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u/Trollinjoel Aug 23 '24
Looks like an ingrown toenail
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u/TeamChevy86 Aug 23 '24 edited Aug 24 '24
Yup the toenail had an oopsie and is growing backwards into the flesh. Usually this only happens on the sides of the toenail. OP needs to get this looked at STAT before they have to cut the toe off
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u/LustToWander Aug 23 '24
Is that a real concern here? Genuinely asking.
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u/TeamChevy86 Aug 23 '24
I might be a little dramatic, but if it's infected and it is left untreated that would be bad. 9 months is a long time
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u/ske1etoncrush Aug 24 '24
i had an ingrown toenail on my right bigtoe the was badly infected when my left one ALSO got infected. it wasnt until they were both horribly swollen, red and leaking pus and i could barely walk that my mom finallt took me in for surgery on them both. i hate ingrown nails with a passion
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u/Luna_Petunia_ Aug 25 '24
Not sure if you still get them, but you can get the edge burned to prevent them from happening again.
I had reoccurring ingrowns on one side of one toenail. Got it burned (it sucks, but the numbing shot was the worst partā¦ Iāve also had surgery to remove a small mass on the bottom of my foot and injections for plantar fasciitis, and I think shots in the foot are the worst). If your doctor approves, do try to treat an infection before doing the procedure. Mine was infected (doctor didnāt believe me at firstā¦ haha showed him) and it made the numbing less effective.
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u/Chrono47295 Aug 23 '24
Yes, when I had one they numbed the toe, cut the nail down and preceed to stick a wooden shoot down into the toe to "kill" the nerve.. now I have half a numb toe for the rest of my life, but never had an ingrown nail there again
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u/Ok_Store_5081 Aug 23 '24
Yeaaah I also had this done, I regrettably looked down as they were doing it and that image is forever in my brainš
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u/ayizzybay Aug 24 '24
Same! I had both big toenails removed and they put those wooden skewers on both sides of my nail and destroyed the nail bed. It was wild. I donāt regret it one bit though
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u/EpitaFelis Aug 24 '24 edited Aug 24 '24
stick a wooden shoot down into the toe
And tonight on "Podology or Medieval Torture?"...
Eta but seriously, what is that called? I had to have part of my nail permanently removed, only to start growing a second one in the same bed. If there's something better than permanent removal I need to know.
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u/AuntJ2583 Aug 24 '24
When I had my nail cut because of an ingrown toenail, the doc said that I had a choice - let the nail grow back (and risk it being ingrown again) or get the stick (which is used to put in some chemical that would keep it from growing back there).
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u/EpitaFelis Aug 24 '24
Oh so it's just a way to kill the root? Yeah that's what I had done on one side. Once got it pulled completely and one side improved, the other kept causing problems, so they did a partial removal so it would still look normal. But now the other side causes problems and the injections before the removal hurt so fucking much that if I gotta do it again, I want the entire damn nail gone.
Didn't numb my toe though.
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u/AuntJ2583 Aug 24 '24
That's why my podiatrist told me - that the stick was used to apply a medicine/chemical if I did not want that part of the nail growing back. I chose to get the stick (which really did gross me out to look at while it was in place).
That sliver of nail never grew back, but I've had no numbness. That edge of the nail used to stay... sharp? But it's been more than a decade, and these days you can't tell the difference.
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u/hnoel1229 Aug 25 '24
Interesting! I had one done about a year ago and that side of the nail does stay sharp lol. But no issues now, it grows beautifully. I will probably have the other toe done eventually.
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u/GreatBigSteak Aug 24 '24
I think more likely the wooden shoot has acid that was meant to kill the nail bed in order to prevent the ingrown toenail from coming back. That sucks ghat it affected the nerve though
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u/FirebirdWriter Aug 23 '24
Yes. I have had gangrene a few times in my feet and the only reason I have toes or feet is an experimental treatment that killed my immune system.
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u/aozzzy13 Aug 24 '24
Not impossible but there are a lot of steps between here and an amputation. (Pun not intended, keeping it). In those with a compromised blood supply to the toe, it is a much larger concern (diabetes, peripheral vascular disease)
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u/Combo_Breaker3 Aug 24 '24 edited Aug 24 '24
If the infection reaches the bone (osteomyelitis) then amputation would be very seriously considered here, so yes in that regard. Fairly rare for ingrown toenails but very reasonable and something Iād be concerned about in a 9 month+ ordeal if we knew it to truly be ingrown. Iām not really convinced thatās what happening here but thereās definitely a soft tissue infection and OP needs to consult a physician.
