Cutting your toenails

Foxgran I bought one of those too they’re blooming excellent they can clip through the toughest of nails

silverlining48

It’s not refusing to d this but not being qualified to do nail surgery which requires anaesthetic and scalpel use into and under the skin on the toe.
I had this surgery on one toe about 15 years ago, i couldn’t get it done on the nhs and it cost £500. Two medically qualified people did it.
It hurt a lot and I would not have wanted what you call a beauty level nail cutter anywhere near me or my toe. As it was it took over 18 months to heal.

The podiatrist who refused to do the nail surgery in my room was a full proper podiatrist and also worked in the NHS (where they do do the "full deal" - yep....it's the same person).

I don't know if what you had done was respectively (in my case) partial nail avulsion (£250 last year) and full nail removal (£300 from someone different - this year)??

Guessing maybe it was an even bigger job than that - £500 would be dear now compared to the rates I've seen quoted - and would be a heck of a lot 15 years ago. Also the way it took over 18 months to heal - as that's a lot too.

The total big toe nail removal I had recently (the £300 job) could have been done on the NHS here - but I'd lost total trust in them doing it one way or another and hence the £300 (as I had it done privately) and another £160 for a return taxi fare to a bigger town than I live in to see the person concerned. He told me it should take "4-6 weeks" to heal and we're currently just past week 3 as I'm counting the days waiting for my healing to conclude. Am expecting an absolute maximum of 8 weeks - at worst case analysis - before my toe is identical to the way it was before, but minus the nail (darn it).

Sorry you had a bad experience.

It’s not refusing to d this but not being qualified to do nail surgery which requires anaesthetic and scalpel use into and under the skin on the toe.
I had this surgery on one toe about 15 years ago, i couldn’t get it done on the nhs and it cost £500. Two medically qualified people did it.
It hurt a lot and I would not have wanted what you call a beauty level nail cutter anywhere near me or my toe. As it was it took over 18 months to heal.

silverlining48

That’s a lot of money watermeadow. I was paying £54 but changed to someone closer and pay between £26 and 38 depending on treatment.

Here a podiatrist working at foot beauty level (ie visit in one's own home - but refusing to do nail surgery) charges £40.

The foot beautician level people here also charge £40 for home visits.

Faxgran

Endorse the podiatrist recommendations but I also bought a super-sharp German toenail clipper off t’internet. Cuts any thickness of nail, I can really recommend.

What make is it please?

In the event I've had to have one of my big toenails removed - darn it! and the other one wasn't due to be removed - but the first podiatrist I used here was worse than useless (so it might as well be)......

I wish I could get my ears cleared out on the NHS, I am apparently a ‘super producer’ of wax, every 4 months I have them micro suctioned at £60 a go.

watermeadow

I went to a podiatrist a couple of years ago as I have all the old age foot problems. Just to have nails cut here costs £65. I can’t reach nor see to do it myself.
All these services which are no longer available on the NHS mean our small problems grow worse. A compassionate society would not leave old people with neglected feet, varicose veins, wax-blocked ears and chronic pain.

The GP service here included podiatry although patients have a large application form as the podiatry is free on the NHS only if you have certain medical problems and are not just too stiif to bend down.

Also the NHS will clear ear wax whene you need it which the nurse who did my ears last week reckons is evert two years.

That’s a lot of money watermeadow. I was paying £54 but changed to someone closer and pay between £26 and 38 depending on treatment.

I went to a podiatrist a couple of years ago as I have all the old age foot problems. Just to have nails cut here costs £65. I can’t reach nor see to do it myself.
All these services which are no longer available on the NHS mean our small problems grow worse. A compassionate society would not leave old people with neglected feet, varicose veins, wax-blocked ears and chronic pain.

Mine are a lot thicker too. Horrible to cut. I sit on the back doorstep so I can reach them.

Endorse the podiatrist recommendations but I also bought a super-sharp German toenail clipper off t’internet. Cuts any thickness of nail, I can really recommend.

Age Uk in E Lancs have been doing toe nail cutting but not if you are on anti coagulation meds. It depends on if they have anyone available. I was given a number for “ Podiatry at Home” from Age Uk. Worth asking. They are very helpful in this area.

