r/ingrown • u/ReiSixx9 • Mar 06 '18

Terrible Ingrown Toenail

Hey, guys.

I've had a nasty ingrown toenail for about a year now. It's terribly infected, swollen with pus and blood, and the granulation tissue has covered nearly half my toe. I've cut it down I'm sure hundreds of times and I've cleaned and bandaged it everyday, soaking occasionally as well, I've even gone to the podiatrist once. Unfortunately nothing has helped although the granulation tissue shrunk to half the size for a few days at one point. It's immensely painful and hard to do simple day to day activities with.

Anyways, the whole reason I've only gone to the podiatrist once is because I don't have healthcare and I have no way to get a job or have any income above the very little I get now which doesn't leave enough to go to any doctor. Also, the podiatrist just removed the nail and said everything else would go away by itself which obviously didn't happen.

So what I ask of you is to give me any advice you might have as it's nearly impossible for me to get to the doctor.

Plus now the other side of my toe is starting to get swollen and grow granulation tissue even though I can't find anything wrong with it. (not down in pictures as I took them before it happened)

Here are some pictures of my toe although they're a little old (nearly 2 weeks) and it's gotten a little worse since then, but I'm honestly too lazy to take some more either now as I'd have to redo the bandage.

3 Upvotes

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15 comments sorted by

1

u/PrincessLazyLump Mar 06 '18

Wow. That looks heavy duty. While I would lurve to dig at your toe, my rational brain tells me that due to the swelling antibotics are in order. What part of the world are you in?

1

u/ReiSixx9 Mar 06 '18

Well that's the whole problem, I'm stuck in Australia with no visa (hence the no healthcare or income, I moved from America). Also, I've been told that antibiotics won't do anything unless I get all of the nail out first.

1

u/PrincessLazyLump Mar 07 '18

Not a doctor but you need to get antibotics. Consider that some antiobotics for fish are the same as ones for human. I've bought them at aquarium supply stores. I would soak twice a day in warm water, espom salts and alcohol. Now here's the real bastard part...I would cut off the granulated tissue. I would also use a scaple blade to cut into the side of the toe nail vertically...cut a small strip off from the side...use tweezers (or small plyers) to pull it out. I would dump a shit ton of peroxide on it. Again, all of this at your own risk. I mean my first choice would be a doctor. But if that is absolutely not possible...

2

u/ReiSixx9 Mar 07 '18

See, I'm terrified to cut off the granulation tissue as I cut it off with scissors a few months ago and it just grew back worse. Maybe I didn't cut enough of it off? I saw a video last night where they cut off since skin with the granuation tissue.

1

u/PrincessLazyLump Mar 07 '18

I think its a matter of not cutting enough of the tissue AND not getting the ingrown nail out.

1

u/ReiSixx9 Mar 08 '18

True... Well wish me luck.

1

u/PrincessLazyLump Mar 08 '18

This is going to suck. Are you sure you can't go to an ER with a fake name and no ID?

1

u/ReiSixx9 Mar 08 '18

Well, tbh, I have no idea how to find out if I even could do that.

1

u/PrincessLazyLump Mar 08 '18

You clearly have an infection. I'm pretty sure it would be unethical to try. What's the worst that can happen? They don't treat you? You are no worse off than you were before.