Ingrowing toenail

I had two ingrowing toenails successfully dealt with by the NHS years ago, as did my son. The ingrowing part was removed and the section of nail bed beneath it treated with a chemical so it would not grow again. I would be surprised if the NHS don’t still do this as not only is it a very painful condition, the nail can become infected (one of mine did). Go to your GP, don’t try to deal with it yourself. You can end up doing more harm than good.

I was just about to say that cutting a "v" shape in the middle of your nail, apparently makes the sides grow out from your toe towards the "v".
It's not gruesome or invasive.
Just a simple v.

When I had one (not too bad) I used to soak a tiny piece of cotton wool in baby oil and carefully tuck it under the corner of the nail, to soften it and take the pressure off the nail bed.
It worked for me - whether it would for anyone else I don’t know.

The ‘v’ cut doesn’t work unfortunately MissA. I tried it for years. The nail grows upwards from the nail bed (at the base of the nail) and everything above the nail bed is dead.

Ah, ok, Gsm.
Of course, thinking about it, your explanation makes sense.

😊

I had the operation GSM described a bout 12 years ago, I tried my best but could not get seen on the nhs as I did not have diabetes, my gp had referred me to the nhs hospital but it was a No, so it cost £500 ( for one toe ) privately at that time and took over a year to heal.
I am very careful who I let cut my toenails now, it’s super expensive but I can’t risk it.

I suppose my real question is has anyone with an ingrowing toenail had it treated in such a way that it goes back to just how it was, OR once it's ingrowing does it stay that way permanently and you have to do something drastic?

The procedures my son and I had were completely successful. Once the part of the nail bed from which the side of the nail grows up and into the flesh has been killed off there is no recurrence. It sounds drastic but it works. You wouldn’t know I had it done if you looked at my feet. I expect same about my son but I don’t go examining his feet! The relief from years of pain is wonderful. If I had to pay to have it done I would. My toenail which became ingrowing when I was a child wasn’t operated on until I was about 20. It had become unbelievably painful. What I didn’t know was that it had become infected and if it hadn’t been dealt with when it was I could easily have contracted septicaemia and lost at least my toe. Don’t leave it.

I was actually given a very very painful ingrowing toenail (big toe) by a Chiropodist/Lunatic, who pulled and cut at a (normal) nail down the side of my toe. After 2 visits, then followed such a red and swollen foot I required 2 visits to my GP for antibiotics - convincing me to avoid her clinic! . The pain was terrible, I couldn’t bear even a sheet across my toe at night, could wear only sandals and if my toe touched anything I’d feel faint from the pain.

Found a wonderful Podiatrist who almost had a fit when I asked if I needed the nail to be removed. She suggested a treatment which basically involved wearing a titanium wire hooked underneath and lifting the nail. This wouldn’t’t allow the nail to twist or dig into my skin and give me pain. Instant relief after her work; wore it in comfort from end October until 6 weeks ago when it had grown to the top of my toe and was snipped off. I have a perfect toenail again, not distorted or uneven and nothing ingrowing. The cost was €50 and the procedure called Sogawa method. Recommended 500% !

That sounds wonderful Grandmafrench. My operated big toe is now turned at a sharper angle than the other big toe and is pushing the other toes in the same direction.
The damage to my toe was done by a chiropodist too.

Witzend

When I had one (not too bad) I used to soak a tiny piece of cotton wool in baby oil and carefully tuck it under the corner of the nail, to soften it and take the pressure off the nail bed.
It worked for me - whether it would for anyone else I don’t know.

I came across this tip on a YouTube video when I was looking for suggestions. I've found it really helps.
I think the idea is that you keep doing it until your nail grows to the top of your toe.

Germanshepherdsmum my daughter had both her big toes surgically treated as you describe in her 20s, with good results.

You can buy toenail softener, and I have also heard that garlic or lemon juice softens your nails, but it's still going to come to the point of getting that nail out from under the skin.
Ouch!!!

