Ingrown toenail (eww) what does the podiatrist do?

[NotTodayBillyRay]

Ds is 13 and has an ingrown toenail. I’ve self referred today to podiatry and wondering what they will do? Take the whole nail off? Trim the sides?

Anyone have any experience with this??

I have a pic if anyone’s interested in gross things

[LittleWitch]

Isn’t it a chiropodist you need not a podiatrist?

[NotTodayBillyRay]

His doctor said podiatry?

[JohnHunter]

Podiatry and chiropody are the same things - "podiatry" is the modern term.

[NotTodayBillyRay]

Ahhh thanks @JohnHunter

[PurpleStar123]

I had one as a teen and it was VERY sore. They trimmed the side and said it might not grow back but it did and I didn't have any problems again. I was told it occurred because of how I cut my toenails.

[JohnHunter]

In adults they would usually cut down the side of the nail, which is called a wedge resection and can be seen . I presume that a 13-year-old would be treated the same way...

[megletthesecond]

Mine was years ago. IIRC he did cut the ingrown corner of the nail off, that was painful but it the pain stopped when the pressure was released. I'm sure he put some cream on it too. Bandaged it up nicely and I think I went back a few days later so he could check it was ok. Never happened since.

[Quartz2208]

Yes trim down the sides and remove any bits digging in.

[mrsreynolds]

Ds1 (14) had this done recently due to losing part of his toenail to a football injury..he kept getting infections so after his 3rd lot of antibiotics we took.him to a podiatrist.
It's called a toenail wedge resection
Sadly he got an infection despite following all instructions
It will need bathing and dressing daily
Soft shoes
I used mepore dressings
The hardest thing is keeping it dry when bathing
In the end ds1 had to have a strip wash every day
HTH!

[NotTodayBillyRay]

😯 that video, won’t be showing him that.

Did it get done on the first visit or were you assessed first? He’s in a lot of pain and cant walk too good so needs it gone soon.

[NotTodayBillyRay]

Ok I’m going to post the photo I took today. He went to OOH last night as it wouldn’t stop bleeding and looked infected to me but it’s not. Doctors just put a plaster on it for him.

[squoosh]

Ouch that looks sore!

The most painful part of having the nail surgery is when they administer the anaesthetic. It's four injections (if I recall) into the base of the toe and it feels as it's going through the bone. But nothing too awful and over in an instant. After that all plain sailing although best not to peek too much when they're removing the offending nail parts! I'd imagine they'll just trim the sides rather than getting rid of the whole nail.

[mrsreynolds]

We went private
Cost £220 - but that inc all after care visits (of which there were 6!)
Dr told us it would becweeks before we even got a referral on the nhs 😡😔

[NotTodayBillyRay]

that’s a lot of money, but definitely worth it. Just wish I could afford to go private.

[NotTodayBillyRay]

This is vile 🤮

[willothewisp17]

I had two ingrown toenails so those photos make my eyes water!

eventually had to get both removed after a very long waiting list!

procedure itself isn't too bad, but the healing can be annoying.

[squoosh]

Anyone who's in Scotland can have it done for free. Just self refer to your local NHS podiatry clinic.

[NotTodayBillyRay]

It just won’t stop bleeding. It’s not much but it’s annoying ds.

Is it worth getting him seen at our gp’s? He’s in agony with it by lunch time everyday, school are letting him rest it as much as possible but he can’t wait weeks like this.

[LIZS]

Eugh, that looks painful. Dd accidentally trod on ds's infected ingrown toenail and it exploded blood. He was referred and treated in just over 2 months earlier this year on nhs (could have been quicker if not for uni/holiday). The podiatrist shaved a sliver off the ingrown edge and sealed it. There is a chance that it could regrow but seems good so far.

[SpaghettiAlphabetti]

That looks so painful. I would definitely go private rather than wait.

DH suffered with ingrown toenails as a teenager. He had the procedure your DS will be having at 18 and has never suffered again. His parents paid privately too so waiting times for NHS podiatry isn't a new thing. That was in the 90's.

Your poor DS.

[BobbinThreadbare123]

I had similar as a teenager. My mum and dad went private for me and the podiatrist sorted it. He didn't take my toenails; he used phenol to kill off part of the nail bed on the side (not ingrowing, slightly different problem). I am now mid 30s and have never had an issue since.

[Redken24]

They seriously just put a plaster on that? Where is your local podiatry department? Phone first thing and ask if you can email a photo of that toe - poor kid!

[NotTodayBillyRay]

Managed to get him an appointment for this afternoon at our doctors, if they are no help then I will have t find the money to go private. He’s in agony this morning, has had to stand in a field for double pe as the teacher didn’t accept the note he had.

[NotTodayBillyRay]

So the doctor today said he’s sending an emergency referral through to podiatry, will have to wait and see if that makes a difference. Ds also has more antibiotics.

[kathryn77]

We were told my Ds11 needed nail off but a podatirst, paid privately, trimmed it and it didn’t need drastic treatment. Toe etc numbed before anything and was £30 a session. Def get recommendations and try and get rid of any infection prior to going. Our gp dreadful and referred him straight to surgeon after 4 lots of Anti b. Paid privately and it was dressed and fixed with no scar or trauma within a few week. Good luck.