Don’t tar all FHPs with the same brush…some are fabulous

I get a chair and put it by my bed, sit on the bed and then place my foot on the chair to cut my toe nails. You can buy special toenail scissors at Boots but I found they hacked out uneven chunks to it was back to my old nail scissors!

I have been only once to a podiatrist, I thought it is ingrown nail but he ( the owner of the practice is a she) but she was missing and she has a very young he who introduced himself as doing this for the summer break. LOL. He said it is not ingrown nail just my skin inflames on the side and all he did was take some cuticle away and I paid the whole fee of 55 pounds.

Definitely will try a pedicure, will buy long handled scissors, variety of files, creams and will try to keep force my bending which I do..

About researching my private health professional - completely agree. I have quite a bit of experience of other such things and so far have been finding the right ones after long looking and sometimes even prayers.

Thank you so far for the many wonderful posts, advice and general life experience ...

I can still do my toenails with a nail clipper, but years ago I used to trim them with my teeth! I was hard up when younger, but surely could have afforded some nail clippers, but I vividly remember doing this.
Needless to say, couldn't do this now!

I see someone who is described as a podiatrist, although she doesn't have a degree (I know this as she often talks about her student daughter being the first in the family to go to university), and she is very good. The first appointment with consultation is £45, and subsequent ones £35 for 20 minutes in a clinic. There is no massage or anything - she cuts my nails, files down the hoof-like ones and removes any hard skin. I assume if I had other problems she would deal with them too.

I also have a Greek toe, and the nail seems as thick as it's long. According to the podiatrist, they thicken as they rub on shoes (even well-fitting ones) as it's Nature's way of protecting the toe from harm. It happens very gradually, so it's more noticeable when we are older.

I’m type 2 diabetic and disabled due to a knee replacement which didn’t work . I’ve looked after my own feet/nails but earlier this year I gave in and made an appointment with a podiatrist . The first appointment cost £45 but was comprehensive, checking for the pulse in my feet ,dealing with hard skin and cutting the nails . The podiatrist said that my feet are on very good condition and just to book for nail cutting in future at £20 ! I’m quite happy with that . I have no bunions , corns or hard skin but I’ve no idea how I’ve managed to that because I’m 72 and was a nurse for years and always on my feet .
Saying that my poor grandmother had terrible feet because her mum had made her wear too small shoes all the time she was growing up . My good feet are probably because my parents looked after us properly .

I’ve got my own personal podiatrist- my husband 🤣🤣

silverlining48

My mum used to get her toenails and feet done on the nhs 15 years ago, now you have to have diabetes before they will do anything. Obviously diabetes is serious so do understand that it must be monitored.

I think that getting this on the NHS varies according to what part of the country one is in. The NHS here (West Wales) will make you wait weeks/maybe a couple of months but will deal with something serious (eg ingrown toenails). But I won't use them any more anyway - after it really sunk in that one of their podiatrists had asked me the medical questionnaire on the phone beforehand and asked me if I had any allergies - to which I replied "LANAcane" and SHE went off on one and confused it with LIDOcane (which is a totally different thing) and proceeded to have a row with me and call me mentally ill!!!!!!!!! (gobsmacked - as I have no problems whatsoever in that respect - but I am in an agegroup that regards that as a problem and a worry and a downright insult if you've not got it). So I pay a hefty bill and a hefty taxi fare now to go to another bigger town and where I know for a fact HE definitely speaks 101% perfect English as first/only? language and there'll be none of that...or her pushing me to follow her decisions....rather than trying to find out what my decisions are (as she should!). We both function the same way as I'm used to - ie the patient is the one that makes the patients decisions and the medic presents options and leave them to do the choosing...as it should be - obviously....

My mum used to get her toenails and feet done on the nhs 15 years ago, now you have to have diabetes before they will do anything. Obviously diabetes is serious so do understand that it must be monitored.

Yes it is an aging thing . I go to my chiropodist and she thins them out . The gp thought it was an infection at first but the chiropodist explained that it’s a very common thing as we age .

Chiropodist

I posted about an acquaintance who completed her entire chiropody training by post.