I have had this painful condition a couple of times. The first time my doctor took the nail off ( gosh that hurt!) but when it grew back the same , the same doctor gave me the name of a chiropodist in my local town and she was brilliant . She cut down the side and packed it with cotton wool, all the time showing me how to do it. I went to her twice a week till it was sorted and not had a problem since . First sign of any trouble i just soak my feet and do what she told me .
Sounds like you’ve been unlucky with who has treated you.

I have an ingrowing toe nail on my big toe. I posted on this site about it because I am fascinated by the fact that Vaseline works brilliantly. I smother my big tow nail with the Vaseline and then wrap my big tow with a folded up piece of tissue. This has been working for over 6 months and I have had toe nails cut three times at a cost of £80, £85 and £90 by different Podiatrists who all tell a different story.

I cut down the side of the nail, smithereens a tiny bit of loo roll or cotton wool in germolene and push it down between the side of the nail and the fleshy side and slightlyunderneath the nail itself. This takes away any pain, softens the nail and encourages it to grow away from the flesh. I don't need to do it often, but do it regularly. I think ingrowing toenails can be genetic. My mother had terrible ingrowing toenails and had both big toenails removed in her 20s!

Not 'smitherereens'! Meant to write 'smother'!

Last august i thought I had an ingrown big toenail.
Both my big toes now have turned yellow and hard.

I contacted a chiropodist online for an appointment.
A home visit.

He thought the toenail wasn’t ingrown but continued to painfully cut it down so far that it has never grown back.

I now have two toenails that are different shape and size and I’m very annoyed as I look forward every summer to painting my toenails and donning my sandals.
It’s going to look silly now.

Needless to say I won’t be recommending him to anyone.

Where I used to live the NHS would treat ingrown toenails with an emergency clinic when it was getting infected and removal if needed. Where I am now it is all private.
I go every six weeks to the podiatrist which keeps it under control, though it is expensive.
Most of my nails grow in and have been told that it is genetic, not due to bad cutting and would need nearly all of them removed to cure it, which does not appeal and would cost a lot.

I checked out the Sogawa method mentioned above but it does not seem to be available in UK. The two
chiropodists I have seen here didn't seem very competent. I suspect many have diplomas and not degrees which demanad 4 years study. I am keeping on with the dental floss and will speak to GP eventually. I can't find out what the letters are after a chiropodist who has a degree.

Both my ingrowing toenails, and my son’s, were dealt with by a doctor. I wouldn’t trust a chiropodist or podiatrist to deal with them. Removal of the entire nail is not necessary. The ingrown section is cut away and the nail bed beneath that small section is permanently killed off by the application of a chemical. The result is a perfectly normal looking nail, and most importantly no recurrence of the problem .

Yes, I think this is a hereditary condition. My father had ingrowing toenails which strangely stopped being a problem when I was born. I had them on both big toes. My son has had one.

Please look after your feet fellow gransnetter! An over enthusiatstic trainee chiropedist caused a wound that became spetacemia and led to my grandfather's death. We believe he had undiagnosed diabetes and this is a risk factor in foot care.

MissAdventure

You can buy toenail softener, and I have also heard that garlic or lemon juice softens your nails, but it's still going to come to the point of getting that nail out from under the skin.
Ouch!!!

All my toenails except the little ones grow in (result of pointed stilettos in my youth apparently). I use Gewohl nail softener liquid (it comes in a cream too) every evening, which makes the nails easy to cut and have them done by a highly qualified podiatrist every 8 weeks. I can tell by my nails quicker than by the calendar when I am due a visit, but the nail softener makes them painless to cut and treat.

fluttERBY123

I checked out the Sogawa method mentioned above but it does not seem to be available in UK. The two
chiropodists I have seen here didn't seem very competent. I suspect many have diplomas and not degrees which demanad 4 years study. I am keeping on with the dental floss and will speak to GP eventually. I can't find out what the letters are after a chiropodist who has a degree.

Mine has a university degree in chiropody and podiatryMRCPod (Member of the Royal College of Podiatry)
FRCPodM (Fellow of the Royal College of Podiatry in Podiatric Medicine)
FRCPodS (Fellow of the Royal College of Podiatry in Podiatric Surgery)
ARCPod (Associate of the Royal College of Podiatry)