of into the tissue of the toe, but my recommendation is to not mess with it at all without the guidance of a doctor.

As long as you keep it clean, you really should be fine unless it is really painful to walk, throbbing, appears infected and/or does not seem to be healing properly.

Obviously, it is really important to NOT continue to cut that far and definitely never cutting into the sides of the nail, they should be cut straight across.

More people do damage trying to rectify the situation than the intial cutting too far. (so put down the clippers for a while, unless you are a surgeon) So, try the above and if it does not seem to be getting better, see your PCP or a podiatrist.

Good luck with it, I have done it to myself, LOL. I know the pain.

 

[dairyou]

Thanks everyone! I'm soaking my foot in water now. I saw a website that says to put some floss inbetween the area. Unfortunately I only have cinammon flavored floss, so won't be able to do that tonight.

I'll continue to soak it and wear my Crocks! Hopefully I won't have to go to the Doctor. No more nail trimming for me. I actually cut it wrong and ripped it off, so I thought it was sore from doing that. I put a bandaid on to cushion the area and took if off today because it was still hurting. Ugh!

Thanks Again,
Deb

 

[tiki23]

momrek06 - I feel your pain!

Ingrown toenails are miserable. I suffered with the first one for months - it even hurt to have a sock on my foot, nevermind the shoe! - before I finally gave in and went to the Dr.

Boy, I gotta tell ya, had all three of my kids by natural childbirth and the numbing process for the toe procedure ran a close second. Yeouch!

But oh, the relief afterwards! Even bumping my toe after the surgery didn't hurt as much as that blasted ingrown nail.

People, do yourselves a very big favor and cut those toenails straight across and leave them a little long.

 

[saucymb]

Thanks everyone! I'm soaking my foot in water now.

Try adding some Epsom Salts to the (hot) water and soaking til the water cools. 2-3 times daily.

 

[x morgan]

When I danced on Pointe for 3 years, 6 days a week, [I was in the company for my state...but that's not really important.] I got ingrown toenails all the time...They were so gross. Anyway, Epsom salt works wonders! Plus it feels good to soak in hot water after a long day. Making sure it doesn't rub or anything helps too...Maybe instead of wearing Crocs you can wear open toed shoes or flip flops until it heals. Good luck, they really are a pain!

 

[Michie]

I buy a lot of products from footsmart.com I have seen they have products for ingrown toenails but have never looked. They have a lot of neat stuff.

 

[Mr.MouseFan]

All I have to say is ingrown toenails are not the truth! (they suck!) Keep a watch on it...don't be dumb like me...I let mine go too long and ended up with an infection called cellulitus...not fun.