Ingrowing toenail

[tamirra]

Hi, my daughter is 8 months pregnant, and has a very bad in growing toe nail, she has been on antibiotics but due to the pregnancy had to stop them as she was getting stomach pains, it definatly infected, i have phoned my doc for a referral to our local clinic, but we now have to wait for a letter to be sent from our doctors to the clinic, then we have to wait again for an appointment, in the mean time shes hobbling around heavily pregnant and unable to wear much on her feet other than toe post sandles, is there anything she can do while we wait for the appointment, the g.p has no idea how long the wait will be. Anything she can do in the mean time to help. Thankyou

[cruella]

Hi tamirra,
I would go to a Chiropodist and pay privately, rather than suffer from this. Especially if the waiting time is to be a while.
Think it would cost about �20 max.
Good luck.

[tamirra]

I have already rang one privately, but because she needs to have minor surgery on her toe with anesthetic they cant/wont do it, so hence the wating time for a clinic.

[ojread2]

Some chiropodists will do a wedge removal of an ingrowing toenail - it will cost more than �20 though. Try yellow pages.

I had one removed this January under a general and it is only now just growing like a normal looking nail. the best thing I had done. I had to wear sandals for about 3 months after I had it removed until it had healed properly (had problems with it healing up as surgeon used the wring suture, grr) but it is fine now

I can tell you what the op is if you want me too?

[tamirra]

Hi, yeah please that would be helpful. x

[ojread2]

OK, here goes

Be warned that the toe eminates a lot of blood.

Firstly they make your toe number by injecting lignocaine (the same stuff they use at the dentist) around the base of you toe where it meets your foot. Once numb they put a rubber band around your toe, honestly, to stem the blood flow. Then they literally slice some of the nail away. As mine was done under a general, this is what my GP told me before I had a panic attack in his surgery and he said he would send me to the hospital. It takes about 20 minutes once numb and I know quite a few people who have had it done at their GP's - one had both big toes done at the same time.

I actually had my wedge removed down to the root of the nail which involves cutting down the toe and then stitches afterwards but this is possibly a better option as my nail has grown back normally. Wedge removals can grow back ingrowing, especially if you wear shoes too quickly so, if she can bear it in the cold weather, tell your daughter to wear sandals for as long a spossible.

Until removal she can use natural antiseptic such as tea tree or lavneder oil. She can apply it neat but be careful, any open wounds and it will sting. I know she will feel dafte wearing sandals in the wet weather but it really is the best idea. Get as much air to it as possible.

I waited less than 6 months for my hospital appointment to come through. Although there are no implications using lignocaine when pregnant they may wait for her to have the bab y before removal; more for her comfort than anything else. they won't of course give a general for an ingrowing nail when pregnant

HTH
ojx

[tamirra]

OK, THAT SOUNDS GROSS LOL, but it does need doing. Thankyou for advice anyway. xxx

[ojread2]

I can honestly say that after the op I was no longer in any pain what sover. The only pain I had was because I wore the wrong shoes afterwards! I needed to wear more strappy sandals

She'll be fine - and the relief is enormous!