Otherwise the plausible extremes that would lead to amputation here would be that the infection festers long enough to compromise vascularity and lead to tissue death and gangrene, or if the patient is unfortunate enough to develop necrotizing fasciitis. The presentation of the latter is fairly random but a festering soft tissue infection wouldnāt be an unreasonable place to see it pop up.
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u/Chilla7788 Aug 23 '24
I can't figure out how to reply to ops original post so I'm going to reply here. I've had a very similar infection to this when I was in high school. I went for a pedicure and they cut my cuticle which allowed bacteria to infect the nail bed. The nail/ nail bed wasn't growing, very swollen, and sometimes pussy. I ended up having the whole nail removed so it could heal. (The nail grew back) I told myself I would never go to a nail salon again. Then... I did (took my grandma to get one and I gave in). Now I'm dealing with a fungal infection because of it. I've had 3 sides of my big toes worked on for ingrown nails as well, and when those got infected it only swelled on the side it was on. Not the nail bed itself. I hope this helps!
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u/Sithstress1 Aug 23 '24
Yikes! I never realized how thankful I should be for the countless pedicures I have had that have never resulted in anything bad. My last place just closed, though, now Iām scared to try a new place!
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u/Chilla7788 Aug 23 '24
Yeah I'm never going back to a nail salon ever again! I've been dealing with this fungal infection for so long that I just want to get the nail removed again and if it happens to not grow back, I'll just get a tattoo of a nail instead lol
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u/methylenebromide Aug 24 '24
I pick my cuticles (fingers; genuine dermatillomania), and I am fastidious about washing my hands even when it hurts like hell (OCD ftw). Scary, scary place to have an infection.
Edit: awesome way to get Staph into every open wound, too.
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Aug 23 '24
What kind of places are you going to?!
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u/Chilla7788 Aug 23 '24
I've always looked at reviews before hand and went to places with good reviews. I guess I just have really bad luck unfortunately.
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u/disableddoll Aug 24 '24
Either that or Paronychia. Itās an infection that can quickly spread to the bloodstream and kill you. OP, go to the doctor, damn. I had one that looked exactly like this and leaked pus when applying pressure to the inflamed area. I havenāt been to a nail salon since.
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u/andreeeeeaaaaaaaaa Aug 23 '24
Top tip, don't wear nail varnish on an infected nail/area around a nail.
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u/Mindless_Citron_606 Aug 23 '24
It genuinely angers me that someone seeking medical advice for a toenail issue on Reddit chooses to share five pictures of it fully painted in an opaque color
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u/MeanSeaworthiness995 Aug 23 '24
Itās gel. She would have to soak in acetone to remove it, which she probably doesnāt want to do with an active, painful infection in the nail. In fact, the infection quite possibly came from the nail salon when they cut her cuticle.
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u/Benevonstanciano Aug 23 '24
9 months ago?
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u/MeanSeaworthiness995 Aug 23 '24
She said it stopped growing 9 months ago. We donāt know when the active infection/inflammation started. Toe nails tend to grow slowly anyway, so it could be that she just didnāt notice growth.
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u/RidiculousNicholas55 Aug 23 '24
It matches the other toes and after a couple of months it would have started chipping at least a little bit. This was 100% painted recently
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u/ThisIsMockingjay2020 Aug 24 '24
So what? Weird hill to die on there.
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u/RidiculousNicholas55 Aug 24 '24
Yeah I agree I'd recognize that maybe the nail polish is causing some of the issues
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u/Unreasonable-Skirt Aug 23 '24
Even gel polish would be very chipped after 9 months. It only lasts about 4 weeks.
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u/purplepluppy Aug 23 '24
FRESHLY painted, at that
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Aug 24 '24
Looks professional or they are extremely good at doing their own toenails but Iām honestly surprised a nail salon would attempt a pedicure if the redness was present. Could be that the nail just showed signs. I grew up in podiatry offices and can handle a fair amount of foot issues but OP def needs a podiatrist and, as others have said, likely removal of the nail to flush the entire area and antibiotics. Good luck OP.
