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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To see a GP over ingrown toenails

42 replies

PixieAndProsecco · 27/12/2023 22:31

I know thr subject matter is disgusting but please stay with me (no pics attached as that is grim).

DS, who is a young teen, came to me a few months ago to show me his two big toe nails. Both toes were horribly inflamed, pus filled and had bad ingrown nails on either side of the nail.

I made a private appointment at a podiatrist and he had both toe nails cut from tip to nail bed, on both sides, leaving a sliver of nail in the middle. He was then prescribed cream to reduce the swelling.

We went for a secondary visit and no work was carried out but the sides of each toe were still inflamed.

His toes are still a mess, however we've no idea what the nail situation is like under the inflammation and whether the toe nail that was trimmed has regrown.

Both visits to the podiatrist cost over £100 due to the nature of the work (local anaesthetic, topical anaesthetic, cream etc plus normal fees).

I don't have that money sitting around just now and considered going to the GP to be referred to an NHS podiatrist, or even better a treatment center at the hospital/clinics.

I mentioned this to a friend and they said that I am being ridiculous, private podiatrists are available and I am wasting NHS resources. My reasoning is that I have already spent money privately, with nothing to show for it, he may need prescription based products and it might require something more than a podiatry visit. However, they were quite adamant that a GP would not entertain this.

AIBU to use an appointment for this and expecting the NHS to help?

YABU - stick with the podiatrist privately, the NHS is stretched enough as it is.
YANBU - there are services there to help, therefore they should be used as needed.

OP posts:
Tygertiger · 27/12/2023 22:33

Go to your GP! My DD had an ingrown toenail and was treated by an NHS podiatrist (or chiropodist? Not sure) within a week of the appointment.

PlasticOrchid · 27/12/2023 22:35

I had a similar situation with my daughter. The podiatrist gave us a letter for the GP and we were referred to the hospital where she eventually had her nails removed.

Sleeptillnoon · 27/12/2023 22:35

Absolutely get him to the GP, there may be an infection that he needs antibiotics for. GPs see this sort of thing all the time and can refer to an NHS podiatrist.

willingtolearn · 27/12/2023 22:36

We are very lucky that our GP centre has a full time podiatrist service within it - it is very well used and saves GP time.

You may have something similar locally, or if there is seen to be a need, they may commission it.

Createausername1970 · 27/12/2023 22:38

Call your surgery and request a referral to an NHS chiropodist. You may not actually have to your Dr in person if you can send them a photo and explain what treatment has already taken place.

Once it is sorted it might be a good idea to book regular appointments with a chiropodist to avoid it happening again as I believe ingrowing toenails can reoccur.

Sweetnhappy1 · 27/12/2023 22:38

I'm a GP. This is something I would usually see and treat or refer on to an NHS podiatrist. I wouldn't consider this to be a waste of resources at all.

Bobbybobbins · 27/12/2023 22:38

Definitely go to GP - in my area we can self refer for podiatrist but given there might be infection it is worth going to the gp.

Fwiw I recently ummed and ahed about self referral for a less serious foot issue, got seen and wasn't made to feel silly at all.

cestlavielife · 27/12/2023 22:40

If under 18 gp referral to community podiatrist
Same for over 18 check if you can self refer in your nhs trust

HardcoreLadyType · 27/12/2023 22:41

If they’re infected, he may need antibiotics, so perhaps should go to the GP.

i recently spoke to a podiatrist on behalf of my FIL. They said they wouldn’t treat the ingrown toenail until the infection had cleared up. They suggested he go to the GP which he did and was given a course of antibiotics. He then went back to the (private) podiatrist.

AFAIK, it’s all better, now. (And he would tell us if it wasn’t!)

ny20005 · 27/12/2023 22:41

Definitely GP. My ds had the same & was referred to nhs podiatrist. Had antibiotics & they cut the nail on either side once infection had cleared - all within a couple of weeks. Luckily he's not had any more issues so hopefully won't ever need to have full nails removed.

It must be so painful, of course it's a medical need

Original poster
PixieAndProsecco · 27/12/2023 22:42

Thanks all!

His toes are still a right mess but he has worked himself up. The previous treatment hurt (the local anaesthetic needle was agony but the work not so much; the topical numbing cream didn't do much to numb the pain on the other toe) and so he's quite scared to go back.

I'm hoping a conversation with a GP will ease his mind, and (if I'm quite honest) I'd actually prefer getting the toenails removed at this point via an outpatient type appointment where he can be drugged up and not feel a thing.

Even just getting him to show me his toes is a battle, never mind convincing him to go through everything again.

OP posts:
MeinKraft · 27/12/2023 22:42

Your friend is being ridiculous especially considering the patient is a child.

EasternStandard · 27/12/2023 22:48

Yanbu poor thing, definitely go

Original poster
PixieAndProsecco · 27/12/2023 22:50

I've had a look at it seems as though we can self-refer.
However I am going to phone the GP in the morning, hopefully battle through the receptionist and avoid a telephone consultation with a nurse, see a GP and get something prescribed for the swelling. Then either self-refer or have them refer me.

Thanks again everyone!

