Who wants to see a pincer toe nail removed?

[pincertoe]

Today I had my painful pincer toe nail removed. It was a pretty amazing NHS experience. Online consultation with GP just over 4 weeks ago, referral email next day, telephone call next week to book telephone appointment the follow week. 20 min call at work and agreed nail needed to go and appointment booked for today. I sent photos.

Today I was in and out in 30 mins, in total an hour off work (I'm working from home today). If anyone is due to have this procedure or thinks they need it I'm happy answer questions.

Only day one so can't comment on pain to come or healing yet but I do have photos of toe and now the removed nail for anyone who wants to see them.

Its a more specialist sporn probably but I find them quite fascinating.

Hmmm interesting! :o I had a badly ingrown toenail removed as a teenager and it was horrible, very painful despite multiple injections, and seemed to take ages. Glad yours went much better. It was quite extreme, you must feel so much relief!

Ooooo that's amazing!!! Also very surprised at your NHS experience - they seem to be backlogged with everything at the moment.

Will a new nail grow or did they take out the nail bed?

@LadySeaThing no won't grow back. They cover the toe in a chemical that destroys the bed and it doesn't (or shouldn't grown back). Apparently it would grow back the same if left.

@yellowgusset they did comment they are working on reduced staff as well. I guess as this wasn't routine maybe and really needed doing?

I've had it years but its slowly gotten worse and become painful and its been waking me up on a night.

Oh wow, so you’ll just never have a toenail again?!

A friend of mine had this done and she puts a false nail on her toe in the summer when she wears sandals. You can't really tell the nail is gone unless you look closely.

Which toe is it OP?

@Premiumbond @Premiumbond left big toe.

My mum has had both big toe nails removed and I have her horrid feed so it was probably inevitable.

oh my goodness, how facinating that they grow like that.

Thanks for sharing - fascinating and glad you're not in pain. I lost both big toe nails a couple of years ago and wore false ones glued onto the skin.

My son had this done. Twice. on the same toe. Grew back twice - apparently, it's always a possibility that it can grow back. However, the second time it grew back it grew perfectly and he now has no problems with it.

@Rathmobhaile Yes I was told that it can fail and the nail may grow back but that this is rare. Unlucky your som had this twice - although as it seems to have corrected itself and grown back nicely the last time it was clearly meant to be.

Not got any pain and very minimal discomfort through the night. Can't shower till tomorrow though so going to work from home again today so I don't feel uncomfortable not being clean 😂

I had both toenails removed under general anaesthetic 20+ years ago as they were forever ingrowing. One never grew back (as per the plan). The other grew back partially but has never been painful again.
I hope you will now be pain free once the site heals. After I had my op, I realised it was the first time I didnt have pain in over 10 years (including all my teenager years).

Oh and I suggest you get ready with painkillers, for when the local anaesthetic wears off. It was not painful for too long, but it was surprisingly sore for a day or so!

@ByTheStarryNight strange but i was fine for first three days but today especially its been more painful. It bothers me moat when I'm changing the dressing as you would expect.

Its looking pretty minging so hope it heals soon!

When it’s all healed up you can have a toenail tattooed on. My cousin does tattooing and has done this a few times.

I would keep that nail forever

@PotteringAlong

I would keep that nail forever

I probably will 😂

It's healing pretty well. I've stopped wearing dressings this weekend which has made it dryer so I'm hoping it will heal a but faster.