Non-surgical options for ingrown toenail?

[Aardfart]

I have recurrent ingrown toenails on both my big toes. They've never bothered me that much until earlier this year when one got quite infected to I went to see a podiatrist and he removed a sliver of nail from the side of each nail (just the inside - outsides are fine).

All was well until a couple of weeks ago when the right one which has always been worse again got infected and really swollen and sore. The left one then followed suit and walking was really painful so I've booked another appointment.

Originally I was just going to get the nails cut out again and request he puts some phenol on there to hopefully prevent it recurring but I wondered whether anyone had success with alternatives? My DP thinks if I could somehow pick the nail out of the skin it would grow correctly - is this possible?

My nails don't curve much at all so I do worry that even if the dr cuts the nail out and kills the nail bed eventually the skin will push up to the nail again and I'll keep cutting off bits of my nail each year until I have none left (which when the pain was at its worst didn't seem like a bad idea but now it's starting to subside a bit I'd prefer to hang onto as much nail as I can).

Excuse me if you've gone beyond this point but I read about preventing infection in an ingrowing nail by pushing a tiny wad of cotton wool with a bit of Germolene or TCP on it under the problem corner of the nail. You can use a tweezer or similar to push it in. It creates a soft barrier and allows the skin to grow away a bit instead of becoming increasingly folded around the bit of sharp nail. It will fall out eventually but you can do it as often as needed. Do you think that might help or is it too little too late?

I know this isn't what you asked but after years of having the side of my nail cut and it still growing, and also having the whole nail removed in the hope it would grow back correctly, I went to hospital where the side was cut again and something done to prevent the side bit ever growing again. The worst bit of it was the local anaesthetic and my toe not only didn't hurt afterwards, but the nail was never ingrown again.

I suffered for years too and kept putting off getting it sorted. But honestly, I'm the same as FuzzyOwl had the sides cut out and stopped them growing back, you have a local and don't feel anything but a bit of pulling. I've never had a problem since and its well over 20 years now. Just go to the chiropodist they were brilliant. Before I had a it done I couldn't wear certain shoes was always in pain and walked funny just wasn't worth the stress.

insurmuntable it's pretty infected and sore so not sure how much luck I'll have with that. I could try on the left toe which isn't so bad but there really doesn't seem to be much space. I guess I should be more attentive and take action earlier but I ignore it until it's really painful and then it's too bad to do anything.

Fuzzy and Merry so the phenol to prevent it growing back worked and the skin didn't just start folding in on the new edge of the nail? I'm not worried about the procedure itself as I've had it done on both toes earlier this year but without the phenol. What I am worried about is it continuing to reoccur and ending up with no nail because I've slowly cut the whole thing off as the skin folds back in. If that makes sense?

No, my toe and the side looks perfectly normal and the nail still looks as if it meets the edge where it should. I had it done about 18 years ago and have never had a problem since.

Thanks! Hopefully this will work for me. The six months of no pain were bliss...I don't want to go back to constant low level discomfort!

This is one of those things where some people are lucky and never have the problem again and some have to have it treated over and over.

Obvs use your judgement and if this is a matter for a medical professional don't treat it yourself.

Yeah I'm quite averse to treating it myself! My DP had a go but I think he made it worse! I'll leave it to the professionals from now on...

it also depends on the treatment, my sister in law goes to the doctor and he just removes the whole nail so never actually treats the problem because it grows back. Whereas Fuzzy and I have had an injection which stopped the regrowth hence stopped the problem. And I'm the same as Fuzzy big toe nails look good no one would know. Good luck!