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AIBU?

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:
Original poster
Horribletoefiend · 03/08/2018 20:28

Thank you everyone, I will ring 111. I wasn’t sure if I was over reacting or not. Thank you. Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Horribletoefiend · 03/08/2018 20:28

For the infection I mean, and get a podiatrist sorted ASAP.

OP posts:
CryingMessFFS · 03/08/2018 20:29

Please go to A&E that looks so infected and given you’ve had cellulitis because of it previously you would norm be overreacting to go! And I say that as someone who is usually pretty ‘ah it’ll be fine’ about medical stuff!

NewUserNameTime · 03/08/2018 20:30

OP so glad you are getting it checked out. That looks very sore!

CryingMessFFS · 03/08/2018 20:30

Would not* don’t know where ‘norm’ came from

FatCow2018 · 03/08/2018 20:33

Yep, you defo need help with that. Call 111 and get it seen to.

Maryann1975 · 03/08/2018 20:35

Definitely soak your toe in salty water. That should help draw out the infection (I always hated when I was told to bathe infected bits of me with salt water as I felt it was so basic, but it does work). I reckon you will still need to get a doctors app ASAP, in the morning if you can get one, but that might get you through the night.

MaMisled · 03/08/2018 20:40

Please see a health care provider soon. Call 111 and use the key phrase....red and hot and very, very painful. It's infected for sure and ,with a history of cellulitis, they'll arrange for you to be seen somewhere soon. Good luck.

HoleyCoMoley · 03/08/2018 20:40

Keep us posted. Flowers

FatCow2018 · 03/08/2018 20:40

Go before you toe ends up like this one!!

8FencingWire · 03/08/2018 20:47

OP, I went to A&E. Gave me antibiotics, put a bit of local anaesthetic and made an incision to relieve the pressure.
Sepsis is very very real.
I would mention something got dropped on it.

confusedmomm · 03/08/2018 20:47

Antibiotic ain't gonna clear it. Years ago I had it removed (3 times in 4 years). First time round I was too scared. Waited 6 years and had to wear shoes 2 sizes bigger. Second and third went straight away to have it taken out. It's been 10 years with nothing now however the toe is a different shape to the one on the other foot and the nail grows in thickness every time you remove it so I need to file it down w a special machine once every couple of months as looks crazy otherwise

confusedmomm · 03/08/2018 20:48

I'd still try A&E but if not go Get it seen first thing Monday

mineofuselessinformation · 03/08/2018 20:51

That needs to be seen.
I don't often say this, but get yourself to A&E.

Gaspodethetalkingdog · 03/08/2018 20:54

I have been to any extremely nice podiatrist, she sorts mine, too many horses treading on it. Also makes a beautiful job of the rest of both my feet - a real treat worth every penny.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/08/2018 20:56

NHS Podiatrist here :

boil water about a mugful , add a heaped tablespoon of salt , let it cool to tepid.
Use this to bathe your toe , it it soothing , antiseptic and drawing (as in it will draw out pus) then a gauze (sterile gauze if you have it) dressing. Bathe it at least 3-4 times (fresh salt solution ) for 10 minutes (soak the dressing off if you think it will stick)
Don't squeeze , you can force infection deeper.
Don't use anything gloopy or pastey , they will clean your toe to look at it and you won't thank them.

Antibiotics especially given your history

It won't settle till the nail is out but they won't inject until the infection is gone . Get yourself down to your local HCP Registered Podiatrist ( most likely you'll need to go private , NHS Podiatry is limited)

They will skillfully delight in taking the offending nail sliver out and you'll want to kiss them .
Then you can decide if you want conservative treatment or planned avulsion (removal)

Good Luck.

Original poster
Horribletoefiend · 03/08/2018 21:02

I’ve been given an out of hours appointment. They were very kind and said I should see someone ASAP tonight. Thank you everyone. I now know I wasn’t just over reacting.

OP posts:
AnnaMagnani · 03/08/2018 21:09

What 70isaLimit said. I speak as a veteran of ingrown toenails.

You need antibiotics - phone 111.

You also need surgery to finally sort your toe out - the relief will be enormous. I had mine done by a private podiatrist and she was amazing, it was ingrown on both sides. It had been a nuisance for years - now I have a lovely looking nail that has been no bother since.

I would say - friends have had theirs done by GPs and described the procedure to me like some kind of horror story. It was nothing like this with a podiatrist. While I wouldn't exactly choose to have it again, there was no comparison between my experience and theirs.

3boys3dogshelp · 03/08/2018 21:13

Just read your update, that’s great OP it looks very infected and painful.

dinosaurkisses · 03/08/2018 21:16

Oh OP, that looks very painful!

I hope you get some relief soon.

As an aside, if this was caused by someone dropping something on your foot at work, please follow up with your manager and/or health and safety person for an accident report. Just In case you need a few days off to rest up.

Brigante9 · 03/08/2018 21:18

Holy fucking hell, @FatCow2018 that is one extreme video!! I was wincing taking off the toe skin caps resulting from my pompholyx earlier!

Mishappening · 03/08/2018 21:24

Soak in a bowl of salt water - or better still go to the seaside for a week and paddle in the sea. Salt water works very well.

I used to do this every time mine went bad on me.In the end I had the sides of my nails removed and treated with phenol to s them growing back. No problems after that. All done on the NHS with no problems - a bit of a faff afterwards and you had to keep soaking them and dressing them - but worth it in the end.

Mishappening · 03/08/2018 21:26

stop!

CurlsandCurves · 03/08/2018 21:29

Looks worse than my DS had. He ended up with both big toenails being cutaway at each side. Best thing we ever did. You can barely tell what’s been done, the toenail is just slightly narrower than normal.

If the nhs can’t get you in ASAP, I’d get some antibiotics, salt water baths and get to a podiatrist.

ladydickisathingapparently · 03/08/2018 21:29

Update us OP when you get a chance - hope you get some relief soon.