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Original poster

To expect better from the NHS. Ingrown toenail saga

63 replies

Whatthefunk · 08/02/2019 17:06

Morning all. Posted on chat, about my son's ingrown toenail and the long wait, for a podiatry appointment. Well we finally got it done 3 weeks ago, and went this morning for a check up, with the hope that he would have been given the all clear. Sadly not...As the podiatrist was checking his toe, she asked her assistant to look who had done the initial procedure, because apparently they've messed up, and left a big chunk of the ingrown nail behind, and he has to have the whole thing done again. Along with the second toe, which is also ingrown now. Fuming!! My poor boy. I can't even tell you how awful those anesthetic injections are....AngrySad

OP posts:
Tomboytown · 08/02/2019 17:11

I had 4 of those ops, one had to be redone, one the anaesthetic didn’t work.
More painful than childbirth
He has my sympathy

Roomba · 08/02/2019 17:14

No advice, but your poor son. Toe and finger injections are the most painful thing ever. My son ripped a fingernail off and it had to be numbed and cleaned. He said the injections were excruciating, far worse than the actual injury! He developed an awful needle phobia as a result. I hope they sort it properly next time (I'd be angry too) and he recovers quickly.

Original poster
Whatthefunk · 08/02/2019 17:14

It is bloody awful, isn't it? They don't tell you how much it's going to hurt, beforehand, for a good reason...But now he knows what's in store, he's terrified

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Original poster
Whatthefunk · 08/02/2019 17:15

The actual procedure was over really quickly. In hindsight, probably too quickly. So cross

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Nothingoriginalhere · 08/02/2019 17:17

We have gone private and had my son's done under GA by an orthopaedic surgeon.
He had both big toes and 1 second toe done the First time. Surgeon says he has very deep nails and we have just had toes 5 and 6 done in the Xmas holidays.
the nhs offered the standard injections whilst awake - no way would my then 12 yr old who has some learning difficulties have coped with the pain and trauma of being awake.

moreismore · 08/02/2019 17:18

This is awful! Would it be worth practicing some hypnotherapy type strategies to help him relax and get through it?

Original poster
Whatthefunk · 08/02/2019 17:23

I'll try anything! The podiatrist did suggest buying a numbing cream, and applying it before we leave home... GA sounds great and Ds is begging for one

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CatsOnCatnip · 08/02/2019 17:46

I had two failed attempts with terrible ingrown toenails on both my big toes on the NHS when I was young. Went on for far too long, they got awfully infected. In the end my parents bit the bullet and I got them operated on in a private clinic and had the nail bed killed off. Thank GOD.

BlueJava · 08/02/2019 17:49

Numbing cream may help. Or, if you can, go private and get the nail bed killed off. I had a toe done 16 years ago and have never had any trouble with it.

Original poster
Whatthefunk · 08/02/2019 17:56

Does anyone know how much it costs to go private?

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AnaVanda · 08/02/2019 18:00

A lot of chiropodists are qualified to operate on ingrown toenails. I paid for my daughter to have hers treated several years ago as she was in so much pain and the NHS wait was so long. I paid around £200 but might be more now.

StrongerThanIThought76 · 08/02/2019 18:00

OP there's a post on here today about a lady who's breast cancer was missed despite several GP visits over a number of months. She's now facing a stage 3 diagnosis, mastectomy, chemo and months of treatment whilst unable to work.

I've had 2 ingrown toenails myself. I know the excruciating agony of living with it and the treatment. I appreciate they've fucked up and your poor ds is going to have to go through it again.

But. It really is just a toenail.

MitziK · 08/02/2019 18:02

Didn't they use EMLA cream for the initial injections? Yes, he will still feel something at the point at which it meets the nerves, but that way, they've got more chance of getting them done and the anaesthetic taking effect, as he wouldn't be potentially screaming the place down or moving, both of which can make it very difficult for any procedure to be completed fully.

