47 verrucas!!!!

[Sunlight82]

I caught by first verruca 8 years ago when I was very ill whilst pregnant. Since then they have slowly spread over both feet. I saw a chiropodist for 5 year until she basically gave up with them, then I saw a private podiatrist who told me I had 47 and gave me the swift treatment on 4 of the biggest ones which basically microwaves them and was more painful than childbirth). It didn’t work. He told me I needed to be referred to a dermatologist as medication for it was the only thing left. I saw my GP months ago who said they can’t refer for verrucas and sent me to the surgery podiatrist. I’ve just been for that appointment, was in 2 minutes for him to tell me there’s nothing they can do.

I can’t carry on like this! I’m in agony all of the time. They throb 24 hours a day, it’s painful to walk, I can’t exercise or walk any distance. I’ve passed them to everyone in my family despite me being so careful to keep them covered at all times.

What on Earth do I do now? They’ve told me I need to go private but we can’t afford it. I am absolutely desperate

I haven't read this whole thread but please get them medically treated

I cut mine out with scissors.snipped round the outside of it ,exposed the black and pulled it out.was long and black..never had another since.but I’m not a patient person .i wasn’t about to spend weeks taping it up,.

Hi op, it's very important to reduce all the hard skin on top of the verrucas. You can do that by filling the skin after a shower when the skin is still wet. Make sure you use flip flops in the shower as you can pass it to others. I have done dry needling. Some private podiatrist do it. Basically you will get some local anesthesia to numb the area and then q fine needle will penetrate the skin where the verrucas are. Not need to do all. Only a few. The reason behind it is that on the outer layer of the skin there is death skin, the virus lives there unrecognised by the immune system by penetrating the skin you inoculated the virus which will wake up the immune system and fight the virus. It is expensive but very effective. Good luck :)

It sounds horrific. But please understand the GPs hands are tied, if locally the CCG won't pay or provide treatment there's nothing that the GP can do.

I had a big patch on one foot for ages - maybe 2 years. Suddenly they just cleared up - I've no idea why. Sorry I know that's not a helpful tip but it is possible to have loads and for them to go.

I have had a verruca for 25 years now, since I was pregnant with my first child. Nothing OTC (or the duct tape) has worked enough for it to disappear. There are some little ones around it. Is the GP likely to take me seriously if I go in and ask them to help get rid of them?

I would get your immune system checked.

It sounds autoimmune tbh OP. Go getyour antibodies checked by your gp.

I had one on my toe once, ended up cutting and pulling it out. It was both totally satisfying and ridiculously painful. Never ever came back.

Sounds like your immune system is low or a vitamin deficiency i would get it checked out. how is the rest of your health generally? I break out in veruccas, nail infections, warts and nasty scaly patches that are a cross between a wart and psoriasis on my feet, hand and arms when i am stressed or run down and i catch every bug going . They could be extremely painful Most medical treatments failed, ive cut them, burnt them and done nearly every home remedy going, as soon as one patch started to clear up another one grew at alarming rate. Years of suffering later i discovered i had a zinc and iron deficiency. I have added more to my diet as well as supplements, within a couple of weeks they started to slowly clear up. I still get them but they are more manageable. I also soak my feet in listerine mouth wash more as a prevention than cure.

@Fluffycloudland77 So the OP just has to put up with excruciating pain because the GP won't refer to dermatology and the podiatrist won't treat them?

Bit rogue but my Nan wrapped a banana skin round mine and they disappeared. She also buried steak in the garden on the same day to seal the deal. Crazy woo but they went within a week.

(Genuinely not trying to take the p but this actually worked and I had deep ones for years)

My daughter had verrucas on both feet for around five years until she had something called "verruca needling". It was the only thing that worked. You have to have done it privately as not available on the NHS.

My DD had several warts on her feet, leg and hands, including one on her big toe, above the nail. Treatment had no effect, but she cut her big toe one day, and the warts all cleared up quickly. I assume the cut meant the virus travelled deeper into her skin and triggered her immune system to fight it.
I suspect the treatment hadn’t worked because I was reluctant to go at her with a file and cause her pain; she was only five. You may have to steel yourself.

I had a huge cluster all over my heel when I was about 14. I saw a private chiropodist who cut the excess skin with a scalpel to reveal the roots. He then applied "crystals" - I want to say iodine? They stung like CRAZY. He then told me to tape banana skin to my feet every night, literally going to bed with a whole banana lol.
I think the key is revealing the root, but a chiropodist should be able to help.

It sounds awful, OP. I hope you get the help you need.

Duct tape worked brilliantly for us

In many areas NHS dermatologists will not see verrucas under any circumstances as they are no longer funded. An administrator will read and reject the referral letter before a dermatologist sees it, regardless of how many verrucas or how much pain they are causing, any referral about a verruca is bounced back unread.

It's worth seeing the GP to ask their advice and ask if any immunity tests are indicated, but posts saying to 'insist' on a dermatologist referral as the GP is 'refusing' are not helpful if these are the rules in OP's area.

The other option is to apply for an individualised funding request via GP - take photos, write a concise summary of what treatments have failed and what problems this is causing you - and take to GP appointment and ask if they will apply. IFR is often refused as cases have to be exceptional, I have no idea if yours would be approved but it may be only way to get further NHS treatment.

Dh had one and it was painful to walk so can't imagine 47!

He used the new Bazooka gel and filled with a chiropody sponge and it went within a week.

Thuja is excellent too, I've used that before.

**filed

I had a severe case of verrucas on both feet all early teens and I tried all the over the counter treatments and went to my GP and tried the freezing method with them but nothing worked. I ended up researching a podiatrist who specialised in verrucas and they used the acid treatment which I had over a period of treatments and they finally all disappeared and touch wood have never returned

OP how many rounds of Swift did you have? I am finally getting rid of the ones I have after nearly 20 years (I have an autoimmune disease and couldn’t have treatment for years). I’ve needed 5 rounds of swift so far - I agree bloody painful for a supposedly pain free solution - and salicylic acid, but they are all now much smaller and 2 have gone! It might be that you need more rounds or a double treatment regime. Good luck

I've been talking to a friend this morning and she recommended looking into Chinese medicine. You need to take a bit of a leap of faith, but her mum got treated for veruccas through a series of teas and it got rid of the lot. The cost was very reasonable too.

I'm still dealing with a single 15 year old very stubborn verucca, so I can only imagine your pain and frustration. In your situation I would be open to trying anything!

@angelikapickles basically yes. Because the treatments don’t work very well. But never, ever underestimate the power of placebos.

A treatment that works gets rid of the condition or has a high success rate for that condition eg chemo will work on cancer but not for everyone. Antibiotics will work on bacterial infections but it has to be the right antibiotic for that bacteria, or it won’t work at all.

While your cutting, cauterising, freezing and using caustics on the skin you can cause scar tissue & then you do have a problem.

They aren’t very contagious, they don’t cause secondary infections, they don’t ulcerate and they don’t cause cancer. Contrast that with the strain that causes cervical cancer and you can see why the nhs isn’t that interested in them.