Is there any way to fix an ingrained toenail other than the doctor?

[Bombtrack]

I lost my heath insurance temporarily a bit ago and I've had this busted toe I thought would heal itself. Any suggestions? I think it will be pretty expensive until I get the insurance back if I get that operation.

[donco6]

1. You can dig it out yourself, but it'll hurt like hell

and could get infected. Can you get hold of any xylocaine? A topical anesthetic will help - even the toothache stuff might work.

You gotta do what you gotta do.

[Bombtrack]

2. Thing is, I tried to dig it out myself and it was very painful and I

thought I had it "straigtened out" so to speak, because I flattened out the side of my toe that had been swollen and buldging out. But after a week or so it just came back.

What is the xylocane? Just an anisthetic? I do not think it's infected it's just growing wrong way under the skin on the inside of my big toe so whenever I bump it it's super painful.

[Canuckistanian]

3. Bad news, it's not going away

I've tried ignoring it, but it just comes back. One good toe stub and the pain accelerates to warp speed.
I had to have both of my toenails removed. Best thing I ever did.

[Bombtrack]

4. You can have your toenails removed?

I've never heard of that. Man this sucks.

[Canuckistanian]

6. Yup. Just cut back to the roots.

1 hour in the doctor's office, one day rest at home. Piece of cake.

[Guaranteed]

5. My girlfriend says there's some kind of bandage

at Walgreens that you can put under the nail to help it grow out, after you fix it....

[RebelYell]

7. Soak it first

In 90 proof whiskey, to soften the nail and numb it, for about 1/2 hour. Clean clippers and your hands in rubbing alcohol. Cut out part of nail grown into skin, using tweezer to pull it out if necessary. It might bleed. Apply antibiotic cream (over the counter stuff) and bandage twice/day for about a week. Have a couple shots of whiskey to stop the throbbing you'll have for a couple hours.

To avoid it in the future, cut your toenails straight across. I learned the hard way. Had part of my toenails cut out permanently by a foot doctor, all because I cut them wrong and they grew into the skin too many times.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

8. I've heard of INGROWN toe nails, but what's an INGRAINED toe nail?

[Carolina]

9. unfortunately it doesn't resolve itself

and all those alleged home remedies ultimately fail. While you're right that the pain is due to the nail growing into the surrounding soft tissue, such growth does lead to inflammation and possible infection.

I suffered an ingrown toenail for a while and, as an MD, even tried to handle it myself (the saying that doctors should not treat themselves or loved ones is absolutely true). Then I saw a podiatrist and went through the periodic cutting of the wedge of nail that grew improperly, causing the problem. I kept having to go for that 'cutting' which he could do painlessly -- right tools, right training and instant relief. But that was a stop-gap measure. Finally, he said let's remove a vertical section of the toenail and kill the supplying portion of the nailbed so it won't grow back ... a permanent solution that does not require the removal of the whole nail. Only a segment was removed and I have been pain-free without the oddity of having no nail.

Now without health insurance, what can you do? Do you live near any school(s) of podiatric medicine? Students learn on clinic patients under the direction and supervision of real podiatrists. In such settings, you can often get treatment at a significantly reduced fee. They need you and you need them. You can inquire about local foot clinics or clinics that treat diabetics. Diabetics require specialized foot care for a host of reasons I won't bore you with here, but it's likely that clinics for diabetics may have linkages with podiatrists. Last but not least, call around and see if any pods in your area do pro-bono work at free clinics or allow installment payments for those in your circumstances in their offices.

Good luck. I feel your pain (no joke) and hope you can get the help you need from a good podiatrist ASAP.

[Bombtrack]

12. Thanks

[TrustingDog]

10. a bit off topic, but...

my hubby stubbed his toe dragging in a new tv... it turned black and eventually fell off whole with a bit of coaxing...

anyway, my daughter, previous to this incident, found a website of this character somewhere in pala alto california that collected toenail clippings, among other things. Well, he got a special package... and she got a special thankyou note that thrilled her... hahahah.

[Bombtrack]

11. His toe fell off?

[bratcatinok]

13. His whole toe turned black and

fell off? Ewwww! Bet that was really painful.

[TrustingDog]

14. toe jam Xtreme....

heh.
I wanted to stew it, but the girl wanted to get it on a website...

did I tell you when my aunt Mildra stubbed her head?

[dweller]

15. well, you could try this

and i'm not saying it will work for you, but it did okay for me.

Go to the middle of the toenail, and cut a V shaped portion out as deep as you can, so you have the wide open part of the V at the end of the nail. As it continues to grow back, it may join the V opening, and pull slightly away from the outside edges.

Like i said, it worked okay for me, but i had to continually keep cutting more V after awhile (after trimming the whole nail)
but eventually, i noticed i had no more pain and ingrown nail...but i have to keep an eye on it.

good luck
dp