Is this an ingrown toenail or something else?!
Question: Is this an ingrown toenail or something else?
Near the bottom of my left big toe, on the LEFT side (so next to my second toe) it is red (not very) and tender.
there is no swelling, but it is red, and my father who is a frequent victim of ingrown toenails says it doesn't look like there is an ingrown there.
So my question is, what else is it and how can i make the pain go away? It is painful and it hurts to walk on it (like someone is cutting me)
Answers:
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Having not seen it I can't say for sure but it sure sounds like ingrown toenail to me. Have your father or someone take the part of the nail clippers that you use to clean your finger nails with and GENTLY get under the end of the nail and lift it up a little you should be able to see right away if it's ingrown or trying to be. If it is, get a little piece of gauze and put it under the point of the nail trying to grow in. This may or may not help but ti will take time to know. Either way using the gauze should provide you with relief. If not then it time for a phone call to the Dr.
I had them so badly I had to have the surgery done on the big toe on both feet. Also a suggestion that I can pass along from the podiatrist who did my hails. get rid of the traditional toe nail clippers and buy what he called nippers. They are a type of clipper that does a better job of cutting the toenail straight thus helping to prevent ingrown toenails. if caught in time some times the nail can be trained to grow with less of a curve. Curving is OK for fingernails but not good for toe nails.
I hope this helps you and good luck with your toe.
SFC US ARMY SPECIAL FORCES MEDIC RETIRED
HAD INGROWN TOE NAIL SURGERY TWICE