Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Big toe..how the hell can it be THIS painful? (since trying to remove an ingrown)

86 replies

alltoomuchrightnow · 22/11/2023 22:32

Writing this out of desperation as my doctors appointments are usually three weeks away (if can get one.. I couldn't)
As soon as I can face it I will pay to see a chiropodist - but right now the pain is so severe I can't be touched.. I can't even put a sock on

I struggle with ingrown nails on big toes...I have a condition where my skin grows very , very fast, this means for eg, I get embedded stitches, big keloid scars..
I remove the ingrowns myself and the skin grows very fast back over them. I have to cut through the skin each time as get little nail 'shards' (what I call daggers) at the sides.. It's painful but I'd say I have a very high pain threshold so I just get on with it. Only saw a chiropodist once, it was a blood bath and he said the best bet was to get the nails removed surgically (wish I had)

Anyway it always hurts but I just grit teeth and get on with it and it heals quick. This time.. off the scale, painwise (on one toe) I slit the skin as usual to get to the embedded nail, and didn't get as far as removing the 'side dagger' , the pain was too much
Since then it's got progressively worse.. and in my job I'm on feet all day. I wear steel toe boots but they are like clown shoes and thankfully don't press on my toe, tons of space around it. I think tomorrow I will have to wear them without socks. Just the touch of a sock makes me scream.. same with bedding..
What the heck is making it this so much more painful than usual.. I get gallstone attacks most days (waiting to have gallbladder out) and when I touch my toe it's on par with an attack, and I thought that was the most painful thing I'd experienced!
Does this mean infection in the cut where the nail scissors cut open ..? I feel such a bloody wuss as it looks ok, the tip of the toe is swollen, with pus I'm not sure. Stupidly I forget to sterilise the scissors..
I can only liken it to if you pulled a tooth out and then stuck something in the raw exposed nerve.. it's that level of pain. I've got tea tree, Savlon cream and that's it.
What else can I do until I can see a chiropodist? I think I'd pass out if anyone touched it right now. They are going to look at it and see a toe that looks not too bad, just been poked around a bit. I can't believe such a small area can be such agony. I can't sleep and the throbbing is mad. Actual foot is fine
Sorry so long

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Jellykat · 22/11/2023 23:31

Can you put the cushioned bit of a plaster along the side of nail, and another over the top to keep the wound clean for tomorrow? (rather then make your boots wet inside)

Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 22/11/2023 23:38

Lets, the mag sulphate paste is normally a miracle but that's what I used when things got worse... this is why I'm worried. It normally draws everything out

OP posts:
Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 22/11/2023 23:38

Jellykat, I can hopefully just about tolerate plasters but in sweaty boots they dont stay on for long. I'll bring the box with me

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Tremblingmadness · 22/11/2023 23:40

This wont help now but for the future you need

Gehwol Nail Softener. Drip it onto the ingrowing area of the nail for a couple of days. The nail will become very soft and easy to cut away.

You also need one of these tools to remove the piece of nail away from the soft tissue it is becoming embedded in.

Both were recommended by a Podiatrist and I have used them successfully for 20 years to prevent further ingrowing nail pain.

Big toe..how the hell can it be THIS painful? (since trying to remove an ingrown)
J316 · 22/11/2023 23:41

I do not recommend making the inside of your boot wet/damp, this will be a breeding ground for the infection to get worse. Call GP first thing in the morning and tell them you think you have an infection. If you can’t get in to gp call NHS 24 and ask for advice. Do nothing else apart from soaking it in salt water until you see a doctor. I can’t see how your going to go to work if you can’t bare even a sock to touch it 😳😬 it’s sounds really sore.

Tremblingmadness · 22/11/2023 23:43

The tip of the tool in close up.

i found and bought mine from a Podiatry equipment supplier, online

Big toe..how the hell can it be THIS painful? (since trying to remove an ingrown)
QuestionableMouse · 22/11/2023 23:45

Why fuck about? If you can't see your GP go to an urgent care/minor injuries.

Trixiefirecracker · 22/11/2023 23:47

halfshutknife · 22/11/2023 22:53

Dr don't be of any use.

Needs a podiatrist. In the meantime salt water bath or a home made poultice of bread and milk to draw the poison out. Ultimately the pain won't go away until the offending nail is removed.

I feel your pain. I've had 3 nails off after performing questionable surgery on myself multiple times.