OP posts:
PlasticOrchid · 27/12/2023 22:53

PixieAndProsecco · 27/12/2023 22:42

Thanks all!

His toes are still a right mess but he has worked himself up. The previous treatment hurt (the local anaesthetic needle was agony but the work not so much; the topical numbing cream didn't do much to numb the pain on the other toe) and so he's quite scared to go back.

I'm hoping a conversation with a GP will ease his mind, and (if I'm quite honest) I'd actually prefer getting the toenails removed at this point via an outpatient type appointment where he can be drugged up and not feel a thing.

Even just getting him to show me his toes is a battle, never mind convincing him to go through everything again.

Apparently the injections in your toes are incredibly painful. My daughter was told that her nails would probably grow back exactly the same, so she opted to have them removed. She hasn't regretted it and isn't at all embarrassed by her toes. I wish I'd had her self confidence at 16!

SabbatWheel · 27/12/2023 22:59

Yes go to GP. I know someone who needed a knee op, and was told afterwards that if the surgeon had known how bad their ingrown toes were before they were on the operating table the op wouldn’t have gone ahead as the infection risk was too great!

This surgeon got them referred internally and the toes were done a couple of months after the knee.

Original poster
PixieAndProsecco · 27/12/2023 23:00

PlasticOrchid · 27/12/2023 22:53

Apparently the injections in your toes are incredibly painful. My daughter was told that her nails would probably grow back exactly the same, so she opted to have them removed. She hasn't regretted it and isn't at all embarrassed by her toes. I wish I'd had her self confidence at 16!

Show quote history

This is my issue.
The previous work hurt him. The injection was incredibly painful. The work done without the injection was painful. He doesn't want more work done.
However I know, and he knows, it needs done. If the GP is able to refer to a center, which appear to be within the hospital, I'm hoping something can be prescribed to ease him beforehand.
I'm also hoping that, should the recovery need it, I can bribe him with a few days off school.

Not the healthiest of mindsets however he is over 12, therefore must consent to his own medical procedures, yet is nowhere near your daughter's age and still very much acts like a child (despite being the size of some grown men).

OP posts:
Weepingskies · 27/12/2023 23:03

You’re not being unreasonable.

and I am a GP.

Hope he gets sorted soon.

verrymerryberry · 27/12/2023 23:13

Call the GP!

If we can't see a GP for two infected toenails, what is the point of the NHS.

We need healthcare that isn't just life or death.

Our expectations are so low.

10 years ago I could ring the GP with a skin complaint, lump or ache or pain as well as infertility, miscarriage and chest infections.

My left hip giving me serious mobility today but the thought of seeing a GP makes my blood run cold.

PlasticOrchid · 27/12/2023 23:14

PixieAndProsecco · 27/12/2023 23:00

This is my issue.
The previous work hurt him. The injection was incredibly painful. The work done without the injection was painful. He doesn't want more work done.
However I know, and he knows, it needs done. If the GP is able to refer to a center, which appear to be within the hospital, I'm hoping something can be prescribed to ease him beforehand.
I'm also hoping that, should the recovery need it, I can bribe him with a few days off school.

Not the healthiest of mindsets however he is over 12, therefore must consent to his own medical procedures, yet is nowhere near your daughter's age and still very much acts like a child (despite being the size of some grown men).

Show quote history

Yes, we had this issue with my other daughter, now 19. She already had a bit of a needle phobia and actually ran out of the room! She has never gone back. The staff at the hospital recognised the name and remembered her when the 16 yr old appeared! Luckily, 16 yr old has a very high pain threshold and actually danced on those bleeding and infected toes for months. However, even she had tears rolling down her cheeks during the injections. Apparently it's something to do with the nerve endings in your toes.

Maybe some of that 'magic' anesthetic cream would help?

Zippedydoodahday · 27/12/2023 23:15

Definitely see the GP. I had similar and was prescribed Fucidin cream and it sorted it right out in less than a week.

PlasticOrchid · 27/12/2023 23:15

Oh, and she did get a few days off school. And a few months of being allowed to wear trainers!

gertrudemortimer · 27/12/2023 23:56

It's very painful I was treated for ingrowing toe nails as a child and the needles in either side of the toe are unbearable I still cringe inside when I think of it and I was in primary school. I feel so bad for your ds that it didn't fix it the first time. I would struggle to put myself through it again. 100% use nhs resources, unless you're a millionaire. It needs to be sorted and you shouldn't have to pay for it. I know someone who was very close to having both big toes removed due to infections left untreated and they work in healthcare.

ExtraOnions · 28/12/2023 00:01

My 17 year old had hers done earlier this year. GP referral to NHS Podiatrist, local anaesthetic, nails removed down each side, then some “chemical” applied to stop them growing back. Healing took a couple of weeks, but no problems since .. and they were a mess before.

Lightshows · 28/12/2023 00:05

I had an ingrown toe nail cut at the edge and the root killed so it would not grow back. But first I had antibiotics from the GP to get rid of the infection. My podiatrist did the removal and it did not hurt at all, even the local injections did not hurt. Get rid of the infection first, contact the GP.

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