ingrown toenails.

[divegirl]

Hi, my daughter suffers from these [in fact we all do in our family] and is in near on constant pain right now. She had to go to the doctors when one became infected a while back, but aside from mentioning a rather gruesome sounding procedure where the middle of the nail is removed no treatment was offered.
Would a chiropodist be able to help and would a GP refer her? She's 14 and wears good shoes, it's not like she cramming her feet into narrow toed ones all the time.

Lisa x

[lidlicker]

My son was about 13 when he went into hospital for ingrowing big toe nails. I don't know what they did, but it didn't cure it at first. He went for a second operation, and now he doesn't have any nail at all on his big toes. He is fine, but I expect a girl would be upset as what can you paint? I think you can get false nails though.

[B00]

<barrrrrrf!!!> No nail at all???

Why do I continue to read toenail questions? Almost putting me off me bacon butty :-(

[bednobs]

i used to suffer from this and had an op on both big toes (in the community) which involved taking the nail away from both sides and leaving a bit in the middle. the op bloody hurt (well actually it was the numbing injections that REALLY hurt -3 people had to hold down my leg to prevent me kicking the man in the face).
Anyway, after that initial thing and the period immediately after when i couldn't get the dressings wet, i've had no probs since. Ingrowing toenails hurt a lot, and i remember i had to have various times off work cause i couldn't walk properly, which sounds so crappy when you are ringing in saying cant come in because of my toenail!

[Ellipsis]

Yes, a chiropodist could help and yes, a GP could refer. Last year my 14-year-old son had the same op as bednobs describes above, just at the local NHS chiropodist. All went well, not too much pain and now he's fine.

[bednobs]

when i say "in the community" i meant at a chiropodist, that i was referred to by my GP

[divegirl]

Thank you for your answers...
I did tell her that any treatment would be painful and there was a risk of losing her nail completely....and no she wasn't a happy bunny about that.
I'll book her another appointment and hopefully a chiropodist will be able to help before anything more drastic!

Lisa x

[katdarn79]

When i had mine removed round about that age too they left the toenail on they cut down the side off it. They have never grown back and im 32 now!

[icemaiden]

Hi Divegirl,

I know what your going through. My daughter had three ops for ingrowing toenails, all under general anesthetic (sp). She really went through it when they became infected, very nasty.

The last operation they took out the root of the toenail on the side so that the nail grows more narrow. Seems to have worked as well no more problems.

I am surprised that you haven't been offered this operation. I would say it's worth mentioning to your GP. She shouldn't have to continue suffering with them. They are so painful.

[beso]

Ingrown toenails can be incredibly painful. I had them for years and was always cutting away at end of the parts that gave trouble.

In my experience the problem comes from excessive curvature of the nail which drives the corner into the flesh. Once the curvature has set in they distort the growing bed into a curve and the problem persists.

They are never right until they are cut right down to the bed. Removing the middle of the nail sounds completely wrong.

One day in desperation I sectioned mine myself (without anaesethetic). Agony yes but the relief afterwards was worth it. That pretty much fixed it though I still have to give them some attention. I probably removed less than a podiatrist would have.

[divegirl]

Omg Beso...that had me cringing! You're either very brave or very.... lol...I'm not saying it!

Lisa x

[Slapshot]

No big toenails, had them removed years ago. Ingriowing toenails were a regular thing playing rugby, getting feet trod on regularly. Doc whipped them off quickly then chemically burnt the nailbeds away at the sides....sore for a day or so but no problems since

[tinkerbell23]

Had both mine done
Had nail removed on right foot completely which grew back no problems!! Mums didnt though- she just paints the skin LOL

Left nail i had the corner removed and burned away never to grow back but it just looks normal to the unknowing eye! Relief was instant!!! Jags are sore yeah but its worth it- mines were always infected i couldnt even walk!!!

Defo get the ingrown corner removed for good and leave rest of nail
Intact! No one knows xx

[jkelly24]

My teenage son suffered from this and yes the GP would refer him to see a chiropodist but there was a long wait. I paid for him to see one, it cost £18 and was worth every penny. He has had no problem since. I would try a chiropodist first before the op if I were you.The chiropodist he saw had lower rates for under 16's.

[craft1948]

I suffered for years with an ingrowing toenail on my left foot, and had all sorts of things tried by the chiropodist. In the end, when I was about 40 I had the whole nail removed. I only wish I'd had it done sooner.
The taxi driver who picked me up from the hospital turned very green when I described the procedure....................