Fingernail lifting and bleeding

This might sound odd, but I wonder if consulting a chiropodist might be worthwhile. You'd have to give a full and careful explanation because, obviously, they normally deal with feet not hands! However, they do often have to treat problems with nails so might have more idea of what to do.

I do have a chiropody appointment tomorrow! It might be worth asking. The only quote i have had so far for a removal is £775 !! Thank you

It sounds like you have a fungal infection. Go to a pharmacist for a strong fungicide.

I am appalled that a GP can refuse to treat you. I would write a letter of complaint to the practise manager.

Did the urgent care centre explain why they could not?

Shantygirly

I do have a chiropody appointment tomorrow! It might be worth asking. The only quote i have had so far for a removal is £775 !! Thank you

All my nails were damaged (traumatised) due to wearing acrylic nails back to back for years. The GP was not interested at all but my Podiatrist was, she cut them down cleaned them out during two appointments, and now they are gradually growing out healthy but very slowly and still painful. I so emphasise, nails can be extremely painful.

I had it tested for fungal infection, it came back clear.

Doctors said they were no longer paid to do it. Urgent Care Unit said they were told not to remove nails. (Same reason I suppose) I have to keep a plaster on it all the time. Very elegant 😱

Sadly my chiropodist didn't have much to say about it, I thought she would have jumped at the chance of more business but wasn't forthcoming. I didn't want to ask outright, I like the way she treats my feet and didn't want to make things awkward between us

Sounds like you have damaged the nail bed if it's growing out like that. I had a similar but not as bad as your problem after a Whitlow & nail bed trauma when doing some diy. It split and bled, went yellow with infection. Eventually it grew out & I trimmed & filed it carefully but it's quite gnarly now. I think removal might be the way to go but gosh that's expensive!

You've damaged the nail bed and it's refused to recover. Can happen in feet too especially large toes due to pressure from front of shoes being too shallow. Can take a fair time to develop in toes. Sounds the same in your fingernail. Sorry, don't think there is much you can do.

Would a manicurist know what to do? They deal with nails day in and out …

Shantygirly

Sadly my chiropodist didn't have much to say about it, I thought she would have jumped at the chance of more business but wasn't forthcoming. I didn't want to ask outright, I like the way she treats my feet and didn't want to make things awkward between us

You sadly do not get anywhere in this world without asking. Why not ask her directly what treatment she can offer if any and how much that would cost. She can only decline. No need for any bad atmosphere to raise between you as a result.

Perhaps phone around a few podiatrists who are higher qualified than a Chiropodist and see if they can help.

FranP

I am appalled that a GP can refuse to treat you. I would write a letter of complaint to the practise manager.

Did the urgent care centre explain why they could not?

Yes, So am l.
I have had a similar run in with my Practice over the years with several matters that were trivialized and painful and longstanding

A lor of GP's these days seem to want to do less.

At my Surgey..The doctors were ruled by the Senior Lead Doctor. A Professor of Primary Care who only worked one and half days a week and used the patients as research fodder. To climb right up to the ladder of success.

She received on OBE just recently before she retired.

Contact your Practice Manager. And tell her about your problem. Put in a
complaint straight away and get an appointment asap with another doctor

Or leave and go to another Practice.
Hope you get your finger sorted out soon.

Septimia

This might sound odd, but I wonder if consulting a chiropodist might be worthwhile. You'd have to give a full and careful explanation because, obviously, they normally deal with feet not hands! However, they do often have to treat problems with nails so might have more idea of what to do.

That's what I was going to say. Be aware there are three different levels of footcare people - the foot beautician level, the chiropodist level and the podiatrist level. The podiatrist level is the highest level.

So maybe a level 2 person - ie chiropodist - might be able to sort this out. To be on the safe side I'd personally choose a level 3 person (ie a podiatrist).

The set-up is very confused these days - with some podiatrists refusing to treat a patient for "nail surgery" unless they (the podiatrist) has someone with them and others still okay about being on their own and not expecting a "chaperone for themselves" with them.

I've been doing the rounds a bit recently myself and nail removal does count as "nail surgery" and some podiatrists do this "demand a chaperone for themselves" person in the room. I think that's what is going on - I find it very confusing...as they never used to and don't need one.

