Ingrown toenail surgery

[Aspenn17]

I have struggled with an ingrown toenail on and off for most of my life, after a particularly bad infection that antibiotics won’t seem to clear up I have finally given in and booked to have the side part removed (local anesetic) by a private podiatrist on Tuesday 18th (NHS wait was 6wks+ and I’m in too much pain to wait that long!)

Can anyone here give me an indication of recovery time please? Am I going to be in pain all over Christmas? Will I be able to wear shoes? Is having this done 7 days before Christmas crazy and should I postpone? I have a baby and my husband is now off work for 2 weeks which means he can help more and I can rest up but I don’t want me hobbling round in flip flops to ruin Christmas!

Get it done ! I had mine done and the relief was wonderful. You won't be hobbling around - you'll have a dressing on your toe, that's all. You might have to wear loose shoes but that's it. I went back to work in lace-up shoes about 3 days after mine was done. You'll be fine.

I had it done in the spring to both big toes. It didn't hurt that much, hcp were all like warning me it might but I'd just had a pain relief free labour so I was non plussed. Wearing shoes isn't possible really for the first couple of days while you have the big bandages on, I wore some old gardening clogs I had or flip flops. Then you reduce the bandages down and can wear comfy normal shoes e.g. trainers
I suppose it's not the no1 most convenient time to have it done but when would be? At least you've got your partner at home so he can watch the baby while you change dressings etc.
One thing to be aware of is take another adult when you go as they wouldn't let me have the baby in the room while the chemical stuff went on. You need someone to drive you home any Way.
Glad I had it done, good luck

I had both of my big toenails done at the same time while I was at college Had to wear flip flops because of the bandages, but I remember going to work 2 days later and hobbling around! You will feel so much better!

I've had partial avulsions on both mine. Oh the relief!

The first time I walked back from the podiatrist's in flip flops, but both times I was back at work (2 mile walk) the next day in my normal shoes.

These replies have made me feel so much better! Thank you! Luckily the podiatrist is coming to my house and my DH is taking the baby out. I had visions of being in pain and it ruining Christmas, glad to know that’s not the case! How soon after could you drive?

Was back to normal the next day, so could have driven then.

I have an alternative to the positives I’m afraid... I had my big toe nail totally removed 3 weeks ago and am in agony still. I am on my fifth round of antibiotics as the infection won’t go and I’m still wearing my reef sandals even in the rain as any pressure is agony!

I had my other one done a few years back and that wasn’t as bad as this but they did say to me that total nail removal can take 8 weeks to heal.

Just be prepared. Have painkillers on hand (first two weeks mine felt like something was biting my toe, now it’s stingy where the chemical was applied) and keep your foot up as much as you can.

Get plenty of salt in for the salt baths (2 tsp per pint, every other day) and order dressings etc so you have enough. I also had to get a limbo for my foot to keep it dry in the shower for two weeks

Good luck though, I’m looking forward to it being healed and never having ingrowing toenail pain again!!

I also have pictures take every other day to show healing rate - really recommend that as you can see how it’s going

Thanks for your advice everyone, I’m so glad you convinced me to go ahead with it. I had it done before Christmas and it instantly felt better. The anesetic was painful but I have had no pain since, didn’t even need paracetamol after the first day! @gettingbacktoresearch I hope yours is feeling ok now and getting better x