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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for help re: my disgusting, ingrown toenail (WARNING: picture attached.)

81 replies

Horribletoefiend · 03/08/2018 19:31

Hi everyone,

I am posting here for traffic partly, but also because AIBU has a variety of people, and some of you may know a lot of about ingrown toenails. Hopefully, however, not from personal experience as I am in full on agony right now and want no one else to experience this!

My toenail is 100% ingrown. Last year, I broke the toe and the nail pretty much came off due to an accident where my toe was used as a door stop. It grew back somewhat pathetically, then ingrow very happily down the left side of my toe.

This ended with antibiotics, doctors, three days off work and a nice dose of cellulitis.

A few weeks ago, some genius who I work with dropped a large, heavy metal object on my poor, still susceptible and funny shaped toenail.

Now, I am faced with this monstrosity again:

(Please refer to picture.)

It’s not as red as last time, but the ingrown toe is actually worse. It’s also started down the right side as well, to make matters worse.

It’s swollen, tender to the touch at an extreme level and even the pressure of the duvet on it makes me want to cry.

Yesterday I knocked it again one final time, it’s flared up again very quickly and a long shift at work today on my feet has left me with the beauty above.

However, it’s Friday night, the doctors is shut and I have no hope in the world of getting this seen before Monday. And I have another six hour, busy, on my feet shift on Sunday.

Can someone please suggest ways I can relieve the pain? Or give it any chance of not getting worse before Sunday?

I know ideally I need to see a doctor, but I made the appointment on Monday when it wasn’t this bad for the following Tuesday so I’ve still got a few days left. Sad

Thank you.

OP posts:
ladydickisathingapparently · 03/08/2018 20:01

Look away now if you hate gore......

When ds2 had his operated on, it was actively infected. So after injecting the local anaesthetic they put an elastic band round the base of the toe to stop excessive bleeding when they dig in.

Poor ds2’s toe was so awful that when they squeezed gently to put the band on a huge jet of blood and pus shot out forcefully and splatted the poor podiatrist - the noise was unreal Shock

Rosebud21 · 03/08/2018 20:07

Yes, you're in need of an out of hours appointment for antibiotics, but you've also had an injury which may have broken your toe, so you warrant a visit to the emergency department as you may need an x-ray, they will sort out antibiotics and painkillers too

ColdFeetAndHotCakes · 03/08/2018 20:11

Minor injuries unit, that looks seriously infected and painful.

Would also recommend soaking in warm salt water, use half a tea spoon of rock salt (not sea salt or table salt) to every pint of boiled water. Any more salt will irritate the wound further.

I normally have topical cream prescribed to treat infected ingrown toenails, it's the same stuff as the canestan thrush/athletes foot cream, if you have any of that lying around you could try applying that to start working on the infection. It might not be strong enough to clear it but it might take the edge off.

Keep the nail clean and dry, wearing shoes and socks will make it sweaty and humid and help the infection along.

Tipsylizard · 03/08/2018 20:11

My DH (a doctor) says you need antibiotics as looks infected - dont wait till Monday as likely to get worse - use out of hours GP or if you can afford it use online GP service eg. Babylon (he doesn't work for them). They can prescribe antibiotics and you can pick up at local pharmacy
As its recurrent issue likely to need minor op eg. zadek.

Good luck - it looks super painful or as a doctor would said discomfort Grin

RideOn · 03/08/2018 20:12

It looks infected. Soak in water and salts. Paracetamol and wide shoes. Get a GP appt monday.

Or if worse and above not enough to make it managable ring 111, OOH might then do antibiotics by phone.

I had ingrown infected toe nail and tried to clear it with "conservative measures" for around 8 weeks. I finally caved and got antibiotics, then found a podiatrist who did a wedge excision. He kept warning me it would be sore after to recover from, but it was around the same as it was walking around with the toe for 8 weeks.

PolkerrisBeach · 03/08/2018 20:13

Book an appointment with a private podiatrist. It will cost, but you'll get seen right away.

AdoraBell · 03/08/2018 20:13

Agree with gong to A&E for X-ray, hope it gets sorted quickly, it looks very painful.

I’ve also used the warm water method. Another thing Indi is put Germolene or similar on the skin. But your’s looks like it needs more than DIY remedies.

crinkle8 · 03/08/2018 20:15

I've had ingrown toenails before.

I would have a warm bath and use tweezers to get it out. It obviously hurts.

