I’ve had an ingrown toenail removed, I think it’s infected

[IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece]

Done last Thursday, it was incredibly sore until yesterday morning when I took the dressing they put on off as it started coming off-they’d put it on tightly over the tip of my toe so every time I bent my toe, it lifted the nail slightly which hurt!

It was a really quite gross when I took it off yesterday, inside the dressing was very wet (it hadn’t got we outside so came from the toe iygwim) and bloody and battered and today it was red but less wet (though had some brown stuff on the dressing-like old blood but more diluted) it was also inflamed (but that not surprising as it was beforehand). So I think there’s definitely some fluid or pus in there

I’m supposed to go back to work on Thursday (Nanny) but I’ve got an appointment tomorrow evening to check it but if they put a large dressing back on then I can’t actually get a shoe on which is a pickle!

Should I try and get a doctors appointment first thing tomorrow or just wait until the evening and would it be more sensible to not go back to work on Thursday if it is infected?

Is it definitely infected fluid rather than just icky stuff from the wound?

I had toenail surgery a couple of weeks ago. I have to soak it in salt water for five minutes every day and put a fresh dressing on.

Maybe wear sandals just in case they put on a big dressing?

Most toenail surgery involves killing the nailbed around the toe with acid. It heals oddly because it’s a chemical burn, and a certain amount of grim is standard. Definitely get it checked out though.

I’m a Podiatrist and often after nail surgery, the area looks like it’s infected but the appearance is normally due to the chemical burn (from the phenol used to kill the nail). If there is spreading redness/swelling/heat going up the toe and towards to top of your foot, definitely get it checked out because that could indicate an infection. If not, keep salt water bathing and keep it dressed with a clean dressing and definitely avoid any tight, closed in shoes whilst it’s healing.

Thank you all! The podiatrist said it will probably hurt that evening and maybe the next day but fine after that and the fact the it is still hurting worries me (the too tight dressing didn’t help tbh). It’s weepy and puffy and just looks a bit of a mess tbh! It is red around the edges of the nail and nail Bed but certainly not going up the toe. I have a picture from yesterday but it’s so vile!

I’ve spoken to my boss and taken a few more days off (unpaid unfortunately so really need this to get better soon!) and the risk of one of the kids standing on is to big for me!

I was just told to leave the dressing on for 6 days and not get it wet, it came off several days early but I just washed my foot and put a new dressing on, nothing was mentioned about saltwater soaking!

I am 3 weeks post op with my toe. I was told to take off the dressing every 2 days and soak in hot (as hot as you can stand) salt water (3 tsp per pint) then let it air dry and re dress. I was then told at check up that if it was yellow or green it was ok but hot, red or swollen could mean an infection so to go see the GP. I wasn't told when I was first going to have it that I wouldn't be able to get it wet for 6 weeks so I am now a bit pissed off on my holiday!

Can we have a photo pleeeaaaase OP?

I know, I am gross. Shame on me

Its unusual to be told to keep the dressing on for 6 days in my experience. That could be why it’s been painful too. Normally we say to change the dressing every 2 days. Have a go with the salt water bathing and see if that helps. And when you dress the toe, put the dressing over the toe rather than wrapping it around the toe as that’s often more comfortable :)

Thank you! It’s sore, not throbbing like it was with the dressing on but it’s just very sore!

The photo from yesterday (when I first took the dressing off) really is not something you should be subjected too

I think I just expected it to be healing and feel better quickly, I remember my other one (done 15 years ago!) being far less gross and sore!

It’s still sore and a bit weepy but looks better this morning, certainly less red so will just go to my appointment this evening! Thanks all!

I had surgery on my left big toenail (for the second time!) a few months ago and I cannot believe how much advice differs on aftercare from place to place!
I've had both big toes "done", one twice, and never was I told to bathe them in salt water...in fact they told me never to bathe in salt water as the concentration of salt will often be incorrect and could irritate the toe?! After surgery a large bandage was placed on my toe and I had to keep it dry then go back to get it removed 2/3 days later. Then I was told to clean and redress my toe daily for 2 weeks.
The only time that went wrong was the first time my left one was done and I think that was because it was massively infected when they removed the nail. The pus then washed away the phenol and my nail grew back. All sorted now though. Hope your appointment goes well OP!

Apparently the blister was an allergic reaction to the Phenol! He dug out some skin flap bit (that’s the official name I’m sure!) and removed it...it hurt so much! It’s still really sore and he’s given me some antibiotics but it doesn’t look as healed as I thought it would. I’ve been told to soak in salt water then change the dressing to a breathable one every day.

I’ve not been able to go out (other then to my appointment which I got a taxi to and from) as the dressing was to big then it just hurt to wear shoes, since Friday and I’m feeling incredibly fed up

Me again!

It’s now virtually pain free (a little tender if you squeeze it...so I just don’t squeeze it!) still inflamed and every time I change the dressing (daily) there’s a small amount of dried blood and...gunk...it’s not what I would call puss just a bit gooey! On the dressing. And it just looks a bit funky!

The podiatrist has put an iodine dressing on for 24 hours, he seemed to think it was on its way to healing but it just may take a little longer due to the reaction I had, he offered (so it was my decision not he must!) to see me again next week to check it, he was quite unconcerned about it.

I really didn’t expect it to still be like this after almost two weeks and my (diagnosed!) health anxiety is not helping.

Does this sound normal or like there’s an underlying problem?
TIA

Mine took a long time to heal, I was signed off for a couple of weeks and it was still only slowly healing when I returned to work.
I was told not to touch mine for a week but the dressing was stinking and soaking after 2 days so I took it off and soaked my toe in saltwater and it did help keep it all non-stinky. I was worried at the time but the results have been brilliant.

Thank you! I had my other foot done about 15 years ago and I don’t remember it being like this! (They only did once side of the nail compared to my recent two and didn’t go very deep whereas they did have to go quite deep this time so I suppose that doesn’t help!)

Mine has healed well in part due to flip flops. I have only worn closed toe shoes once in almost a month and it is looking almost healed

Thank you 1for I was kind of expecting mine to look like that by now tbh so I’m relieved you’re further on in recovery then me!

I was told to always keep it covered until it’s healed so I’m wondering if I should actually let it air...I’m not sure I could wear shoes with no dressing on it yet but I could air it at home!

I’ve got a sore leg so have of course convinced myself it’s nothing to do with being fat and walking funny due to the toe but of course a blood clot ffs!

It looks hugelynbetter this morning after taking the iodine dressing off so fingers crossed it’s on the mend!

I was told as soon as it was scabbed over I could take the dressings off

Oh and I also had a sore leg from walking funny. I think that is normal!

Thank you!

Rebumping this because it’s infected again. It’s been healing beautifully, looked really good and like a normal toe and last night it started throbbing and it’s now red, swollen and oozy. What the hell is going on?!