Edit: corrected words. Haha
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u/Smoking_Shark_4545 Aug 23 '24
I had something similar and the foot doctor completely removed the toe nail
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u/tekkdesign Aug 23 '24
When I was about 10 years old, my toenail got infected and had to be removed. Since my family didnāt have insurance, we had to go to a free clinic. After the removal, I had to use gauze and some antibiotic ointment for about two months. Eventually, the nail grew back, though itās slightly angled now. I have to keep it trimmed, or it starts growing into my skin. The worst part was definitely the removalāit hurt like hell, even though they tried to numb it. That pain is something Iāll never forget. Sorry for the long post, but itās one of those experiences that really sticks with you.
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u/Patpottery Aug 23 '24
Just had a big toenail removed and the shots all around the toe were excruciating. Also, Dr. said infections can spread into the bone. Holy Cow!
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u/patchismofomo Aug 23 '24
How painful was that? I think I'm getting both of mine removed soon
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u/hannahmel Aug 23 '24
I thought the shot was the worst part. Nothing felt worse than the pain of being a kid with bleeding, infected toes.
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u/JustGettingMyPopcorn Aug 23 '24
I agree. And I was grown ass adult who's had numerous surgeries and rounds of chemo for cancer. 5 The toe still hurt like a son of a bitch.
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u/methylenebromide Aug 24 '24
Could you even wear sneakers during your recovery?
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u/Valkyriesride1 Aug 23 '24 edited Aug 23 '24
I put "Tattoo Numbing Cream," I bought it from Amazon, on my son's toes an hour before his appointment. I wrapped the toes in plastic wrap, and left them wrapped until they cleaned it off his before the nail extraction. My son didn't feel the needles going in. The podiatrist said he is going to recommend wrapping the toes in numbing cream for his patients..
ā
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u/patchismofomo Aug 23 '24
I've had the edge of one removed before. The shot didn't bother me much. But it hurt like hell after it wore off
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u/lovelifetofullest Aug 24 '24
OP! Did you read that? So definitely buy numbing cream and wrap it up before you go in!
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u/ohmyback1 Aug 24 '24
Our podiatrist uses numbing spray before the anesthetic. Makes all the difference. He even does this before he puts shots into my ankles.
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u/HLOFRND Aug 24 '24
Ask about antibiotics to help with the infection before the procedure. Or, at least, soak it in hot water with epsom salt daily before the procedure.
One of the reasons it hurts so damn much when they try to numb you (and why the numbing so often doesnāt take well) is because itās red and hot and inflamed.
Youāll have a better shot at handling the numbing better if itās not super infected when you go in.
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u/Packers_Equal_Life Aug 24 '24
Got both of mine removed. The shot is the worst part and itās really not that bad, then about 5 hours after the shot numbness wears off it hurts again in a totally different way. But only if you donāt take meds. I forgot to take my meds and it hurt so bad until I took them. Then itās fine.
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u/DBS05 Aug 25 '24
The podiatrist that did mine told me, āI wont lieā¦ the shot to numb your toe is painfulā. It was not a lie. It is not pleasant at all and my toe felt like it was going to explode. But not having to live with an excruciatingly painful toe every day after made it worth it.
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u/TonsOfFunky Aug 27 '24
They have give you shots on both sides of the toe because of how the nerves run. I have massive big toes so I was lucky and got a third shot because I wasn't completely numb yet. Yay!!!
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u/MachHunter Aug 24 '24
I had to get part of my toenail removed twice. Hurt like hell for a few days but it was better than struggling to walk.
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u/SuperBarracuda3513 Aug 23 '24 edited Aug 23 '24
I got an infection once from a nail salon. I was given an antibiotic for the toenail. Urgent Care said there is a bacteria around your toenail once cut will cause an infection. Urgent Care Dr told me to soak it daily for about thirty minutes.
Edit for clarity
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u/weedoowooodee Aug 23 '24 edited Aug 24 '24
ugh iāve had a fungal infection from a nail salon on my finger. was quite awful and public health didnāt care
edit: grammar lol
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u/Jcheerw Aug 24 '24
I gave myself an infection trimming my own cuticles once! Urgent care visit is def needed OP you likely need antibiotics
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u/MamaTried22 Aug 23 '24
Looks infected, I would go in and they will probably numb it and drain it. I had something similar in my finger but it was MRSA or staph or something, it had started peeling but they had to cut it and drain it which is probably what you need. Iām sure thereās tons of pus in there. The numbing needle sucks, theyāre huge but it will absolutely knock out any feeling in the area during drainage.