I have just had a big toenail removed by a podiatrist (they ain't cheap - it will be around £250-£300 for a nail) and, having learnt about the "wimp ones that demand a chaperone" I made sure I went to one that we both accept the "old-fashioned way" of it's just him doing the job and me having the job done. So that nail is now off and I'm re-dressing it daily and it cost me £300 (which I thought was worth it - as he's the best one I've found here and doesn't do the 'chaperone is necessary' malarkey). From what I've seen of him = he would do a fingernail if the customer explained that was what she wanted from him.

Just read whole thread and see it's a chiropodist you say (ie what I call a Level 2 person).

So do try a podiatrist (a Level 3 person) and explain to them, in advance, over the phone what is required and see what they have to say. The charge you mention is absolutely exorbitant.

As I said - it's £250 or £300 here (West Wales) dependant on which one you see. If all else fails - go to some city (yep...city for better choice than a town ) elsewhere nearby. If you check the Internet and see the websites of various different podiatrists across the country you will see the £250-£300 mark is pretty much the "going rate" to remove a big toenail (hence I can't see it being dearer for a fingernail).

I had to visit a podiatrist recently for a fungal toe nail infection.
He charged £75 with a follow up appointment for £25 which I thought reasonable.

He only had to take part of the nail of.
It took three weeks of constant nightly salt water bathing for it to heal.
It looks hideous as well but trying to hide it under nail polish.

I have an appointment with the podiatrist in a couple of days. I originally booked it as I suspected I had a fungal infection in my big tie nail and the nail had developed a long vertical split.Since booking, the nail snapped off, leaving me with just the bottom half. If I have fungal nail treatment, does anyone know if I will be allowed to swim? I know this sounds daft. I swim on a regular basis but more importantly for me, our holiday in Greece in September was chosen partially because of the beautiful pool at the hotel. Too hot to contemplate without regular dips. Sorry to hijack original post.

Rosiebee

I have an appointment with the podiatrist in a couple of days. I originally booked it as I suspected I had a fungal infection in my big tie nail and the nail had developed a long vertical split.Since booking, the nail snapped off, leaving me with just the bottom half. If I have fungal nail treatment, does anyone know if I will be allowed to swim? I know this sounds daft. I swim on a regular basis but more importantly for me, our holiday in Greece in September was chosen partially because of the beautiful pool at the hotel. Too hot to contemplate without regular dips. Sorry to hijack original post.

Personally I wouldnt swim anywhere except one's own personal private swimming pool (for those rich enough to have such a luxury item LOL) while this is going on.

A fungal infection could well get passed on to someone else - so it's necessary to wait until you are sure you wouldnt do that to someone inadvertently.

I say this as someone who has had that once in my life (I'm now over 70) and it was athletes foot picked up from **** ('scuse the swearing). I know this because this was just a matter of months ago and I went to a local beauty spa a few times in pretty quick succession (sauna/steam room/jacuzzi/mini swimming pool/loungers) and I picked up athletes foot there from ******. I'm 101% sure that's where I got it from - because no-one else ever goes barefoot in my home and I am too wary of other people misbehaving to go barefoot elsewhere. So I wear those cheapie rubber flip-flops if I go somewhere like that - but obviously can't wear them in the jacuzzi or swimming pool - so I think ***** passed it onto me in one of those two places. Annoying - as I told the staff subsequently and got an unhelpful response from them and so don't trust the place to go back there again.

Have a google online for your nearest ‘hand clinic’ in hospital. I had a new joint put in a finger last year in a hospital in West Sussex. Unfortunately the nail got infected and I was admitted straight away to have the nail off and IV antibiotics. But the hand clinic I was under have a small a&e attached as do lots of hospitals. If I were you I’d look for the nearest hand clinic at local hospitals and ask your Doctor to refer you as he’s not interested!
I ended up having IV antibiotics for 6 weeks so a little thing can end up much bigger if it’s not sorted. Be proud, loud and insist that you get it sorted.

I think Bluedaisy has nailed it (honestly, no pun intended)! 😉

I damaged my thumb nail last year .
I cut the remaining nail very short and treated the open wound with tea tree oil .
I cut the fingers off some disposable gloves and wore one over the wound - changing it frequently.
As the natural nail grew through I painted it with OPI nail envy.
It recovered relatively quickly.