Yours may be past the point of doing this though so only do what you're comfortable with

MsJinglyJones · 03/08/2018 20:15

I'm with PP's OP you nee out-of-hours to give you antibiotics, tonight if possible. In two days you could get a severe spreading infection from that.

Bastard ingrowing toenails, I get them and now my DC have inherited them :( I have had the op to have one removed, it grew back so I still have the nail, but it was the only way to "reset" it.

Agree epsom salts and hot water is the best thing while you're waiting, but please do go.

And maybe you should get some safety shoes for work!? It sounds dangerous (for toes at least!)

RubiksQueen · 03/08/2018 20:16

I was going to say magnesium sulphate paste (the old school cure for anything like that, it 'draws out the infection' as my dad would say) But that really does need antibiotics.

RowenaDedalus · 03/08/2018 20:16

You should ask your GP for partial nail avulsion. I struggled with both big toes for years and they were often like yours. Had the surgery and no issues since. Amazing!
I also liked to use TCP on them when they were like that. And give them lots of air.

TeddyIsaHe · 03/08/2018 20:18

You can download Push Doctor and they’ll do a video chat appointment and prescribe antibiotics that you can pick up tomorrow. It’s about £30 for the appointment and the prescription, but it’s really handy if you don’t want to use OOH.

TimesNewRoman · 03/08/2018 20:18

I really do think it is worthy of a call to 111. Explain how painful and trouble walking on it and I'm sure you'll get a referral for an appointment. Explain about the injury to it as well if need be.

ConciseandNice · 03/08/2018 20:19

If it’s hot to touch then there is infection there and you need antibiotics ASAP. Get to A&E. You don’t want it spreading. If you start go tonight you’ll already feel a lot better by sunday. Go! Now!

ladydickisathingapparently · 03/08/2018 20:19

Yep MS paste is basically concentrated Epsom salts and is great for ingrown toenails, boils etc.

SavannahSky · 03/08/2018 20:20

I'm a runner and hiker

Frequently lose my toenails! I slather sudocrem over the entire toe as thick as butter, put a sock on and leave it.

WhatToDoAboutWailmerGoneRogue · 03/08/2018 20:20

That is heavily infected and it needs sorting as soon as possible; A&E is fine for this as it is an emergency and you shouldn’t feel guilty.

If the infection is left and keeps growing you could end up with sepsis and you could lose your toe. I don’t want to scare you and this is rare and unlikely but it is possible, hence A&E.

I had the very same problem on two toes. In the end I had an operation to remove both toenails so they didn’t come back. It was a hideous procedure and I couldn’t walk for over a month but it was totally worth it; no toenails are better than persistent infected, ingrowing ones that have the potential to cause serious harm.

AnyFucker · 03/08/2018 20:22

Holy fuck

A+E would not think you have over reacted if you turn up like that

Alex3101 · 03/08/2018 20:23

My eldest DS had nails that were both way worse than that. We went to a podiatrist who thought he'd lose both nails permanently. The cut the ingrowing nail out of each side and did something to stop it growing back. He has slightly thinner nails than previous but they saved his nails.
Go to a good podiatrist they will sort it out.

Frusso · 03/08/2018 20:24

You do realise it's a sepsis risk? A&E will.

Quartz2208 · 03/08/2018 20:24

Medical doctors can solve the infection - they cant solve the actual issue which is an ingrown toenail for that you need a podiatrist and many work on a Saturday.

I would first solve the infection and for that you need a walk in clinic after than you need to see a podiatrist

LakieLady · 03/08/2018 20:26

Poor ds2’s toe was so awful that when they squeezed gently to put the band on a huge jet of blood and pus shot out forcefully and splatted the poor podiatrist - the noise was unreal

And you didn't get this on video? Shock

EstuaryBird · 03/08/2018 20:27

If it feels hot then there's infection. You need to get antibiotics asap and should seriously consider the OOH service or whatever is available, even A&E ( your need is greater than the Friday night drunks!).

Don't even think about working on Sunday. Hope you get it sorted xx

strawberrypenguin · 03/08/2018 20:27

A&E or 111 for an out of hours appointment. That looks infected and very sore. I suspect you'll need antibiotics and don't think getting it looked at now is over-reacting at all.

Also did you fill in an accident form at work - if not you should.

HermioneGoesBackHome · 03/08/2018 20:27

Please go and see a podiatrist.
I had a nail like this befire and she did and amazing job. She also taught me to put a bit of cotton wool under the nail to protect the skin underneath if I was getting the ingrowing nail again.
Best thing I ever done and much better than the NHS system where they remove the side of the nail.