Ingrown Toenails

[CaptainBlowhole]

I suspect I have an ingrown toenail in my big toe, and I will probably need to have this done. But I watched this video and its freaking me out! According to the doctor, it doesnt hurt that bad, but the shot does.
Has anyone had this done? Is it true that the shot is the worst? Does this video freak you out a little?


<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YNnsGxy1SC0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YNnsGxy1SC0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

[StanUpshaw]

The acid deal must be new. I've had three done, and all of them consisted of physically scraping the nailbed from bone.

Since I wasn't a toddler, the needle didn't hurt. It did freak me out a bit because I decided to watch while they were scraping and my blood got whipped into a bloody froth. Two of three surgeries resulted in some slight amount of regrowth.

The lidocaine wore off while I was waiting for my meds at the pharmacy, and it was some of the worst pain I can remember.

[CaptainBlowhole]

Oh man, I am not looking forward to it if it hurts bad or the medication wears off. That video really bothered me, even though the person didnt seem to be in too much agony from it, unless that was a cadavers foot! LOL. The pain from the ingrown nail isnt bad as long as I am barefoot or wearing like a Teva type sandal, but I wont wear Tevas to work. I will try and deal with it for a day or two, but I will try and find a foot doctor tomorrow. This sucks!

[StanUpshaw]

Like I said, the procedures I had involved A LOT of vigorous scraping, which I imagine was responsible for most of the pain. If you can find a guy who uses the acid, it's probably a lot less painful. In the video he said the acid also numbs (kills?) the nerves at the site, so that should result in even less pain.

[TheGameHHH]

I had this exact procedure done when I was 19, didn't hurt a bit. stop being a pussy.

[Recyclerz]

I had the old school version of this done to both sides of the nails on both big toes. It hurt a little then; this procedure looks a lot less traumatic so I imagine it would be easier to recover from.

If you want real suffering, put this off until your toe gets infected and pusses up - seeing stars from pain will no longer just be a metaphor for you. :glurps:

[Snoogans]

just use a toe nail clipper and rip that shit out, pussy

[Tenbatsuzen]

just use a toe nail clipper and rip that shit out, pussy

Yeah, and risk massive infection and even more pain. Smart.

That said, I've had ingrown toenails that a doctor worked on and also I worked on. It's not that bad when the doc works on it. But this is key - avoid infection at all costs. I had two infected big toes and it fucking SUCKED. I was in massive pain for 2 years.

[CaptainBlowhole]

I am definitely going tomorrow to get it looked at. I have a feeling I have a slight infection, because its red and it feels like a bee sting. I have been wearing sandals all day and I brushed the toe against some trash by accident and it hurt like a ice pick was shoved under the nail.

[StanUpshaw]

If it's infected, you're in for some putrid smelling brown pus-stained socks tomorrow.

And the crusty dried pus caked into the edge of the nail.

If you haven't already, start soaking your foot in a tub of warm water and Epsom salts.

[torker]

The nail popped off my pinky toe last week. Clean off.

[StanUpshaw]

The nail popped off my pinky toe last week. Clean off.

Epsom salts.

[walking joint]

Yeah, and risk massive infection and even more pain. Smart.

That said, I've had ingrown toenails that a doctor worked on and also I worked on. It's not that bad when the doc works on it. But this is key - avoid infection at all costs. I had two infected big toes and it fucking SUCKED. I was in massive pain for 2 years.

back in high school I tried to do it myself and Tenbatsuzen is right...don't do it. I f'd it up big time. And I remember the procedure at the doctor sucking. Some type of cyst had built up and they had it checked out.

[Devo37]

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c395/Devo37/paul-bearer2.jpg

[torker]

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c395/Devo37/paul-bearer2.jpg



http://www.the-bernsteins.com/images/scary.jpg

[KingModem]

I had two of these done at once when I was a 16 year old. The shot is a big needle that goes into the top of your toe. Yes, that hurts, but the funnest part was watching the gruesome removal of the ingrown area.

