Do I have an ingrown toenail?

[accidentprawn]

My big toenail on the right foot is very red and sore. The area around it is warm.
I will try to upload a photo onto my profile ( not promising!)

[ItWasThePenguins]

I'm waiting for the pic!
I had them on both sides of both big toes. Had them operated on in November. Will try to help you out =)

[accidentprawn]

itwas i can`t promise! DD has the camera.

[accidentprawn]

Its looks like nail is growing down the side of the toe.
I heard that cutting a V into the nail helps. is this right?

[ItWasThePenguins]

I never tried, but I don't see why.
Did you post this in two places? I'm getting confused. Think I posted there too...

[TheDowager]

If you squeeze, does green goo come out of the side of the nail? You might have an infection under the nail or in the side crease.

[accidentprawn]

i posted in two places as i know chat is probably the busiest topic on here.
thedowager there is green goo

[ItWasThePenguins]

Ahh.
Probs best to go to the docs, though took them 8 months to admit I had a problem and refer me on.. so good luck!

[accidentprawn]

I will come back after speaking to the doctor. thank goodness its there long day today!

[boxoftricks]

cutting a little v in the middle of the nail at the top, just in the white bit will release the pressure on the nail. I had an ingrown toe nail, got told to put tiny whisps of cotton wool under the nail, pushing it down with the end of a sewing needle, or hair pin, or tweezers, pushing it in. it lifts the nail up, and stops it growing inwards. leave it for 2 days, then pull it out with tweezers.

[accidentprawn]

have spoken to the doctors. they have said that it sounds like it is ingrown and too go to see the nurse in the morning as it might be infected.

I will put cotton wool under my nail.
It is agony. :(

[SoftKittyWarmKitty]

Let us know how you get on OP. I think I might have an grown toe nail too, although there's no goo it's often really sore and tender down the side. I tend to try and pick it out with whatever implement fits down the edge of my nail, usually tweezers . I might also try the cotton wool trick.

[accidentprawn]

I have stuck the cotton wool under the nail and it has taken the pressure of. It is weeping quite a lot. It is getting warmer next to the nail. Is this bad?

[boxoftricks]

i know it sounds gross, but it does work! make sure it goes down the side, and all the way to the top corner. i was a bit apprehensive about the nail "growing over it" but it doesn't, and its v.v.v.v.v satisfying feeling to pull it out with tweezers to change it

[accidentprawn]

my toe is feeling much better after putting the cotton wool in. I will leave it over night and will take it out in the morning before i go to the Doctors.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Did you cut it down the side of the nail? Puts glasses on especially to look disapprovingly over the top of them.

[Shutupanddrive]

Soak your foot to soften the nail in the bath or something then you can stuff more cotton wool underneath without it being too painful

[accidentprawn]

the nurse has given me antibiotics as it is infected.
I have cut it down the side of the nail. Should i not have done that?

[Fluffycloudland77]

No, let it grow out if you can. If you have left a spike of nail down there when it is growing it will get sore and probably septic again. Try to look down the side of the nail and see if you can see a spike of nail longer than the rest of the nail. Here is what you do if you can or if it doesnt settle after you have finished the antibiotics.

Look for a private podiatrist/chiropodist. Look for someone with a BSc in podiatry or a diploma in chiropody (its not my qualification so I dont know the abbreviation for it) but avoid anyone who didnt go to university to do their course. They should also be on the HPC register, if you google hpc online register its quick to check we are registered. We dont mind proving ourselves if we need to!.

Book in with them, the NHS waiting list will be too long for you if there is a spike down there and it will go septic again as the nail pierces the skin. They can take the spike off so it will grow up again without going to wrong BUT it may still hurt while it is growing up and pushing against the flesh.

If you havent left a spike down there (and it is possible) then it will be a little bit sore as it grows up but it wont be exudating fluid, hot, swollen or very painful. I had to let mine grow out of the sides of the nail so I could see the corners as I had cut them too short and as it grew back it pushed against the flesh and hurt.

When it grows out file it flat accross the top side to side every few days as the temptation is to cut it down the side again.

[accidentprawn]

i will leave it alone! There is a spike of nail down the side.
How long will it take the antibiotics to work? the toe is still red but it feels cooler today.

[accidentprawn]

picture of toe on my profile!

[candytuft63]

This happened to me. My GP told me to file (gently, obv.) across the top of the nail to ease the pressure on the sides of the nail. Then soak the toe in warm salt water to clear any debris.
If its extremely too sore yet, I would wait for the antibiotics to work.

[accidentprawn]

I will wait for the antibiotics to kick in before i start filing it.
It is still painful to touch it - its 10 times better than yesterday though

[piprabbit]

There is a small operation available to permanently solve the problem of ingrowing toe nails, if it keeps recurring. I had mine done at my GP surgery's minor procedures clinic.
They basically cut down one side of the nail, then treat the nail bed with something toxic to kill that part of the nail. It never grows back.
Mine looks lovely and neat and tidy now.

[ItWasThePenguins]

Defiantly ingrown. (though Im not medical, just had them alot myself)

you'll probably need a little op, with local anesthesia. They put chemicals on the edges to make your nail a little narrower and it doesn't grow back on those bits. After about a week it will be fine again.

Make your gp have a proper look, and ask which gp at your surgery specializes in this, cos most don't care and just give antibiotics which don't help in my view.

Good luck x

[accidentprawn]

The nurse said that if the nail is looking like it is not getting better by friday to ring up again. Then they will look into removing the infected part of the nail.

Thank you :)