Most of us have had, or will have, an ingrown toenail at one time or another in our lives. It’s a common enough condition, and most of the time, the pain can be managed using simple techniques at home.
However, this is not always the case. Occasionally (or, unfortunately, frequently for some folks) ingrown toenails can continue to worsen, leading to significant pain and potentially even a nasty infection.
Whether your current situation is more toward the mild side or the severe side, the good news is that you have options to help you get rid of your ingrown toenails and back to enjoying your daily activities without discomfort or restriction.
Getting Rid of an Ingrown Toenail at Pioneer Podiatry
If your ingrown toenail is causing more significant pain, is interfering with your activities, or has developed an infection, you should definitely come to see a professional. The same goes for anyone with diabetes or compromised health. Waiting to see if home treatments will work just isn’t worth the risk of developing a dangerous infection.
However, seeing a professional can also be a good option for anyone who just doesn’t want the hassle of trying to manage treatment at home, or is just sick of dealing with them. Even in the most severe cases, we can quickly remove an ingrown toenail under local anesthesia, bringing a rapid end to the problem with no pain or discomfort.
There are a few different treatment options we can pursue, depending on your symptoms, your situation, and how frequently you have trouble with ingrown toenails.
If your ingrown toenail seems to be a “one-time” thing or developed because of an accidental trauma (like stubbing your toe, for example), the best course of action may be for us to simply trim back the nail for you. This can relieve the pressure immensely, and most likely the nail will grow back normally.
If your pain is more severe, or ingrown toenails are a recurring problem for you, we may instead recommend numbing your toe with a local anesthetic and removing the portion of the toenail that is becoming ingrown. This is usually combined with a secondary procedure on the nail matrix to keep that particular edge of the toenail from growing back.
While this second option may seem scary, we can assure you that it really isn’t! Everything is done under anesthesia, so you won’t feel a thing. By the time the sensation returns to your toe, you should already notice a dramatic improvement in the way you feel.
You’ll have some aftercare instructions to follow once you get home, but most people are able to return to the vast majority of their daily activities within 24 hours.
Trust the experts!
So as you can see, you really have no reason to hesitate on making an appointment with Podiatrists at Pioneer Podiatry. We can help you ease your symptoms quickly, safely, and effectively.
To schedule with us in Mackay, please call 07 4942 5016, or book an appointment online.
At Pioneer Podiatry, our best day is when you wake up with no foot pain.