After "surgery", your toe, will actually feel better than it feels right now.

You should be excited compared to what you are probably going through right now.

[CaptainBlowhole]

I made the appointment and hoped that they could see me today, but they were booked. I am going tomorrow. I wore the loosest show I had today and it throbbed all day. I dont think its infected yet, its like a red bump on the side, but no weird color. I think if I let it go it would get infected. Over the weekend I tried to lance it with a needle, but the pain was so harsh that I didnt have the onions to actually press had enough to get the needle through the skin. I had hoped if I took some fluid out that it would make it bearable. It was probably a good thing I didnt do that. I had coated my toes with powder yesterday and I believe that it helped a lot. I did it again today and will again tomorrow. I am going to the doctor right after work.

[torker]

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/kathy%20bates%20hobbling%20james%20caan%20in%20mis ery.jpg

[CaptainBlowhole]

I am posting from the procedure room. Anxiety building! The nurse just told me the needle is going to be the worst part. Moments away!

[StanUpshaw]

Did you get an acid guy or a scraper guy?

[CaptainBlowhole]

Acid guy. It went far better than I expected. The initial needle stick was rough, but I have been giving blood for years and those needles are a lot bigger. He sprayed the foot with an icy feeling spray that made me think of that instead of the needle, but I felt it, I wont lie. But after the first needle, it went numb pretty quick and then he injected me like 4 times and after 20 minutes I could not feel anything at all. When he did the procedure, he had a hot assistant that talked to me and she drew some attention away, but as I watched him do it, it looked like I was watching another person have it done. I felt zero pain or discomfort, its pretty amazing. The ingrown nail was not as big as I expected, not as big as in that video I linked.
I am pleased now. I hope it doesnt hurt once the stuff wears off.
One complaint I have is, he prescribed me an antibiotic. Why if they know you will need that, do they not have it in the doctors office, to save you a trip somewhere else on a bad foot? I wish doctors offices had pharmacies in their offices! They are making a few grand probably, why not make it easier on patients?

[StanUpshaw]

So three hours later the toe is still numb?

Jesus Christ, I must be immune to the stuff. They had to shoot me up with two full syringes of lidocaine before I got numb, then it wore off within the hour.


EDIT: Mother fucker...I started reading a little bit, and it turns out lidocaine insensitivity is an actual thing. And the condition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypokalemic_sensory_overstimulation) that it's related to could totally explain some of the other issues I've had. I need to buy me some potassium and experiment.

[CaptainBlowhole]

Well, I hope my experience inadvertently helped you!
I am starting to feel the tip of my toe now, so hopefully it doesnt kill me :)
My dog is bugging me for a walk, and I really wish he would just relax for a frikin day! :)

[Tenbatsuzen]

Why if they know you will need that, do they not have it in the doctors office, to save you a trip somewhere else on a bad foot? I wish doctors offices had pharmacies in their offices! They are making a few grand probably, why not make it easier on patients?

Because they don't want junkies breaking in. It's also a liability thing, they don't have the overhead for storage.

Did the doctor recommend getting a new pair of cheap sneakers to wear during the healing process?

[torker]

good luck budday
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zrxTjgFYoU8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zrxTjgFYoU8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[CaptainBlowhole]

I brought a pair of Teva sandals with me, and its good that I did. He wrapped the toe in a lot of gauze and tape and it would have been a tight fit in my sneaker. I have some wide toe shoes that I will wear for the next few days. I don't like tight shoes anyway. This was probably caused by a bad nail trimming job I did.

The reason I mention the PITA aspect of the doctors and pharmacy connection is simply a matter of convenience. Lots of times a doctor will have free samples of medication they could give you, and I don't see why if they frequently prescribe a certain medication, particularly if they are a specialist, that they would serve their patients well by having a stock on hand to save someone an additional trip somewhere else. Especially when it involves a person with a foot issue. I know I'd refer people to someone who did that for me, saved me a hassle.