Infected big toe

[samarrange]

A couple of weeks ago I cut my big toenail rather clumsily, and then wore shoes that were a bit tight on a walk that involved going downhill. The next day the toe was quite sore, and over then next three days it got redder and redder, and sorer and sorer. Finally it developed a blister full of white gunk behind the nail (pic).

I went to a chiropodist and she lanced the blister, and some thin and runny pus came out. It continued to leak clear fluid for the next few hours. The chiropodist gave me some sachets of stuff to dissolve in water and immerse the toe in that for 10 minutes twice a day, and that worked really well, although it did make my skin go yellow and dry and flaky for a bit. Together with some antibacterial cream for the night it cleared everything up in 3-4 days. I have been instructed to get proper toenail clippers and stop using nail scissors!

Great picture! I have ingrowing big toenails, and I love the process of digging them out every so often! The flaky stage you went through must have been amazing; love it when something that was infected dries up and starts flaking off!

I have treated a few like that. DD used to get them. Soak in salt water several times, then use an orange stick to clean the cuticle area up, lifting it away from the nail. The pus tends to release itself then. A few more days soaking and keeping the cuticle free and it all heals up nicely. Happy days.

It's hard to see from the picture, the extent of the surrounding skin inflammation; there is definitely some. If it is more widespread and still spreading, I think you need antibiotics.
I'm fairly sure you'll lose the nail, in due course.
Is it exquisitely painful still, throbbing?

I'd keep a close eye on it, keeping it soaked twice daily and scrupulous clean.

Good luck x

scrupulously

Thanks, but in fact this was a week or more ago. All is fine now. I was just clearing out my phone and thought "Ooh, this could go on Sporner Corner".

The chiropodist said that the salts plus antibacterial cream ought to be enough, and she was right. But she did tell me that if the redness spread further than the foot-end on the toe to go and get some oral antibiotics. I didn't have to be told, my Mum was a doctor and we learned at a young age about the perils of septicaemia! Anyway, it didn't spread more than what's in the pic. 🙏