To expect better from the NHS. Ingrown toenail saga

I had one when I was a child. It was horrific. Out of everyone qualified they gave me a terrified child someone that was learning the procedure. She didn't do the injections correct so I had to have more than needed and my toe still moves all on its own as she messed up the procedure. I feel for him.

I had one toe done about three years ago on nhs. Had a few months wait because you cannot have surgery within 6 months of having other surgery and I had my gall bladder removed.

I was petrified about the procedure but honestly, the initial numbing injections stung a little and that was it. I didn’t need any further pain killers and felt no pain afterwards. I understand there is a small chance of needing it done again. It healed well and looks normal. Can’t believe I put up with years of discomfort before getting something done.

Nowadays I don’t think nhs do this procedure or only in special situations so you need to go private and pay around £250.

My DS went through hell before he got his toenail removed. Must have been 7 or 8 appointments with nurses and doctors at the GP surgery over around a year, all the while, the toe getting worse and clearly infected. Got all kinds of "advice", such as buying school ingrown toe nail liquid, bathing in salt water, etc. I finally had enough and insisted they refer him to podiatry (I'd asked a few times before but they always refused and said it's best to be left to cure). GP signed and said "fine, but there'll be a 3 month wait". Got the appointment letter the following week which was for a month after, but I phoned and asked if they had any earlier/cancellation appointments, and they said, yep, how about tomorrow. So went in for the review appointment next day, and the podiatrist booked him in for the day after that as it was so badly infected. Just wish the bloody GP had referred him months earlier - it would have avoided a lot of pain and missed sports/PE which he'd been unable to do for months. The removal went well and he was back fully fit within a couple of weeks.

I had this done just before Christmas, there was a 6 week wait to even be seen on the NHS where I am and I was in such agony I paid £250 to go privately. Not an easy decision as I’m on maternity leave and money is tight but it was unbearable. It’s the best £250 I ever spent, the injections are excruciating but only for a minute and the relief afterwards was instant. Hope it goes ok for him, the numbing cream sounds like a great idea.

My son refused to go through with the op under local because he'd seen online how painful it was. He was allowed to have it under general anaesthetic, but had to wait for a year. He has ASC and severe anxiety issues, so I'm not sure if this affected the decision. However, it's certainly worth pushing for a referral for an op under general.

@StrongerThanIThought76 what a ridiculous thing to say. Both of those things are ridiculous but they are unrelated. I guess you never complain about anything ever?

(And I do understand your concern is your son - I said that because descriptions of it being worse than childbirth might upset you, to think that he's in more pain that you've had)

Cover all the way over the first joint to where his toe joins the foot. You don't need precision, you need to cover every scrap of where they could possibly inject.

And flip slops/sliders for the way there.

I went to a fantastic private podiatrist £25. Who didn’t give any injections andi barely felt it he used a special tool to take edge of toenail off (it calmed down really fast). He the trained my nails over several months to grow correctly as they had been bothering me for years. No pain, no injections and no blood. Compared to GP, several injections, a helluva lot of blood (I couldn’t get my shoes back on due to the amount it needed bandaged. It also hurt like an utter bastard whilst it healed.

Poor ds I wish i could give you my podiatrist details he’s based in Ayrshire.

OP, I had 2 ops as a teen to deal with ingrown toenails (that were also infected so, yes, ingrown toenails can cause more problems!) and the first with a local was the single most painful moment of my life. Next time the GP cauterised it (wasn’t in the U.K. though, do not sure if that’s an option). When those still failed, I was put under GA and the nails (big toes) fully removed.

I was in a country with NHS equivalent healthcare (as in: universal) and pushing for the GA surgery didn’t take my mum that much work. Have they just said a flat out no? I would otherwise consider private, if you can afford it. I sympathise!

Don’t they do a nerve block at the knuckle?

See your GP for a prescription for EMLA cream. You have to spread it on thickly and put a plaster(like a blister) over it for at least 20 minutes but he won't feel a thing. Now you've seen it done you'll know exactly where to apply it.
We have to do it for needle phobic DD. If she could remember not to look she'd never know she was having a procedure/blood taken or whatever. It is amazing stuff.

So annoying OP!
I had two done as a teenager after years of issues and I have never had problems again. It was so worth it. So once it’s sorted, it will be sorted for good hopefully.

I was ashamed of myself (big believer in the NHS) but I took DS straight to the podiatrist. It was going to be three weeks for a GP appointment and then who knows how long to get treated.

Three visits totalling around £80, which I did begrudge but....

IMO the NHS is amazing when you really need them but almost useless for minor ailments