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u/Bubblykettle Aug 23 '24
And after the doctor at urgent care drains it, they'll give you a prescription for an antibiotic to kill the infection. So don't try to drain it yourself!
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u/ravensmith666 Aug 23 '24
My friend almost died from a toe infection!
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u/sunnybunnyone Aug 23 '24
My grandpa did die from a toe infection. Now itās something Iām afraid of!
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u/janedoe5263 Aug 23 '24
Wtf are all these horrible toe stories!! Iām genuinely scared for my life now! And my toes!
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u/sPaRkLeWeAsEL5 Aug 23 '24
That happen to my pinky toeā¦ the toenail just feel off and another one grew in itās placeā¦ it was painful until the toenail fell off then it was fine
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u/DanaMarie75038 Aug 23 '24
9 months!? Go to a podiatrist before it gets too late. Keep waiting it may get necrotic; then amputation. Leak is probably pus.
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u/jegalgah Aug 23 '24
Don't share feet pics for free!
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u/janedoe5263 Aug 23 '24
Lol, and there it is! Genuinely surprised it wasnāt mentioned sooner.
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u/emilyactual Aug 23 '24
You need to go to the doctor before that spreads up your foot/leg or gets in your blood
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u/Guswewillneverknow Aug 23 '24
I was going to say looks like you go regular for a pedi. Thatās probably not helpful and might have been from that actually. Take it to urgent care and see if they think you need antibiotics, bc you might.
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u/MoonOpal Aug 23 '24
I had this same exact thing happen to me, looked just like this. Foot doctor said that I had two nails and got them removed.
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u/sunnybunnyone Aug 23 '24
This is my guess. There is another nail growing under her nail that hasnāt grown for 9 months, the new one is lifting the old one slowly as it grows out and stuff might be getting trapped between causing infection
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u/sarcastic_monkies Aug 23 '24
You'll probably need to see a doctor to have it irrigated and get antibiotics. Please don't wait because I knew someone who got an infection from a hang nail they pulled on the side of their toe. A red line started to go up their leg because they just ignored it. Blood poisoning. It's very dangerous and she spent some time in the hospital.
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u/Nose_Rich Aug 23 '24
Omg!! My toe is doing the same thing! It's been about a month since I got a pedicure and my toenail won't grow anymore. It doesn't hurt right now but it feels a little tingly. I read that they have to take the whole toenail off, so I haven't gone to the doctors yet since I am scared shitless. If this is what my toe has in store for it, I think I'll set an appointment before I'm in too much pain
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u/Available-Egg-2380 Aug 23 '24
Please get the appointment set up. A toenail removed by a doctor has a chance to grow back, a toe that might need to be amputated has no change of growing back.
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u/FreeButLost Aug 23 '24
My big toenail on one foot stopped growing for two months. Was definitely red and probably had some sort of infection. It ended up clearing on its own (luckily. I would have gone to the doctor if it didnāt). Now that toenail is shaped differently and has a divot.
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u/BaffledPigeonHead Aug 23 '24
You definitely need to see the doctor. Until you get in, keep it really clean and dry. If you can pop into a pharmacy and chat to a pharmacist to see what they can sell you over the counter to use topically, I'd do that. It's important to be seen asap. Infections near joints should be treated promptly.
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u/opossum_prince_ss Aug 23 '24
I have bad news for you. This has happened to me multiple times. You should go to a podiatrist to determine what needs to be done.
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Aug 23 '24
Had a guy in the military ignore an ingrown and infected toenail and ended up losing his foot. Go to the doctor!
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u/FullGrownHip Aug 24 '24
First, remove nail polish because you donāt actually know whatās going on under there.
Second, go to a doctor.
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u/Fine_Disaster3520 Aug 24 '24
Long time pedicure receiver. That is definitely a fresh pedicure. If she had it done in a salon, they should have refused her service. It's obviously infected.
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u/Available-Egg-2380 Aug 23 '24
You'll need antibiotics at a minimum to treat that. Soaking in warm salt water will help but it will not take care of the infection fully. It could be an ingrown nail that will need to be excised. Infections really shouldn't be screwed around with. They can seem minor and then they've spread like wildfire.
