Ingrown Toenail?

Question

Ive had it for about 2 days and i didn't know until today. at first i thought my foot was just hurting for no reason but now that i know i hear about you have to have surgery to get it fixed and im the type of person who is scared of surgery so can someone please tell me how i can fix this problem so i wont have to have surgery.

I told my mom and she said to rub peroxide or alchohol on it and around it. will that help it also? Because i do not want to have surgery

Answer 1

Geez, some people give you pretty crappy and scary advice! Surgery is a last resort. Here's what you do. On the side the nail is ingrown, tuck a little tissue wedge under the nail. After a couple of days, use the nail file to clean it out (gently). Bathe or showere, then while the foot is still warm, tuck another wedge in. Repeat every couple of days. Make sure you change the bit of tissue or it will get pretty grungy! The gentle upward pressure of the wedge on the nail will gradually help the nail to grow out. Once it is out, trim it straight across, and keep it trimmed forever. Make sure any and all shoes you wear allow the toe a little wiggle room, or, you will have the problems forever. I had very painful ingrown toenails on both big toes. I used the above method. Once they grew out, and it did take a little while, they never bothered me again.

Answer 2

I have had issues with ingrown nail corners for my whole life. My nail beds end well before the end of my toes and if I mess up and cut the corners too short...oh well!!

There "might" be help if it is not a serious issue. By all means, surgery is an option and may actually be necessary and desired in the long run. Don't be afraid of it as it is over before you know it and the good begins rather quickly.

Anyway, there is a product that is available at more well stocked drug stores that is designed to assist the toenail and area. Always check out reliable medical websites and educate yourself... Here is the link to just ONE of them.
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/10199.html

By all means though, don't mess with infections of the feet. They are nothing to ignore just because of fear! I would be more afraid of losing a foot than the outpatient procedure! I can say that so bluntly because I am a diabetic and an ingrown toenail could mean far more serious things to me.

Answer 3

Sorry, but once you get an ingrown toenail, unless you have surgery to kill the root, it'll continue to grow with the rest of your nail. Taking care of it yourself means digging under your skin with the little hook attachment on your toenail clippers, or pulling it out all the way down to your cuticle which is extremely painful and will likely leave your toe bleeding. If you elect not to have surgery, you'll have to do this about once a month.

Treatment of the pain and swelling means filling up a little tub with water as hot as you can stand it, and filling it with epsom salt (available over the counter at pharmacies) and soaking your foot in it until the water starts to cool off; about 15-30 minutes.

I've had ingrown toenail surgery before, and a few years later, I had one again in the same spot. One of the pieces of advice given to avoid ingrown toenails is to cut the nail straight across, instead of in the rounded shape most nails are. That did no good for me. But try it; maybe it will work better for you.

Don't worry, the surgery is what's called an "outpatient" procedure, which means they don't knock you out for it and they do it right there in the office. Yes it is a totally unpleasant experience, but ingrown toenails become painful and can lead to infections (from at-home care) if not taken care of. Just like any other ailments, they can lead to bigger problems.

Answer 4

I had an ingrown toenail that lasted for 5 years. I also went to the doctor several times and it never worked. What he did was to trim down one side but that was basically a waste of time and horrible pain, and that was after spraying it with the freeze spray. Two days is nothing. Try two years and you get a better idea what it is like.. Yours is just starting. Wear loose shoes. At one point I was wearing sandals. You will get desperate; you will get VERY desperate. Once it gets really going good it makes itself worse. There is no hope. You are finished.

Answer 5

first and foremost lets learn how not to get ingtown toenails,

first you need to cut the toe nail straight acroos do not cut toe nail to the shape of your toe, as this is the number one cause of ingrown toe nails,

so straight across ok.

second depending on how bad the ingrown toenail is,,,you will need to do one of two things
1. look at it and if you can actually see the ingrown part then dig it out and then pull it, rubbing proxide on it after will help it, alot.
2. if you can't see it then do what your mom tells you as she is on the right track, also soak it in baking soda ... this will prevent more infection as well.

you need to pull the ingrown toenail, take a tooth pick carefully and dig it out. if you can see it or feel the nail.... horiable pain I know but I ll tell you the ingrown toe nail is much worse, then the pain you will have trying to dig it out and pulling it out once pulled out no more pain at all.

Answer 6

Try to soak the toe in warm water...then see if you lift the nail and snip the corner of the sore nail....It's probaly very painful but if you can try to cut it out yourself you won't need to see the podiatrist..... if you so succed let the nail grow out and cut the toenail straight across do not cut into the corners anymore.

Answer 7

i get those all the time, what u have to do is get tweezers, and a nail clipper. cut the side of the nail where the nail hurts, after you cut it use the tweezers to find the ingrown nail, and pull it out. it is going to hurt but u will feel alot better afterwards

Answer 8

you don't need surgery. just go to your local foot doctor and ask him to fix it. he will probably numb your foot and clip it off.

Answer 9

surgery is the only solution,see a podiatrist or a chiropodist depending where you live

Answer 10

keep the toe clean, don't pick at it, and wear loose fitting shoes. see a doctor or urgent for antibiotics.