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

[Horribletoefiend]

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.

Thank you.

Hope the OOH appointment gives you some relief OP. The doctor should be able to prescribe both antibiotics and pain relief. Hot water and salt baths will also draw the pus out and make it more comfortable for you. You might also need an x ray to rule out a fracture. A private podiatrist will be able to remove the offending toenail once the infection is cleared up.

Glad you phoned 111 OP. That looks really painful and clearly badly infected.

I suffered with an ingrowing toe nail for years, had it removed at GP surgery but it grew back just as bad. Finally went private and had it removed along with the nail bed, sore toe for a couple of weeks but well worth it.

Warm salt water and book to see a podiatrist. Vvv painful. If youve a red line feel fluie etc please go to a&e or out of hours gp for antibiotics x

Mishappening, the ocean is full of microbes including bacteria, it's not recommended to use seawater to clean wounds.

OP, hope you're getting well

If there is no doctor go to a pharmacy. Under some circumstances pharmacies can give you prescription medicine, if you go to the one that supplied your last antibiotics they can look up what you had and give them to you again, although possibly only until your Dr's appointment.

Also I hope you put this in the accident book at work, if not get it in there Monday ASAP.