Guest guest Posted August 15, 2002 Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 HI this is kind of embarassing in a way and a way not. I seem to get an ingrown toenail once every year and always the same toe. This time I got the ingrown nail out and a lot of puss came out (normal) but it is still very very painful even after soaking it in epsom salt water and putting on medication. I have never had one hurt so bad or for so long and was wondering if there is anything else I could try to fix the toe. It is hard for me to walk already and when you throw in this painful toe it makes it even harder. Any suggestions or advice would be wonderful. (I don't have any insurance at the moment so really want to go the home remedy route.) Maybe if I am lucky tomorrow will be better since I got a lot of puss out of it today but normally it feels immediately better and this time it hurts just as bad or worse than before the puss came out. thank you so much. hugs, ali ----------------- PatB moderator note: A flight surgeon (military doctor) told me to go home and wrap the toe in a slice of raw bacon and then wrap in saran wrap. After a few minutes the toe is all squishy and it is easy to pull the toenail loose and clip. Don't know what to do about the pain you are having now except maybe Benadryl. Did you wash it with peroxide? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2002 Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 Ali, Anytime you are having an ingrown toenail with infection involved, you really need to see a doctor. I know it can be a financial inconvenience without insurance, but amputation once gangrene sets in will cost you too! Remember, with some of the medications you are taking, you will not heal quickly, or at all. Please check with a doctor if it is not better in the next day or so, or if it becomes worse. I hope you're walking better soon! Tammy in Phila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 You might need antibiotics. My podiatrist recommended tea tree oil (health food store)when he removed part of my toenail. I use tea tree oil for most minor skin problems as well. Ks Di [ ] Help! Painful ingrown toenail HI this is kind of embarassing in a way and a way not. I seem to get an ingrown toenail once every year and always the same toe. This time I got the ingrown nail out and a lot of puss came out (normal) but it is still very very painful even after soaking it in epsom salt water and putting on medication. I have never had one hurt so bad or for so long and was wondering if there is anything else I could try to fix the toe. It is hard for me to walk already and when you throw in this painful toe it makes it even harder. Any suggestions or advice would be wonderful. (I don't have any insurance at the moment so really want to go the home remedy route.) Maybe if I am lucky tomorrow will be better since I got a lot of puss out of it today but normally it feels immediately better and this time it hurts just as bad or worse than before the puss came out. thank you so much. hugs, ali ----------------- PatB moderator note: A flight surgeon (military doctor) told me to go home and wrap the toe in a slice of raw bacon and then wrap in saran wrap. After a few minutes the toe is all squishy and it is easy to pull the toenail loose and clip. Don't know what to do about the pain you are having now except maybe Benadryl. Did you wash it with peroxide? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 After soaking I would dry off well and put a drawing salve and large bandage on. I still use the udder balm which you can get at Walmart and drug stores. It says not to cover when you put it on but my parents (being farmers and having this in stock for cattle) always used it for us and covered it. I have also done so. I find this the best drawing salve on the market. Only thing is it comes in a fairly decent size container and takes forever to use up but age does not seem to affect its healing qualities. I have cleared up more than one ingrown toenail using this salve. You have to keep it on all the time. If that fails then I guess you will have to see a doctor. --------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 Ali - Since it seems a lot of us with PA have other autoimmune disorders, and diabetes is one of those, if you happen to have diabetes - PLEASE, go to a podiatrist immediately with an ingrown nail - you don't want to mess around with it on your own. Not bad advice if you AREN'T diabetic as well ... don't cause yourself an infection. Hope it's getting better by now, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 Hello Ali, I guess the best OTC treatment plan for an ingrown nail is the following. My dad and I used to get them all the time a LONG time ago. 1) Soak nail in warm water with epsom salts for about 15-20 minutes. 2) Depending on the location of the site of infection, lance the infected site with a STERILE razor blade. Just enough to open that section up. You don't need to go deep. If you're just getting the puss out, that may not be enough. Usually my dad would cut out the part of the nail that had grown into the skin. 3) Apply antibiotic ointment to the area and cover. Change the bandage 2-3 times a day. It could be that the infection has gotten much deeper, Ali. If so, that means you do need to go to a doctor. For maintenance, you must wear shoes with a wide toe box. Also try and catch the nail as early as possible. Don't trim the nail square. They always tell you to trim it square but that always made mine worse. Don't cut it too short either. I hope it starts getting better soon! Don't let it go too long if it's not improving! Hugs, Meghan > HI this is kind of embarassing in a way and a way not. I seem to get an ingrown toenail once every year and always the same toe. This time I got the ingrown nail out and a lot of puss came out (normal) but it is still very very painful even after soaking it in epsom salt water and putting on medication. I have never had one hurt so bad or for so long and was wondering if there is anything else I could try to fix the toe. It is hard for me to walk already and when you throw in this painful toe it makes it even harder. Any suggestions or advice would be wonderful. (I don't have any insurance at the moment so really want to go the home remedy route.) Maybe if I am lucky tomorrow will be better since I got a lot of puss out of it today but normally it feels immediately better and this time it hurts just as bad or worse than before the puss came out. thank you so much. > hugs, > ali > > ----------------- > PatB moderator note: A flight surgeon (military doctor) told me to go home and wrap the toe in a slice of raw bacon and then wrap in saran wrap. After a few minutes the toe is all squishy and it is easy to pull the toenail loose and clip. Don't know what to do about the pain you are having now except maybe Benadryl. Did you wash it with peroxide? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.