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Original poster

*Gross picture alert* Ingrown toenail. Advice please.

48 replies

Quadangle · 10/01/2021 10:31

Good morning,

Has anyone got any advice on what we can do to relieve my Nephew’s ingrown toenail?

He is now on his fourth lot of antibiotics and he is now using a crutch to get around as he cannot put any weight on it.

He is 19 and has autism. He has quite a high pain threshold so we know he must be in agony to complain about this.

GP does not seem to care (COVID), he went in for a minor surgery clinic there 2 weeks ago and they have told him they do not do those procedures there.

Any tips would be much appreciated. I am so sorry to add picture but I think it is necessary to see how bad this is.

OP posts:
Original poster
Quadangle · 10/01/2021 10:35

Sorry it wont let me post a picture. Here is one taken this morning that I have uploaded to an image sharing site: ibb.co/kKfKZPG

OP posts:
MissMatchedClaws · 10/01/2021 10:35

I had to ask directly for a referral to surgery at the local hospital. My DS had similar and the GP just offered repeated antibiotics. There wasn’t an infection! Just lots of damage which couldn’t heal. It took about 2 months from referral to surgery.

DoTheNextRightThing · 10/01/2021 10:37

Crikey. That needs to be removed professionally. There is nothing more you can do at home. You'll need him to be referred to the chiropodist.

raffle · 10/01/2021 10:38

Good Lord that looks agonising. GP needs to see it.

Original poster
Quadangle · 10/01/2021 10:40

The GP has seen it, he is on his fourth course of antibiotics. I feel really bad for him Sad

OP posts:
uggmum · 10/01/2021 10:40

That looks very sore. I think the nail needs removing.

I would book an urgent docs appointment. If he has a temperature or the infection starts tracking up his foot I would go to a&e

DoTheNextRightThing · 10/01/2021 10:41

@Quadangle

The GP has seen it, he is on his fourth course of antibiotics. I feel really bad for him Sad
Can you see another GP?
Original poster
Quadangle · 10/01/2021 10:42

@uggmum - that is what we are worried about, him getting a severe infection.

Do you think a podiatrist will be able to deal with this or will it need to be done at the hospital?

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WowIlikereallyhateyou · 10/01/2021 10:43

Foot specialist here. Looks from the pic necrotic in areas. I would get an appointment asap with a private podiatrist if i were you. I wouldn’t want to risk any tracking of infection. Have you tried popping it in bath of saline/salt water. That would help with infection. Sadly, drs won’t deal with this at any time, let alone now and pretty sure it is not an nhs podiatry issue either.

Original poster
Quadangle · 10/01/2021 10:44

@DoTheNextRightThing I believe he has seen a couple of different GPs. This has been going on since October and now it has ended up like this. He saw a GP on Monday and that is when he got his new course of antibiotics.

OP posts:
Original poster
Quadangle · 10/01/2021 10:46

@WowIlikereallyhateyou Are you saying the NHS wont treat his toe? Do you know how much this will cost privately?

OP posts:
WowIlikereallyhateyou · 10/01/2021 10:46

You are wasting time at the drs trust me, they will do nothing but prescribe antibiotics which will not resolve the issue.

uggmum · 10/01/2021 10:48

A few years ago my DS had a toe infection and the doctor fast tracked us with it as his toe was degloving.

If he can't weight bare I would go to A&E. he has already had antibiotics and they clearly haven't helped.

A podiatrist is not a bad idea but you may need to wait for an appointment and I think this needs urgent care.

I am not one to rush to A&E but I would for this. My local hospital has a separate children's A&E and covid precautions are very good.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 10/01/2021 10:49

Quadrangle, nhs podiatry generally spend time with things like ulceration and high risk diabetics. Ingrowers aren’t priority and currently only urgent patients being seen. Not sure what prices are privately, as I don’t know your area but i would get seen by a private pod for an assessment.

Original poster
Quadangle · 10/01/2021 10:50

What if we can’t afford a private appointment? Does anyone know how much they are? I really thought this would fall under NHS remit Confused

OP posts:
Fluffycat2906 · 10/01/2021 10:51

As pp said the nhs don’t teat I growing toenails anymore, my son had one aged 12 and we had to find a private podiatrist. She sorted it immediately it cost about £40 I think but it wasn’t as bad as your son’s. Regular salt water baths help until you can get an appointment.

greyyaa · 10/01/2021 10:52

Unless you think he has spreading infection, A&E won't be able to do anything.

Agree with private podiatrist route. NHS podiatry will take a long time to see an ingrown toenail (regardless of severity, I expect).

greyyaa · 10/01/2021 10:53

@Quadangle welcome to the underfunded NHS, this is the reality now.

anguauberwaldironfoundersson · 10/01/2021 10:55

Wow. I had an ingrown toenail for about 8 years. It never got that bad but the doctor just kept giving me antibiotics. It wasn't infected, it just needed cutting out. It was only when I said to the doctor that I was in pain every single day and had just become used to living with the pain that they actually referred me.

This was in 2005 so I can only imagine how bad it is now.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 10/01/2021 10:55

An appointment to have it seen would be around £40 where I am. Going to A&E with an ingrower unless other tracking symptoms happen wouldn’t be recommended. Get it soaked in some salt water to begin with and get ringing a podiatrist in the morning.

AnotherDelphinium · 10/01/2021 10:57

No idea where you are, but one of the local clinics (Essex/South East) is £35 for initial consultation and treatment.
writtlepodiatry.co.uk/Pages/Tarrif.aspx

buckleten · 10/01/2021 10:57

My husband has had this for the last few months, the doctor would only prescribe antibiotics but it just kept getting worse. We have just gone to a local private foot clinic, who gave him an appointment within the week to have surgery. He had both sides of the nail removed and treated to prevent regrowth, and has to go back in a week for a check up. The surgery cost £350 and the initial appointment £55. The follow up is included for free, and any further issues with this nail will be treated for free. We felt it was well worth paying for, as he would still be on the endless cycle of antibiotics otherwise!

Twinkie01 · 10/01/2021 10:57

Try soaking his foot in dilute hydrogen peroxide, not domestics, the sort from the chemist. If the liquid can get to the infection it will oxidise the bacteria and help a lot. You'll know if it has as it will start fizzing. We did this with my DS and then gave him painkillers and snipped the side of the nail off. That sorted it temporarily until we could see a podiatrist who sorted it properly.

chaosisaladder · 10/01/2021 10:59

Holy fuck. Not what I was expecting to see at all. Your poor nephew. I’d ring for a consult with a podiatrist and get their take.

HermioneWeasley · 10/01/2021 11:03

JFC, A&E now. No Responsible GP should have let that get in that state.