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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be panicking about my toe

30 replies

woahthere · 24/12/2011 22:41

I have an ingrown toenail, I tried to remedy it myself...made it worse. It is is Christmas bloody evening and I am hobbling about, my toe is throbbing, the slightest touch makes me yelp, it is swollen and red and hot and tingly and I cant do anything about it. Googling it helped matters by informing me that left untreated I could indeed get gangrene and need to have toe surgery/toe removed/leg amputated or die. Want to cry.

OP posts:
Original poster
woahthere · 24/12/2011 22:42

although i realise that my thread may indeed make people laugh as it is ridiculous.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 24/12/2011 22:43

You do need to see your GP by the sounds of it, and it does sound infected. Sorry to say, blood poisoning is serious, and you cant leave this untreated. Ring NHS direct.

Vinomcstephens · 24/12/2011 22:43

Well I would suggest you get yourself down to a&e ASAP woah, sounds serious Xmas Sad I'm sure it's not as serious as google suggests but absolutely worth checking out - good luck!

HoHoHoudini · 24/12/2011 22:44

Soak it in a warm bowl of water with salt in it, see if you can loosen the nail from the skin.

Then tons of savlon and plasters.

rootietootie · 24/12/2011 22:44

ouch! A trip to a&e on a Saturday night which also happens to be Christmas eve is a trip I would not envy! But tis the only thing I can think of. Good luck and hope your toe recovers!

Original poster
woahthere · 24/12/2011 22:47

do you think it can wait till tomorrow, ie after kids have opened their presents, its going to be a nightmare going out now. im so embarrassed.

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dmo · 24/12/2011 22:48

I second salt water and make a app with a chiropodest between christmas abd new yr Smile atm i cant put my foot in bed cause the covers hurt Sad

thepeoplesprincess · 24/12/2011 22:49

You call always try smashing the other toe with a hammer? It won't help the first toe, but it'll certainly take your mind off of it.

Original poster
woahthere · 24/12/2011 22:50

hohohoudini, have done the soaking in salt, cant move the nail, the pain is ridiculous. Ive got some fucidin and put that on to see if it helps. I REALLY hope it does.

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DingDongQuintessentialNight · 24/12/2011 22:52

I am the queen of infections like that.

You boil some water, cool it slightly, add LOTS of fairy liquid and soak for 20 minutes. Fucidin WILL help. You do this morning and evening.

oldmum42 · 24/12/2011 22:53

If the infection looks localised, ie the redness/swelling has not spread to the joint of the toe, and/or there are no red lines extending up your toe or foot (in which case, go to A&E now!), boil water, dissolve as much salt in it as you can and soak the toe in it, wrap the toe in clean cloth soaked in it. You want as much salt as possible in it. Do several times a day. If it gets worse, see a GP, if not better in few days, see a GP.

Original poster
woahthere · 24/12/2011 22:54

no need diana, the other big toe has been ingrowing as well but I managed to help that one out a few weeks ago so its not as bad. my feet are fucked all of a sudden, i dont understand it. on top of that ive started getting gargantuan spots/boils on my head and had my period every day for about 10 weeks with about 5 days respite. Its like a plague upon my body, I must have been really bad or something without realising it!

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Squeegle · 24/12/2011 22:54

It's v painful indeed, i had one this year. Need to soak in boiled (cooled down a bit) salted water. Take painkillers. Sounds like you need antibiotics for the infection, hopefully you can get some tomorrow. Worth ringing nhs direct, the should be able to tell you how to get hold of antibiotics tomorrow. Sorry you've got this tonight. Ingrown toenails sound comical- but it was one of the most painful things I've ever had, so sympathise greatly

devonshiredumpling · 24/12/2011 22:56

dmo put your foot in a large cardboard box in bed and put the covers over it . woah there large bowl of salty water as hot as you can bear to soak your foot in and then when nail softened put small amounts of cotton wool under the side of the nail that is ingrown to raise the nail out of the bed lastly cut a small v in the middle of your toenail (i have had one and this is what i was told to do) and maybe get yourself to a walk in centre tomorrow but ring beforehand to ensure you can be seen

dmo · 24/12/2011 22:58

Very sexy Grin foot in a box Smile

RumourOfAHurricane · 24/12/2011 22:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

fifteenfiftyfive · 24/12/2011 23:04

Ouch - doesn't sound like too much fun.

I'm not sure whether it warrents a trip to A&E Hmm unless you think you've got a significant infection / blood poisoning, but at least call NHS Direct to find out if they can offer any advice on things you haven't tried - it's amazing how painful an ingrown nail can be!

devonshiredumpling · 24/12/2011 23:05

dmo i had to do the same after breaking two toes about seven years ago looks stupid but works make sure you put a pillow in there as well otherwise you end up hurting like hell when you roll over Grin

Original poster
woahthere · 24/12/2011 23:07

well...the redness is not quite up to the joint of the toe but nearly but no red lines. i think ive done as much as i can, poor dmo, foot in box!. I know it sounds wimpy but i really cant touch the nail enough to anything, its too far down and in. It may sound crazy but I have some erythromycin but its an old prescription that I didnt use. I know your supposed to not use it but would it do any harm, might it help if I cant do anything else tomorrow?

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GreenIceAndChristmasHam · 24/12/2011 23:08

I've had two infected ingrowing toenails and the pain was like nothing else- crocs in November slush I tell you, CROCS. IN PUBLIC. IN NOVEMBER SLUSH. That's how bad it was.

Anti B's was the only thing that helped Sad

Original poster
woahthere · 24/12/2011 23:10

i know it sounds ridiculous shineoncrazydiamond, ive been trying to man up about it for nearly 2 weeks and its ended up silly painful, but i have now calmed down (due to 2 large glasses of wine and mumsnetters)

OP posts:
hedwig2001 · 24/12/2011 23:10

I have had this. It bloods hurts!!! What about the out of hours Gp service? Lots of painkillers and follow advice given re soaking. Happy Christmas[f]

Original poster
woahthere · 24/12/2011 23:11

crocs....thats bad. luckily its not snowing this year, I have been hopping from house to car when I needed to go out today.

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LordOfTheFlies · 24/12/2011 23:29

I'm a podiatrist (Chiropodist)

The main concern is to keep the area clean.
Strong salty water- boiled water with enough table salt to make it go cloudy .
Bathe it 10 minutes, dry it and use a sterile gauze to dress. Secure with plaster but don't put plaster over the wound- it macerates it and makes it soggy ( and you want the area dry)

If you have it or can get it dry powder Betadine Spray (Povodine Iodine, provided you are not allergic of course. Savlon do one.
If not ,just keep on with the salt water.It's very soothing . Bathe 2-3 times a day.
Check your Fucidin is still in date if you've had it a while.

OOH doctor or A&E if you notice infection/redness tracking from the area, especially if you are at risk.

You might be able to loosen the bit of nail this way, depends how wedged in it is,

Wear sandles and tell everyone on pain of fecking death to step on your toes -or even look at them the wrong way.

Then try and find your podiatrist appointment when normality reigns.You might find some private pods next week if you can't get an NHS appointment.

AND DON'T GOOGLE!!!

Didn't you learn anything from the Dragon Butter? (Don't put Dragon Butter on your toe either)

LordOfTheFlies · 24/12/2011 23:30

BTW - sympathy, pats on head.
Soothing NHS Caring Noises