[doggiedo]

I know it's gross, but I did a marathon in the fall (walked it) but it really messed up my toenail. It's finally growing out and I think I'm starting to get an ingrown toenail...

Any idea on when I should call a doc? I have soaked it and tried to release it myself, but I'm a wimp - it hurts!

And...I'm suppoed to go camping this weekend and it hurts to walk on it...

[googley]

You can go to your doctor and have them check it out. (I am not endorsing the use of this, just letting you know it is out there, I have no knowledge of the pros and cons of using these products.) They also have products to make the toe nail softer so you can cut it off without as much pain (my guess what you were trying to do with the water).

[unaluna]

If it's puffy and red, go to the doctor, it can be infected. They can take care of it well enough so you might be in shape to camp this wkend, if you get in quick enough. I am the queen of ingrown toenails, I had surgery done because they were chronic (fRom like childhood). That wasn't fun either, you have to dig into the wound with a freakin stick for weeks for it to heal properly, it's insane. Maybe they do something better now with lasers or something, idk, my surgery (outpatient) was about 20 yrs ago.

[doggiedo]

Wow, thx for the advice guys. It's actually just a little red and hurts like hell. I don't think it's bad enough for a docs visit, but better safe than sorry? Primary care visit? It actually doesn't look that bad but feels worse than it looks...Call anyhow?

i saw my podiatrist today. for toenail problems, you are better off seeing a podiatrist as general practitioners may not have the tools to properly trim the nail. and, yes, my podiatrist trimmed my ingrown toenails (among other things).

[doggiedo]

Yea, I had to see my primary to get a recommendation for a podiatrist. She gave me the recommendation and is calling with the appt information tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

I'm going hiking/camping this weekend, but I think that is going to be put on hold - they are trying to get me in tomorrow or Friday so I'm not in pain all weekend. What a pain in the butt, huh?

You go to the podiatrist regularly?

I have been going to the podiatrist on and off for years. The toenail problems are the least of my foot problems. I won't bore you with the other details. I hope your feet are better soon.

[lynn P.]

Sorry you have this painful ingrown toenail doggiedo. Some ingrown nails need to be surgically treated but others are manageable. When I was younger I had this problem and it got infected - yes it hurts. Then I learned how to avoid getting them completely by trimming the big toenail properly. Most people cut the big nail too short and round the outer corners - this causes the sides to curve downward. The remedy is let the nail grow longer and cut 'straight across'.

When I was 1st growing mine out - I would put a little piece of cotton ball under the corners if it felt like it was digging in. Once they grew out, I haven't had this problem at all. There's other things that cause them like improper shoes etc. I hope this remedies soon.

http://beauty.indobase.com/foot-care...-toenails.html

http://itoldyouiwassick.info/2011/02...ils-naturally/

Thanks for this post ... I have a recurring ITN ... Surgically removed over a year ago ... Every two months I have to soak my foot in hot water ... Pry it out ... Trim it down and slather on the antibiotic ointment ...

The nail was damaged because I dropped a heavy case on the toe while unloading passenger luggage at airport ... Therefore it won't grow back proper ... Eventually I will probably have it permanently removed ... But in the meantime I'm enjoying trying other remedies as I hate needles and going to the doctor ...

Who knows, maybe one of them will do the trick and I won't have to keep doing this every two months or go back to the doctor ... That would be like totally awesome now, wouldn't it ... ?!?!?

Hang In There DoggieDo ... !!!

[doggiedo]

It looks like I might get out easy compared to some of these stories.

It was feeling better today which is good, since I didn't get a call from the doctor. However, I came home tonight and it's pussing. Not cool

I'm going to soak it - that's what make it feel better, I think...

[unaluna]

I'm having flashbacks!

[Rob1210]

I had an ingrown toenail once. It got red and filled with puss. I squeezed the puss out, cut the nail at an angle and yanked the ingrown bit out with pliers.

I immediately regretted that decision. A lot of blood and tears followed!