I'm sure these are no new story to you guys. I get an average of one per year -- either from wearing tight shoes or cutting my nails badly. Here's a brief description:
"Onychocryptosis (also known as an "Ingrown nail," or "Unguis incarnatus"[1]) is a common form of nail disease. It is an often painful condition in which the nail grows so that it cuts into one or both sides of the nail bed. While ingrown nails can occur in both the nails of the hand and feet, they occur most commonly with the toenails." (source: Ingrown nail - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, click for more info including treatments)
I had an ingrown large toenail last year, since I got some cheap-o orthotic insoles that were supposed to work. Wit hthe added sole height, my feet were squished, but I duked it out because the doctor said I just had to break them in -- A week lateri t became obvious I had an ingrown toenail. So I got it cut out my the doct, because it was too bad for me to do on my own.
Recently I got another one. I don't know how, this time. But save for the first two times I got it as a child, and one or two nails that I did not deal with soon enough, I've been self-treating them.
There are two methods which I can personally recommend. The first one works well if you catch the problem early enough. That is to push a strip of cotton beneath the sharp edge digging into your nail bed. You'll probably need a slim device to shove beneath it and jack it up, under which you can jam the cotton. You want that tip to be up enough to be visibly NOT running into your skin. I tried this last night, and it didn't work, likely because the nail was too far under the skin. You'll notice some pain is released from the purple area on your toe when you touch it, if it's successful. The next morning, it was still hurting more from having poke my knife in the sensitive area just trying to find the edge.
So I went for round two. I figured I'd just go for the sure-fire method, which is to remove that corner of the nail altogether, using a pocket knife or nail clippers. This is a little more painful, but is THE final solution; a new start for your toe. I cut what I could dig out in about 1/2 hour, and figured I had it all. By the afternoon, none of the pain had subsided, so I knew I had to go back in.
I considered cashing in on free Canadian healthcare, but didn't want to wait 2 or 3 days for the surgery -- plus it's a hassle to go under the knife. So I was even more motivated. This time, I cut some of the skin attached the bottom of the nail to the toe, and just made a mess of it. I clipped some dying skin away, and kept digging. I was shocked to come accross some big chunks of cotton. They were so deep, I can't think they were even good for the situation. I tore them out and used some sort of tweazer to rip the nail vertically and then to the side, as the problem part of the nail must not just have been the top right, but most of the side. It bled nice enough, and the flesh is kinda a mess right now, but I'm just fine on my feet now! The pressure has gone and I should be fine now.
If you do this, make sure to keep your foot as unrestricted as possible to keep the nail from growing downward again. I use a home-knit slipper, but on the road you may just want to hang out in your socks or wear a hospital-like bootie, home-bum style. It's that, or in another week or two you will be literally lame and a homebum...
What are your preferred methods of dealing with this?
"Onychocryptosis (also known as an "Ingrown nail," or "Unguis incarnatus"[1]) is a common form of nail disease. It is an often painful condition in which the nail grows so that it cuts into one or both sides of the nail bed. While ingrown nails can occur in both the nails of the hand and feet, they occur most commonly with the toenails." (source: Ingrown nail - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, click for more info including treatments)
I had an ingrown large toenail last year, since I got some cheap-o orthotic insoles that were supposed to work. Wit hthe added sole height, my feet were squished, but I duked it out because the doctor said I just had to break them in -- A week lateri t became obvious I had an ingrown toenail. So I got it cut out my the doct, because it was too bad for me to do on my own.
Recently I got another one. I don't know how, this time. But save for the first two times I got it as a child, and one or two nails that I did not deal with soon enough, I've been self-treating them.
There are two methods which I can personally recommend. The first one works well if you catch the problem early enough. That is to push a strip of cotton beneath the sharp edge digging into your nail bed. You'll probably need a slim device to shove beneath it and jack it up, under which you can jam the cotton. You want that tip to be up enough to be visibly NOT running into your skin. I tried this last night, and it didn't work, likely because the nail was too far under the skin. You'll notice some pain is released from the purple area on your toe when you touch it, if it's successful. The next morning, it was still hurting more from having poke my knife in the sensitive area just trying to find the edge.
So I went for round two. I figured I'd just go for the sure-fire method, which is to remove that corner of the nail altogether, using a pocket knife or nail clippers. This is a little more painful, but is THE final solution; a new start for your toe. I cut what I could dig out in about 1/2 hour, and figured I had it all. By the afternoon, none of the pain had subsided, so I knew I had to go back in.
I considered cashing in on free Canadian healthcare, but didn't want to wait 2 or 3 days for the surgery -- plus it's a hassle to go under the knife. So I was even more motivated. This time, I cut some of the skin attached the bottom of the nail to the toe, and just made a mess of it. I clipped some dying skin away, and kept digging. I was shocked to come accross some big chunks of cotton. They were so deep, I can't think they were even good for the situation. I tore them out and used some sort of tweazer to rip the nail vertically and then to the side, as the problem part of the nail must not just have been the top right, but most of the side. It bled nice enough, and the flesh is kinda a mess right now, but I'm just fine on my feet now! The pressure has gone and I should be fine now.
If you do this, make sure to keep your foot as unrestricted as possible to keep the nail from growing downward again. I use a home-knit slipper, but on the road you may just want to hang out in your socks or wear a hospital-like bootie, home-bum style. It's that, or in another week or two you will be literally lame and a homebum...
What are your preferred methods of dealing with this?
