Troubleshooting your ingrowing toenails
Are painful ingrown toenails stopping you from doing the things you love? Here at Essex Podiatry, we know just how debilitating that can be.
What can cause them?
- Cutting your nails too short
- Digging down the side of your toenail
- Letting your nails grow too long
- Trauma to the nail (stubbing your toe, playing sports, etc.)
- Tight footwear
- Genetic or hereditary factors
How do I know if I have one?
- Pain or tenderness
- Redness around the side of the toenail
- Swelling of the tissue around the toenail
- Pus, discharge, or signs of infection
What are my treatment options?
If you've had the ingrown toenail for only a few weeks, it may heal if the nail is cut properly and the wound is allowed to heal. However, if the ingrowing toenail has been present for a while, recurs, or keeps getting infected, we would suggest nail surgery.
What does surgery involve and what are the benefits?
Surgery involves painlessly removing the infected portion of the nail under local anaesthetic. Depending on your symptoms, the shape of your nail, your medical history, and occupation, we may recommend removing one side of the nail, both sides, or the whole toenail. Click here to find out more about the procedure.
The benefits? Surgery will eradicate the pain and offer a permanent and simple solution!
How long will it take me to recover?
After surgery, we'll schedule a redressing appointment within 3-7 days. You'll need to redress your toe for 4-6 weeks. We'll guide you on how to change the dressing and keep your toe clean.
Consider your choice of footwear for a couple of weeks after the surgery; plan for open sandal-style shoes to accommodate the dressing. Rest your foot as much as possible and plan for a few weeks without sports.
What should I do next?
Give us a call or book online for your initial appointment so we can assess your toe, advise you of the best option, relieve your pain, and get you back to what you enjoy best.
