Conair Foot Massager good for ingrown toenail?!
Question:
Conair Foot Massager good for ingrown toenail?
My boyfriend has a really bad ingrown toenail on both sides of his big toe. We haven't been able to get him the surgery he needs to correct this problem, so we've been trying other things. It has gotten so bad that he went to the hospital and almost died from Blood Poisoning. I'm getting a Conair Foot Massager (the one with water) for myself, but I also think that I may be able to use this to help his foot as well. The doctor suggested using a sort of iodine solution to soak in so that the infection would go down. Well, why shouldn't he enjoy it? So do you think it would be okay to put some iodine in the water used for this massager? I think that the jets may help to clean it out a little too. (I know this is kinda gross) He hates having to soak his foot, but I think this may be a way for him to do it more often. I don't see any harm in this, but I wasn't sure. Thanks!
Answers:
Sheesh. I would have thought if he had "blood poisoning" they would have removed the toenail. Seriously, consider sending him to urgent care or even the ER, especially if he can't walk. In general, the treatment for an ingrown toenail on both sides that interferes with walking is to remove the nail completely.
Don't put iodine in the foot massager--it will stain everything it splashes on, including your floor. You also would need to put enough in it to be a hazardous waste site.
As a less messy alternative to iodine, soaking the toes in a dish of 3% hydrogen peroxide would be a safer and less discoloring alternative. And with the little bubbles, it would be somewhat tingly too :)
Still, do think about getting him back to a doctor. That nail really needs to come out. Good luck!