Toe Truck Please!

**Libby** · 02-07-2007, 05:45 PM

Ok w/o trying to gross everyone out....I'll just leave it at this. I have had problems with ingrown toenails before but now its come back to haunt me. I was not wearing tight shoes, nor on my feet excessively etc and I cut my nails properly. Now outta the blue an ingrown has sprouted and its near the cuticle of my big right toe

A growth has started and since 2 wks ago when I left the ER I was taking my antibiotics and soaking it daily. Well ok, Im soaking it now as you read this

gotta love multitasking eh!?

My surgery (as minor as it is) is scheduled for Monday ... 9 am. Im so scared b/c its a procedure vs a surgery so I'll be awake and if I was gutsy enough I could watch. To be honest, I think Im going to be sick to my stomach and pass out. They either have to remove part or all of my nail plus the growth.

Anyone else been through this? What joys do I get to endure as a result from this. Im already wearing slippers to work b/c shoes just hurt my feet, cant go stocking feet anymore

I know I will have pain from post surgery and if I have no toe nail, when soaking its going to kill me.

I just cant help wondering....what else have they not told me?!

Signed,

a scared shorty

**cheappearls** · 02-07-2007, 06:44 PM

Oh I feel your pain. I had problems with ingrown nails and infection for years. I have had my big toenail fully removed twice then the sides cut off and the nail bed chemically burned so it wouldn't grow back. After that I've had NO problems at all. If you look at my toes side by side you can tell one is "thinner" then the other but really it's not that noticable.

They will give you some pain meds for the first couple of days but you might not need them after the first day. Just keep your toe wrapped up for a few days and try really hard not to bump anything (I'm a kultz and it HURTS!). Besides that you should heal up just fine. If they remove the whole nail it can take 6 months (or longer) to completely grow back in but after the first week or so you can leave it out without worrying about anything getting hurt.

If you wanna know more, just message me.

**AheeK** · 02-07-2007, 06:53 PM

Could this post have been more perfectly timed? I'm scheduled for my yearly physical on Feb. 16 and I'm going to request two toenail removals on the big toe and fourth toe of my right foot. I've been wondering how long it would take to grow back and how much it's going to hurt...thanks for posting the info Tammi!

**cheappearls** · 02-07-2007, 06:56 PM

No problem.

**kaykwilts** · 02-07-2007, 08:35 PM

That sounds like it's gonna hurt. Ouch!

**YankeeMom** · 02-07-2007, 09:58 PM

Ouch!
Dd has the same problem. She has what her doctor calls "curly toenails". They just naturally tend to curl in towards her toe. She had to have a portion of her toenail removed - a pizza wedge shape

But that was done in the dr's office.

Dh also had his toenails removed, but his was because of nail fungus. They removed them in the office and he said he didn't feel a thing. Now his toenails are normal.

I hope this surgery is the charm for you and you get some relief.

**booboo44** · 02-07-2007, 10:08 PM

my son had ingrown toe nail real bad we went to the dr and they removed them in the office he was a pain in the but to get then done but once he settled down and let the dr put the shots in his toe to num it he was fine i sat watched them remove the nail it was reaaly kinda cool to watch not messey i watched i thought i was neat

**miss_thrifty** · 02-07-2007, 10:38 PM

The first 2 times my hubby got his done it didnt help. The third time they only left the middle part of the nail and cut right to the nerves, so it wouldn grow back the sides. Its so ugly, hard old nail in the middle, but no toe probs. anymore.

**tigo** · 02-08-2007, 10:35 AM

DD had this done twice on the same toe. We had been trying to take care of it at home with soaking and stuffing a little cotton under the corner for months but it just got to the point her toe was bleeding when she walked so we had it cut out. Now she is doing much better. I think you will do great and be so happy to have it done.