If you look at the instructions for EMLA, double the time it suggests and put lots on. That makes it more likely he'll just feel pressure with the initial needle entry. And make sure he isn't looking (getting him to deliberately breathe out as they do it really does help - not surprising him with it, but start the breathing out on 3-2 and it's a lot harder to react on 1).

*

If anybody has issues with locals not working, it's worth thinking about your genetics - redheads are well known for not responding to some. Not all medical staff will think of this, particularly if the person isn't obviously redheaded due to dye or because they've inherited the pale skin without more than a red tinge to their hair. The next local anaesthetic on the list usually works brilliantly instead.

(It's not nice for anybody to need anaesthetic directed at their nerves, but I have to add, by the way, that whilst I do sympathise, it's infinitely preferable to having intra-articular joint injections of steroids, multiple ones into the side of your foot for plantar fasciitis or having excess fluid drained, as happens to many people with inflammatory arthritis. And I'm sure somebody could easily post to give examples of far more painful injections than those.)

Original poster
Whatthefunk · 08/02/2019 18:04

Of course there's always someone who's worse off than you, but my concern is my Ds. Though I thank you for your wisdom

OP posts:
Bestseller · 08/02/2019 18:06

I was ashamed of myself (big believer in the NHS) but I took DS straight to the podiatrist. It was going to be three weeks for a GP appointment and then who knows how long to get treated.

Three visits totalling around £80, which I did begrudge but....

IMO the NHS is amazing when you really need them but almost useless for minor ailments

Original poster
Whatthefunk · 08/02/2019 18:06

Will try Emla. Thanks

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Bobfossil2 · 08/02/2019 18:06

So annoying OP!
I had two done as a teenager after years of issues and I have never had problems again. It was so worth it. So once it’s sorted, it will be sorted for good hopefully.

GahWhatever · 08/02/2019 18:07

See your GP for a prescription for EMLA cream. You have to spread it on thickly and put a plaster(like a blister) over it for at least 20 minutes but he won't feel a thing. Now you've seen it done you'll know exactly where to apply it.
We have to do it for needle phobic DD. If she could remember not to look she'd never know she was having a procedure/blood taken or whatever. It is amazing stuff.

Original poster
Whatthefunk · 08/02/2019 18:08

We had to wait nearly a year, for the appointment. It was only when I said that his mood had changed, because he was gaining weight, that they rushed him in

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Original poster
Whatthefunk · 08/02/2019 18:10

The problem is, I didn't see exactly where the injections went. I was so busy distracting Ds. Do you have to be precise with the cream?

OP posts:
budgetneeded · 08/02/2019 18:15

Don’t they do a nerve block at the knuckle?

lola006 · 08/02/2019 18:23

OP, I had 2 ops as a teen to deal with ingrown toenails (that were also infected so, yes, ingrown toenails can cause more problems!) and the first with a local was the single most painful moment of my life. Next time the GP cauterised it (wasn’t in the U.K. though, do not sure if that’s an option). When those still failed, I was put under GA and the nails (big toes) fully removed.

I was in a country with NHS equivalent healthcare (as in: universal) and pushing for the GA surgery didn’t take my mum that much work. Have they just said a flat out no? I would otherwise consider private, if you can afford it. I sympathise!

Original poster
Whatthefunk · 08/02/2019 18:25

GA is definitely not an option apparently. And I doubt that we could afford to go private. I rang a clinic ages ago, and they charged £250 per nail

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Fluffyears · 08/02/2019 18:28

I went to a fantastic private podiatrist £25. Who didn’t give any injections andi barely felt it he used a special tool to take edge of toenail off (it calmed down really fast). He the trained my nails over several months to grow correctly as they had been bothering me for years. No pain, no injections and no blood. Compared to GP, several injections, a helluva lot of blood (I couldn’t get my shoes back on due to the amount it needed bandaged. It also hurt like an utter bastard whilst it healed.

Poor ds I wish i could give you my podiatrist details he’s based in Ayrshire.

Original poster
Whatthefunk · 08/02/2019 18:30

He sounds amazing. Sadly a bit too far away

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