Ingrown toenails in teen ds

[Ffsnothingworks]

My ds has in grown toenails. We have been to docs and he is on antibiotic cream, and soaking. If they don’t sort themselves out in two weeks, we are to make another gp appt.

My question is, do I just bypass the gp and NHS system and go straight to a podiatrist? Or is NHS system better? I think the toenails are going to have to come off anyway.

I've just been through this with my ds. First went to gp in October, got antibiotics and told to make a referral to podiatry. Got an appointment through in January and he had his nails removed 3 weeks ago.

If I had the money we would have gone private, purely for the waiting time as ds was in quite a lot of pain. The treatment he got with nhs was brilliant though

Thanks! He isn’t complaining about the pain. But I don’t think they are just going to suddenly get better. TBH I am just pleased I noticed them before his toe fell off.

When ds suffered an ingrown toenail I was specifically told a podiatrist wouldn't touch it. Although you could still get a consultation. His initial nhs appointment was with a stand in hospital doctor who prescribed a course of 3 month vile tasting anti fungal medicine because he had eczema . In the end we went private because the nhs follow up hospital appointment got delayed and delayed and he was just about to do GCSEs. The consultant cut out the edges of the toenail under local anaesthetic.

We do Ingrowing toenails all the time. What do these doctors think we do all day?.

I think it was the type I'm told. That's what the gp surgery initially told us.

Ds got an nhs referral and op within about 2 1/2 months last year. Could have been quicker but had to fit around uni term dates.

Lots of GPs deal with ingrowing toenails in their own surgery. Ask your doctor what they advise, they will no better than us what your options are and time scales locally.

Thanks everyone.

Straight to podiatrist. My DS has one last year. Gp waste of time except if infected . Podiatrist, paid privately, £30 maybe, was excellent. He has one again at the moment and we will be back at podiatrist again next week. We went tin gP last week for anti b and was actually told by Gp that Nhs great for most things but not feet (and teeth).
Podiatrist may save the nail. Our gP sent us striaght for surgery last time which I refused.

I’m going to ring the podiatrist in the morning for advice. If it is about £30 we can afford it, and someone more in need of NHS appt can have that if necessary. I can then speak to the school about time off if needed, so he doesn’t miss anything important.

Removing a sliver of nail works really well. I wouldn’t let a gp do it & I'm not a gp hater but I’ve seen them grow back too many times.

Podiatrist should be able to sort it. We went through this with DS last year. Took a few visits where she trimmed and packed the side of the nail each time and she also made him a nifty toe spacer to help as well.

Apparently teenage boys and ingrowing toenails are a big part of her business. They have a grim tendency to not cut them and just pick at them instead...

Podiatrist..i will warn you now though that having it done was one of the most painful experiences of my life. Not the op, but the initial insertion of pain blocking needle..

RockNRoll that’s exactly what he did! Appt on Monday.

Thought it might be! DS has had dire threats about picking at them any more - risks include not only he having to cough up for the podiatrist (which would make a significant hole in his holiday/games savings!) as well as me or DH going back to cutting them for him with the clippers .

I'm not often phased by 'boys' but this one left me gobsmacked - why (in fact HOW?) would you pick at them when there are nail clippers, scissors and files!

Believe me,once they experience the OP, they won't pick them again..

Oh I don't know about that, ds had his done 3/4 weeks ago and still picks at them! I'm constantly telling him to stop