Ingrowing Toenail- removal anyone?

[Carnabystreet]

DD- now an adult- has had problems for years and after lots of ABs has now been advised to have the nail shaved/removed .

Has anyone had this done?

She is slightly worried as was told a month to recover and flip flops for a few days which is impossible re, work for her as she works with chemicals in a lab.

Just wondering if anyone has had it done, whether it was worth it, and if there are any options.

Definitely worth it! I had one side of one toe done - with hindsight I should have had the other toe done at the same time - it hurt at the time (the anesthetic injections not the nail removal) but I was driving 4 days later (after the weekend). Can't remember when I got back into shoes - definitely needed the open toe sandals for a while - not flip flops as one of the injection sites was deep in between the toes.

Years of pain and pus gone in a week!

I've had both mine done, although not at the same time.

The worst part was the anaesthetic injection - it stings a bit. Make sure a podiatrist does it rather than the GP. If they apply phenol afterwards to kill the nail bed it takes about 4-5 weeks to heal. You need to do a daily dressing and I recommend getting some Inadine in as this will keep any infections at bay. It's normal for the wound to become all green and gunky during the healing process as the phenol causes a chemical burn and its the body's way of expelling the dead tissue. I used to do a daily epsom salts footbath to draw the dead cells out.

If she's not having phenol applied, then the healing is far more straightforward, but the ingrown toenail may reoccur. I would recommend the phenol as the nail doesn't grow back and it's great being painfree

She will be off work surely for the flip flop days? I remember nurses coming to house to do dressings, couldn't have walked anywhere or worked. Did recover quickly though. I had a ga for mine the sevond time (grew back after first attempt).

I was back at work three days later. It wasn't that painful in the first few days, it's a couple of weeks later when the wound starts to ooze that the pain can start. I put a bag of frozen peas on mine one night because it was quite painful. It's usually just a case of paracetamol though.

Both me and OH have had toe nails removed at different times - mine was done by my GP and his by a podiatrist and neither of us had any problems. We were both able to go into work the next day - he wore proper shoes and I wore a pair of open toe sandals.

The anaesthetic injection stung a bit and my toe throbbed for a few hours afterwards once the anaesthetic had worn off, but apart from that it was fine.

After I'd had mine done I wished I hadn't been such a baby and waited so long. A podiatrist initially thought she could save the nail for me and because I thought this was a better option I had several appointments with her. The pain I experienced whilst she was prodding around was excruciating and it was all for nothing because in the end the toe became badly infected and I needed several courses of antibiotics before the nail could be taken off.

Several years down the line you be hardpressed to know that I had ever had the nail removed - it has grown back perfectly and (touch wood) has caused me no more problems.

Had both nails and nail beds removed as mine repeatedly got so badly infected that whilst in labour my toes hurt more! Had it done privately stayed overnight was fine dressing at home wasnt for the faint hearted but other than that healed well and no more pain!

I had mine under general btw having had them "shaved" previously with local

Thanks everyone- we live a long way apart so was wondering how she'd cope etc on her own.

I had mine done years ago- just the outside edges shaved off and a small part of the nail bed killed. As I recall, I had the op on a Friday afternoon, just wore socks at home over the weekend, then went into school in soft, roomy trainers on the Monday. I was in trainers for a couple of weeks but never wore sandals or flip flops.

It's not a big deal at all, more like having a tooth pulled, I'm a podiatrist and she will be in and out in an hour.

She cant drive on the day of the op, her local anaesthetic will invalidate your car insurance so taxi/lift there and back but it really isnt a big deal at all.

She can ask to have 3 days self certificate if she cannot wear safety shoes and the insurance at work requires them. Some gp's will sign off.

I'm having all mine taken off when I'm old, there a right pain if you cant reach them and mine will be involouted by then anyway.

I havent decided what age old is though.

I would definitely recommend having them done. Had mine done years ago and been fine since.

I had had months of painful treatment first which did nothing, and then I changed podiatrists as the toe wasn't getting better, and the new podiatrist recommended the operation. Afterwards I really wished I had just had the operation in the first place! When my second toe got infected I just went and got it sorted straight away. The injections are a little painful, then there's the soaking in salt water and cleaning with iodine, but once its done that's it, no more trouble.

After the op I did wear open toe sandals for a little while, because of the bandage. I wonder if crocs would be Ok?

Had both big toe nails done at the same time, as I am a sporner type, I watched the pod when he did it. It was fascinating how much nail can hide in the side of your toe! Phenol was applied just to the problem area. The painful bits were the local going in, the local wearing off and bashing my toe off a door a week later. Which I think slowed down the healing. I had it done on a Friday, just heel walked around my house over the weekend and then wore sandals the next week.

The relief was immense, I could have gone back and kissed the pod who did it.