Hi all- my DD is 13 and has been dealing with a weird toe thing for months now. We went in toward the beginning of the year because her toe was crazy swollen and really sore. They drained it and said that she had an ingrown toenail that let in a staph infection. Put on antibiotics for that. A month or so later it really wasn't better, so we took her back, another round of antibiotics. Cut to now, STILL not better (though no worse). The pediatrician said that she doesn't believe that it is still infected, but that the toenail is growing improperly and is aggravating the surrounding tissue and will continue to do so. She made an appt for tomorrow for us with a podiatrist. She said he will probably try to drain any pus or anything to confirm that there is no infection (she didn't do this today because she felt like he would do it anyway and didn't want to put DD through that twice, and she didn't see any obvious signs of infection that concerned her). But she said her guess is that he will remove a "chunk" of the surrounding toenail to allow things to heal and grow back better. This is the big toe, and the problem seems to be on the side of the nail, closest to the next toe.
Has anyone ever had this done or know someone who has? It sounds AWFUL to me, and I'm not sure how to prepare DD. I don't want to freak her out or upset her, but I don't want to say it's a piece of cake if it's not. I usually tend to be on the 'not a big deal' side of things just so the anticipation doesn't become worse than the event! Hoping for a little perspective here! Thanks...
I had this done when I was around her age.
They took a laser and cut the nail all the way down, into the "skin/meat" and then carterized (?) it with a laser. The nail has never grown back (I am 36) and I have never had any more ingrown toenails. It wasn't painful, they numbed my toe all the way, and the healing was pretty quick.
L.
I had an ingrown toenail removed once. It honestly was not that bad. After it's over, it feels sooooooooooooooo much better. I'm sure your daughters toe is just constantly sore with an ingrown toenail. So- when I went to the foot dr, It was a little strange, they have seats that look like dentist seats (i thought that was a little funny) ....... you put your feet up, he examined my toe, determined yes it was a bad ingrown toe nail. Then, there was a little curtain he pulled that just covered from my ankle down. He put a numbing shot in my toe (yes that did sting a bit) . but then when he cut out the ingrown toe nail part I didn't feel a thing. I think I had to wear open toe shoes for .... a couple of weeks (this was about 8 years ago) .. it was sore for a few days but, then healed just fine. Maybe this is gross, buy the Dr showed me the toe nail he cut out of my toe, it was huge! I couldn't believe it had grown that far into my skin. Believe me, she'll feel soooo much better once it's out.
ETA: The whole toe nail is removed it's called an avulsion. If the portion near the side is removed it's called a debridement...that's what we have had done.
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I have had this done. And my 13 year old son just had it done in March.
It is a TAD painful after the local anesthetic wears off - but if you take Tylenol about 2 hours after the procedure, she will be fine.
She will be soaking her foot/toe 2x per day in a betadine solution and then putting a band aid and neosporin on it. Usually for 10 days. it's genetics in many cases...
During the procedure, there will be a covered area - a movable tray with a drape over it. the doctor will numb the area and then wait for it to go totally numb. He/She will then put a tourniquet on the toe and begin the procedure. Your daughter will feel pressure - no pain. She will be able to walk of the office in her tennis shoes.
This is a "no big deal" event!! Promise!! Both of my big toes have had the procedure and my son has had it done. He handled it well. I did keep him home from school that day just so people wouldn't step on it, etc.
Good luck!
A friend of mine had this done as an adult. I didnt know until we were doing our nails one day and she showed me. She paints the skin like all the others and you cant hardly tell. I say do it- ingrown toenails can bother you forever.
My best friend in high school had that happen to her. She did have the "surgery" (although she wasn't put under or anything, she was awake the whole time) and it solved her problem!
It's one of those things where it's unpleasant to have done, but in the end, better to have the offending section of toenail removed than to have to deal with constant infections and pain/swelling.
I had it done
My big toe nails just grow funny and always became ingrown. The surgery was the best thing I could've done. I've had NO uncrowned toenails since it was done 11 yrs ago. Its was really simple, done in 10 minutes with a local anesthetic.
I dropped a lock on my big toe in the locker room in college.
It developed a blood blister under the nail (THAT was painful).
I took a needle and made a small hole through the nail to let the pressure out and that took the pain away.
The nail eventually fell off but a new one grew in within a few months and you can't tell I ever had any problem with it.
The pain is much worse before the nail is removed.
Have it removed (I'd do the whole thing) and let it grow back in.
It'll be fine.
My son had this done a few years ago. He was awake, but couldn't feel anything. Make sure she doesn't look as that may freak her out. For my son, they removed part of it and burned it so it won't grow back and you can't even tell unless you really look. He was a little sore for a few days, but the soaking helps. Bring a book, iPod, phone or something for her to do so she's not watching
I was a podiatrist in the UK for 11 years, and I did these in my sleep! It is called a partial nail avulsion, and is a very simple procedure to do - but it is painful afterwards, and requires aftercare on your part. What they will do is put anesthetic into her toe to numb it, put on a tourniquet on, separate the nail bed from the nail by using a narrow elevator. Then they have a special nail clippers which only cuts on the top, and they will slide this up under the nail next to where it has been separated and clip it. A fine scalpel will then be pushed right up underneath where the nail is growing from to separate the nail all the way. a phenol compound will then be applied to prevent regrowth. And that's it! She will have to do salt water foot baths and redressings, and there tends to be a lot of leakage.
I've never had an infection drained, so I can't speak to that. But then your daughter has already been thru that. I have had an ingrown toenail partially removed. It would have been a piece of cake, except that the local anesthetic wasn't strong enough and I still had a bit of feeling in the toe. It was not excruciating, just definitely uncomfortable. Of course, I'm a grown woman who has been thru childbirth, kidney stones, and other painful experiences, not a teenager. Still,when the infection has cleared up, and with adequate anesthesia, the nail removal should be no problem. I think your normal "no big deal" attitude is just fine.
when i was 15 i had ingrown toenails BAD. my parents took me to the family dr and he tried different things and nothing worked. my mom took me to a podiatrist....best thing my mom ever did for me. i had both big toe nails removed(i had staph infection almost to the bone). i am now going to be 50 next month and i have had no problems...other then when i stub my big toe....but i would let the podiatrist decide...let your daughter know i have been there and understand!! if you want you can message me!!
