Ingrowing toe nails

A huge number of patients contact us complaining that they are suffering because of an in growing toe nail. This stated condition can generally fall into two categories;

1) An involuted nail

This is a nail which in cross section has a greater degree of curvature, causing the skin along the sides of the nail(s) to be pinched by the more rounded nail. This pinching in itself can be very uncomfortable (especially in a tight shoe) but more so if the build up of pressure over time causes a corn to develop either under or down the sides of the nail. In this instance there may be nothing much if anything to show for the considerable pain but more than likely the sufferer will complain that it hurts more "in bed at night when the bed clothes press on it" or "when I'm wearing a shoe". Involuted nails can usually be treated by removing the corner of the nail and removing the offending corn. An ongoing long standing problem with an involuted nail is often solved and cured once and for all by removing the sides of the toe nail under local anaesthetic. ( A procedure known as a partial nail involution).

2) An acute in growing toe nail.

This is usually exceedingly painful, the toe being very swollen, bright red with inflammation and often accompanied with the presence of pus. This is not a condition that is usually described as "a bit sore" or "quite tender". It is agony and the sufferer will often say they "cannot stand the weight of a single sheet bearing down on the nail". Such a situation in the vast majority of cases will require the side(s) of the nail removed or indeed the whole nail under local anaesthetic.

While the prospect of having this procedure performed will undoubtedly cause considerable anxiety to the patient, the very common comment of those who return for post operative dressings will say "it wasn't anything like as bad as I thought it was going to be. If I had known it was going to be like that I really wouldn't have worried." The beauty of the treatment (described as a partial or total nail avulsion ) is that in addition to relieving the intense pain, the patient should never suffer a repeat of the condition in the same toe ever again. This is because the nail bed of the offending part of the nail is destroyed with a powerful chemical. Once healed the partial nail avulsion should look cosmetically very acceptable to the patient which is now just a few millimeters narrower than it used to be. (A total avulsion leaves an outline of where the nail once was.) Performed correctly there should be no spicules or tufts of nail regrowing from the area operated on.

For further information on ingrowing toe nails or other conditions and services please call 01227 360940 / 01795 430020 / 07985014566 or send us an email info@hernebaychiropody.co.uk