Bread and milk? Are we living in the 1800s?

harriettes · 22/11/2023 23:48

I get them, also big toe.. I cut down the side of my nail, as I think you do. The shards hurt like hell if you leave any behind in error. Mine got infected a few weeks ago and I had no option to go in a remove the shard. That did the trick. I have to do it every few weeks ☹️

I do ballet as well, so that probably making it worse.

It's minimum £500 for one nail here. It's not an option at the moment, and dental is more important.

Dogcatmousecat · 22/11/2023 23:49

I paid £40 and a podiatrist sorted out my big toe nails in 20 mins ! The pain was hideous beforehand but she really was the angel of toe nails!

harriettes · 22/11/2023 23:51

I'd been going to get some magnesium sulphate, as pp recommended, but then managed to get the shard out that had been causing the problem. Though I took a lot of nail off I think.

I would have gone to a walk in clinic otherwise.

harriettes · 22/11/2023 23:53

Dogcatmousecat · 22/11/2023 23:49

I paid £40 and a podiatrist sorted out my big toe nails in 20 mins ! The pain was hideous beforehand but she really was the angel of toe nails!

£40? They're quoting minimum £500 here. Can you say where that was? I'd get them sorted out if I could pay that sort of price.

Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 22/11/2023 23:55

I'd feel embarrassed to go to A&E about a toe but if this pain carries on I have no option...
Last night I put some balm on it and stupid Dcat licked it!!! Of course I immediately washed it in very hot water but I'm worried now!
I was told before I could get them removed on NHS

OP posts:
Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 22/11/2023 23:56

thanks Trembling, that's EXACTLY what I need..where did you get them?

OP posts:
Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 22/11/2023 23:56

ah I just read where

OP posts:
harriettes · 22/11/2023 23:57

They used to do them on NHS, apparently. I don't know if that's still the case, but the waiting lists must be very long if so.

Dogcatmousecat · 23/11/2023 00:00

harriettes · 22/11/2023 23:53

£40? They're quoting minimum £500 here. Can you say where that was? I'd get them sorted out if I could pay that sort of price.

Show quote history

In the South East …she is bloody amazing and also a lovely human being.Cannot believe that you were quoted £500 ! Do you live in Westminster.? Our town is very affluent but absolutely no way would a podiatrist charge so much .My toenails did not need removing,but I genuinely thought until I saw the Angel that would be the case !

PosterBoy · 23/11/2023 00:00

Phone 111 and they can arrange antibiotics to be sent to a pharmacy near you, no doctors appointment required (well, there will be a phoneback consult)
It's probably infected beyond the surface layer

sandgrown · 23/11/2023 00:04

Make regular appointments with a podiatrist to cut your nails properly and deal with any ingrown nails before they become infected. I had an op to remove a thin strip either side of the nail . It solved the problem

AussieManque · 23/11/2023 00:11

You need antibiotics. I had an infected ingrown toenail in August, the ingrown bit was cut out but it was insanely painful for about a week and I was prescribed two oral antibiotics and an antibiotic cream. Eventually it got better though the affected side of my toenail is now wrecked (the nail is brittle and white).

Spudsanyway · 23/11/2023 00:13

Any pictures?

harriettes · 23/11/2023 00:16

I'm in Leeds @Dogcatmousecat I've just had a look and there are some at around £350. It seems very expensive.

I usually cut a strip as far down as I can, with cuticle scissors, every few weeks.

I thought it was ballet/pointe shoe related as my daughter has the same problem. She just cuts the corner off.

harriettes · 23/11/2023 00:23

It says at one clinic that they use phenol to stop the nail growing back.

Dogcatmousecat · 23/11/2023 00:28

harriettes · 23/11/2023 00:16

I'm in Leeds @Dogcatmousecat I've just had a look and there are some at around £350. It seems very expensive.

I usually cut a strip as far down as I can, with cuticle scissors, every few weeks.

I thought it was ballet/pointe shoe related as my daughter has the same problem. She just cuts the corner off.

My podiatrist manages to remove the part of my nail that is In growing. I was certain I would need ABs and a referral to a Dr . The relief was instant and not painful,we were chatting about other stuff. She really was amazing and very knowledgeable.
Cannot believe it is so expensive unless you need nail removed !

Toseland · 23/11/2023 00:37

Watch The Meticulous Manicurist on YouTube - she'll show you how to fix it. x