**northernmom2boys** · 02-08-2007, 10:49 AM

Ok this may not help with the surgery but here it goes
Now dont all think I have gone totally bonkers but a few years ago I had the worst ingrown toenail,it hurt and was infected,puss and all.Nothing worked to heal it,my mom said lets try something her mom used to do when anybody had a sore that would not heal,here it goes.....take a slice of bread and soak it in warm with till soft,warp around the toe and warp in gauze,leave for up to 3 days,,,or until you cannot stand the smell lol
Honest to god it worked so well,all the infection came out and my toe healed.I tried it on my husband last time he had ingrown toe nail and it worked.

**GMA21** · 02-08-2007, 03:13 PM

My mom went through this a few years ago with her big toe. She had to have the whole nail removed. She went through a lot of missery before she had it removed. Hope everything works out for you

**AprilP** · 02-09-2007, 12:04 PM

My ex-husb. and myself have both had the surgery to kill the nailbed so that the nails don't re-ingrow (is that a word??).

Now BOTH my younger kids have had recurring problems with ingrown toenails. They have appts with the Dr. next week to have the surgery done as well. Depending on the doctor, this can be as painful or as "un-painful" as you might imagine.

My ex had the surgery once that was the more traditional type, scalpels, shots, etc. He limped around the house for a week or more.

The last one I had done was a more advanced technique that was done with a laser. I felt NO PAIN. My foot was a bit sore for a day or two, but after that NOTHING. This was some 15 ish years ago and I've had absolutely no trouble since.

I did read somewhere not long ago that ingrown toenails are genetic. I guess my poor kids had no choice.

I feel for you. I'd probably choose NOT to watch, as it can get a tad gory. And I'm not even squeamish. Good luck, hope your foot problems end here.

**Libby** · 02-13-2007, 09:30 PM

Oh wow, thank you ladies! Once again you've come through for me! LOL But my own fault here, I hadnt been able to get to a comp since I made this thread.

So now Im reading all this stuff after the fact.

TO UPDATE:

The doctor just cut out the growth plus the ingrown nail and then removed a bit of the nailbed so that side of the nail wont grow anymore. The actual procedure didnt hurt itself, just the freezing. I am soooo scared to get preggers now b/c if this is how freezing hurts for a toe imagine anywhere else on the body!? *faints*

Anyhow, Im at home now, stuck on the couch, with foot propped up and frankly I went AWOL. Bf just left after taking me to the hospital and then staying with me for 2 days. I think hes got cabin fever by now b/c I know I have it. At least he can go out LOL! Ah yes, back to AWOL. I gave up - got off couch and came to the computer desk. My foot is skyhigh on the desk lol so Im not really breaking any of the rules

.

It really hurt yesterday and a bit today - moreso after I've hobbled back from the bathroom but once its back up in the air for a bit, I seem to be fine again. Only took advil a few times. Hope the rest goes well. I have to start soaking it tomorrow and remove the bandages - ew. Use of Polysporin and then just keep soaking it and Im good to go back to work! Im aiming for Thursday.

And yes, I didnt want to watch the procedure b/c Id prob have fainted on the table but the light fixture was too new and shiny and I could see everything going on in its reflection - the nurse was wondering why I was staring at the wall beside her and not at the ceiling LOL

Man Im so tired of being cooped up! Thanks for the stories and info ladies...as for that bread thing...dunno if I could've pulled that off LOL Makes me wonder whats in the bread that heals the toe though?

**cheappearls** · 02-14-2007, 09:28 AM

I'm glad it wasn't as bad as you thought.

When I had it done once the doctor came and SHOWED me the nail after she took it off. It was naaaaaasty.

I hope you are pain free soon!

**many houseapes** · 02-14-2007, 10:17 AM

2 of my dd's have had to have surgery for ingrown toenails..it is gross to watch. But my dd's didn't have any difficulty afterwards & didn't even need pain medication. They needed to soak a few times a day w/epsom salts & watch that they didn't stub their toes on anything.........they are much braver than I