Ingrown toenail

[Emma3210]

Just looking if someone can offer some advice or help.

I've been suffering with ingrown toenails since last year, I've been on two lots of antibiotics for them, been to the GP, been to NHS foot clinic, been to minor injuries and I'm still no better off.

The last time I went to the foot clinic they said there was nothing they could do and I need to be seen in the hospital podiatry for surgery on both big toes to remove both sides of both nails. They did silver nitrate on the skin granulation I've had form on both toes but that only gave a couple of days relief. I am in extreme pain and currently off sick from work because even standing causes me pain now. I can't even wear socks.

How am I meant to wait weeks for surgery when I'm not practically house bound and only 30 years old. It's really starting to get to me now.

Who can I ring? Who can I ask? How can I get this done ASAP?

I have tried to go private but they don't have an appointment until September and have said I would have to have an initial chat appointment first despite knowing what procedure I need to have done.

Someone please help :(

Go with the September appointment if that’s all they can offer or try and find somewhere else private who can do it.

I feel your pain. I suffered for years and the doctors only gave me antibiotics and didn’t really care.

I paid £300 privately for both big toes to be cut on each side and it was the best thing I ever done.

Its September for just a "chat" appointment with a private podiatrist, they want £200 just to see me first so it's not as if they'll do anything in that appointment even though I've told them what I need doing. I'm going to ring the NHS department again tomorrow and probably break down in tears as I can't do this any more, I can't even leave the house as I can't stand without unbearable pain. Surely they have emergency slots for people this bad?

NHS Podiatry should be sorting this unless you have medical conditions that need you to be I hospital.

My NHS waiting list for an ingrowing two nail would be 9-12 months to be seen in clinic, and around 18 months for the actual procedure after that.

It's a sad state of affairs that I'm recommending people pay privately if they can afford it, not only for stuff like this, but other stuff then s should provide like orthotics and physiotherapy.

I've got no medical conditions. I have been twice to the NHS podiatry clinic and they have said it needs to be done in the podiatry department in the hospital due to needing local anesthetic?? I am so close to ripping both toe nails off myself that's what stage I'm at.

I have tried to go private but they don't have an appointment until September and have said I would have to have an initial chat appointment first despite knowing what procedure I need to have done.

There are lot of places that will do this privately. Try some of the others to get an earlier appointment. Of course they'll want a consultation with you first - it would be rather concerning if they just booked someone in for surgery based purely on the patient's word!

Firstly, you aren't housebound. I've been struggling with severe ingrowing nails on and off for twenty years. I've currently got one that's hugely infected, my toe is nearly twice it's normal size and I did a 12 hour shift on my feet yesterday. Yes it's painful but there's no need to be off sick.

secondly, you either pay properly vaguely or wait for NHS appointment. Usually they remove toenails in treatment rooms at health centres. Including local anaesthetic. My last five were done this way.

Thirdly, if you cut straight down the side of your nail with cuticle clippers and try and wiggle out the sliver of nail from the root it will give you temporary relief. Only do this once podiatry have assessed you as they won't remove the toenail permanently otherwise. Personally I'd advise getting the whole toenail removed. I've had the edges removed on two toes before and ended up having the have them full nail removed a few years later. These days I ask for full removal straight away. I'm just waiting to for every toenail to be removed starting at the end of august as I've suffered for twenty years now.

Thank you for assuming you know my pain and condition 🙃 I also infact did a 12 hour shift yesterday which is why I can't put my feet on the floor today and have phoned in sick.

P.s. I can't see the side of my nail to cut with cuticle scissors as I have severe skin granulation the size of small strawberries on the sides of both big toenails which bleed on contact 😤

@GameofStrife

We aren't all the same though are we?

I had this and paid privately to have it done at Spire Medical. Worth it as so debilitating and painful.

Thank you, I'll see if I have something like this in my area. I live in rural West wales but I'm willing to travel 🤞🏻

Could you get to Swansea @Emma3210 ? These people say they aim to resolve it within 24 hours of you contacting them:

https://www.nailsurgeryswansea.co.uk/

Omg yes Swansea is only 30mins away. THANK YOU SO MUCH ❤️

You're very welcome!! Hope they can help you, it sounds promising. 😊

You no doubt think no women should need pain relief during labour because you didn't and dentistry should be done without anaesthetic injection because you don't need it.

A million phonecalls later and I've managed to get a private appointment tomorrow afternoon to have the procedure done on both toes, already can't wait for the relief. Thanks for all your advice

Great news! Must be such a relief. All the best for tomorrow. Please let us know how it goes.

@Emma3210 this is probably no where near you but I use this lady after suffering ingrown nails for years I went to the doctor twice and had the whole of one side cut out but it just grew back in I've seen this lady 3 times now and they haven't come back!

https://yorkshirefootcareservices.co.uk/?fbclid=PAAaYo4bz8UaYo3HVIuLMiK9-MKL5PIAzeKyN32EObmcptMGGydAYpX8NKMMaemmATPZ-2uu9ETZbz7M2GccSCvd3PARjkUmqY0hERW9NFoRF2JR-vhI-0s7e2ZblA5TCHI

Thank you, its not until 5pm, they didn't have any space until next Monday but after sending pictures they said they'd fit me in after everyone else tomorrow 🥹 could have hugged them through the phone! I will update you and if I'm brave enough upload some recovery pictures!

Thank you so much for trying to help but unfortunately that's a long long way from me, I'm at the very bottom of wales 🙈 hopefully who I'm seeing tomorrow will do the trick 🤞🏻 thanks again

They sound lovely! Just think....in 36 hours it'll all be over and you'll be on your way to painfree. 😍

Honestly can't thank the private podiatrist enough, they stayed open layer to fit me after all the other appointments. They made me feel at ease from start to finish! I didn't even flinch at the 4 local anesthetic injections as they were a scratch compared to the pain I was already in 🙈 going to take some paracetamol and head to bed, the hard part is finally over!

Congratulations!!! What a relief! You'll be skipping round in no time. Get some rest 😘

Congratulations op. Bet you didn't think you'd be fixed this quickly when you first posted! Social media for the win, Vipers 1, toe nails nil!

Ouch, looks bad, but better than the pain hopefully!