To have removed (most of) my own toenail

[Cornana]

I know that sounds very barbaric, but I’ve had an increasingly bad ingrown toenail throughout lockdown. It got to the point where it was so swollen and red I can barely walk. Doctors have said they can sort me out antibiotics for Monday, but that doesn’t help the fact I had what felt like half my toenail growing down. In the end, I got a pair of tweezers and have removed the entirety of my toenail horizontally and leaving 1/3 or so at the bottom. I literally pulled out over half a centimetre of nail which was not visible due to how ingrown it was. I have no idea if this was sensible or not, but the pain is gone and the part which is left is ‘normal’ and not ingrown.

What can I do to make sure it grows back ‘normally?”

My friend thinks I’m crazy and should have waited til Monday, but the pain was so bad I couldn’t bear it any longer. And they only would have given me antibiotics, god knows how long until it actually gets removed. My light duvet on my toe felt like fire. I couldn’t walk without limping. Now I can actually run like normal, it doesn’t hurt nearly as much.

AIBU to not have waited? No clue if I’ve made it worse, but it doesn’t hurt. I’m now going to rest my foot til Monday at least, have applied disinfectant and suppose I’ll just wait now.

Wow. Good skills. I lost a toenail a couple of years ago and it grew back really nicely. I kept it clean and dry and used tea tree oil as an antiseptic.

No advice, but having had two infected ingrown toenails that to this day were the most painful things EVER (and I've had three kids), you have my full sympathy

Removing the nail is what a doc would have done. Though I’m pretty sure as it grows it’ll grow inwards again unless they kill the nail bed.

Shall try teatree oil!

Thank you! It’s crazy how much it can hurt. I’m still going to ask doctor to remove it completely, it’s happened three times now. I’d be happy if it never grew back.

I've done this following a nail injury. It did grow back normally for a bit, but doesn't now. Make sure you use lots of antiseptic and keep it dressed.

Ouch! Glad you’ve found some relief.

I ripped my toenail off under a door when someone opened it suddenly - absolutely traumatic. My only advice is to keep it as clean as you can and keep an eye on it, I ended up getting lots of fungal infections as it grew back - got all sorts of ointments prescribed to treat it and then I went to Greece for a week and swam in the sea every day, the saltwater must’ve sorted it right out as I never got another infection again.

Best of luck with it all

Ouch, I had an ingrown toenail many years ago and my advice is to make sure as it grows again it does not get ingrown. Small cuts and tweaks will help and are almost pain free

Check out the local podiatrist. My local London one emailed to say they are open. Worth paying fir IMO

NHS Podiatry might put you down for nail surgery to fix it properly. Normal services are getting going again

My DS had an ingrowing toenail. We went to a private podiatrist who removed it (very like you describe). It did grow back, though :( We were told to self refer to NHS for a small operation where they effectively burnt away a part of the nail bed. Sorted it!

I had an ingrown toenail that kept coming back. The podiatrist used a laser to kill a small section of the nailbed and that fixed it. It took about five minutes and didn't hurt at all.

I’m a Podiatrist. If it looks infected at any point (red, swollen, hot, painful) then definitely get some antibiotics. If it stays ok, try getting hold of some gauze (preferably sterile) and packing it under the nail as it grows back and that can help encourage it to grow normally :)
If it carries on being a problem, get your GP to refer you to an NHS Podiatrist (we’re all still working as normal!) and they will remove it and use phenol (or an equivalent) to stop the damaged bit of nail from growing back again. I’m happy for you to send me a photo if you’re worried :)

Sorry Op, I just wanted to let you know that you need to put this post in Sporner Corner and and a photograph
On a serious note, I have ingrown toenails on both feet and they’re horrifically painful so i salute you for your bravery. Antibiotics wouldn’t do much for the pain because your body is taking umbrage with the unwelcome nail and it would continue to send hypergranulated tissue to the area I’m glad it feels better now! Keep it nice and clean and see a podiatrist ASAP so they can check for remaining shards

I sometimes pull entire toenails out when I'm very stressed

They always grow back fine.

It's not ideal to do it yourself. Obviously. I had a badly infected toe as a teen because I tried to fix an ingrown toenail. It was nearly as big as my big toe, dark red, throbbed very badly. Managed it myself with sterile needles etc.

Definitely speak to the GP.

Top tip as it starts to grow back - keep it really well moisturised with Flexitol. That way you’ll reduce the chance of it growing back inwards and help it bind to the nail bed as it gets longer. Respect - I did some much more minor toenail surgery at the start of lockdown and it still isn’t something I care to dwell on.

When I had one (it was so so sore) I did get antibiotics, but what reLly helped was soaking it 12 hours a day in salt water for a week.
Impractical for most people, but sorted it out completely and never needed any further treatment.

My son had ingrown toenail surgery at the start of lockdown. His podiatrist was so helpful and to be honest I think he was glad to have something to do!

Post surgery we've been soaking in in warm salt water and dressing it with clean gauze daily, no creams.

I think you should take up the kind podiatrists offer up thread and send her a picture just in case.

Hot salt water in a bowl. Plonk your foot in and sit like that for as long as it takes for the water to cool down. Do this morning and night if you can and it will keep the skin soft and stop any infection getting going.

Make it proper salty. Like sea water.

Me and one of my DDs (21) have toe nail issues (mostly due to bad nail cutting habits) and this always cures any soreness within 24 hours. She had to have an ingrowing nail surgically removed a couple of years ago and the hot salt water bath was the advice from the podiatrist for post surgery care too.

x post gales :)

and Saz !

Don't use nest tea tree oil on it please. It needs diluting in something. Neat can burn your skin.

Oh god it’s painful. I was suffering with an infection ted I grown nail and went to the gp. He actually injected local anaesthetic and cut away a small bit of the nail. It was awful it bled like a geyser and once bandaged it was like a comedy toe and I couldn’t get my shoe back on.

Marge next time I went to a podiatrist and the used a special scalpel, no anaesthetic needed and instant relief with no bleeding. He then cut my nail so it grew better but did say if it didn’t improve then I could get a portion of the nail removed. I would recommend a podiatrist as they deal with this every day whereas the doctor only does it sporadically so isn’t quite as skilled at it.

Blimey OP, you must have been in agony to do that! Pics on Sporner Corner please!

That must have been sore to cut it so short! Must have smelled lovely too
I've always been told to cut a small V in the middle to make it grow inwards instead of outwards.

I had that, a nail that was growing in and bleeding. I put dental floss under and it grew straight! You have to soften the nail with warm soapy water so you can lift it.