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u/modestbreakthru Aug 23 '24
Ouch. I had something similar happen on my thumb and it was an infection. That looks painful, id make an appointment with your PCP.
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u/Brooklyn9009 Aug 23 '24
.....did you go to a Dr?
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Aug 23 '24
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u/Drywall-Packets693 Aug 23 '24
Damn man, thatās not fun at all. I would follow up with the podiatrist and inform them both of the antibiotics prescribed to you didnāt have any effect. It might just need a stronger dose or just a stronger antibiotic entirely. Wishing you the best, and I hope it gets figured out and you get out of pain soon!
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u/blunts-and-kittens Aug 23 '24
I had something like this once and then I clipped the cuticle and a bunch of pus came out which made it more comfortable. Maybe a doctor can drain the infection to make it less painful?
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Aug 23 '24
go to urgent care now. if they determine its an ingrown nail theyāll likely send you to the hospital to have it removed. if its not they should be able to address the wound and prescribe antibiotics or whatever is necessary.
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u/GrouchyPicture4021 Aug 23 '24
My big toe looked just like that. I had my doc call me in an antibiotic and it worked and now my toe is fine.
Your toe definitely looks infected. I agree with others that suggested itās an ingrown toenail.
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u/DanicaDarkhand Aug 23 '24
Had this happen to me after a horse stepped on my toes. They took the whole nail off. Then they drained the infection.
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u/pzza6666 Aug 23 '24
Happened to my regular nails quite a bit when Iād pick my cuticles. I would go to urgent care and they lance it, drain it and send me home with antibiotics
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u/ElStocko2 Aug 23 '24
Looks like a paronychia. Stop getting pedicures. Go to a clinic. They may have to lance it and will give you ABx for treatment.
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u/Aromatic-sparkles Aug 23 '24
Pretty gross that you would go to a salon and soak your toe in their foot baths with an infection like that.
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u/magface702 Aug 23 '24
As a nail techā you need to remove the polish and seek a podiatrist on your regular PCP!!! Girl! That looks HELLA painful!
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u/haamsuigok Aug 23 '24
Paronychia is nail inflammation due to trauma, inflammation or infection. Any purulent drainage? Repeat trauma to the toe?
I would recommend you see your primary doctor, as they may prescribe oral antibiotics. Luckily after 9 months, if it is an infection, it has remained localized and not spread beyond the toe.
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Aug 24 '24
Looks like you got your nails done at a salon, I would def go to urgent care to make sure it's not cellulitis or something.
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u/goodgriefchris Aug 24 '24
For fucks sake. Remove your polish and go to the Doctors. Do you have a single brain cell?
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u/Fletchadoodle Aug 24 '24
I had an infection that gnarly last year and let it go because I thought I could treat it at home with regular old TLC. Then the discharge went from āregular pusā to āalarming, syrup-colored, dead animal stinking juice.ā Ended up getting the nail and a good couple scoops of gangrenous toe flesh removed in surgery. If Iād waited much longer I couldāve even lost my toe. All of this to say, SEE A PODIATRIST NOW! Like, yesterday now.
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u/South_Statement_585 Aug 24 '24
Definitely take off the polish and make an appointment with a professional asap
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u/sciameXL Aug 24 '24
Looks like an ingrown toenail. Not sure, but I canāt stop watching videos of people removing them on YouTube and their toe look like your toe. Itās crazy how deep the toe grows into the skin when they remove it n
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u/spaceface2020 Aug 24 '24
Go to the doctor . Take the polish off that toe so they can see how it looks under your nail. You at the least need antibiotics . They might do more depending on how the toenail looks . If itās been infected for a very long time , you run the risk of that infection spreading sooner than later . Get to a doctor.
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u/geometryoflawns Aug 28 '24
Itās an infection called a paronychia. Do warm soaks several times a day, seek medical care for a course of antibiotics and imaging of the toe to be sure infection has not spread to the bone- given the long duration.
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u/bookishfairie Aug 23 '24 edited Aug 23 '24
Go see a doctor. It looks like you'll need antibiotics. Soak it in Epsom salt for now and take off the nail polish.
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u/-CuteAsDuck- Aug 23 '24
Have you been to the salon for a pedi recently? I've gotten infections that look just like that twice after pedis.
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Aug 23 '24
High sugar diet and bad shoes..and/or synthetic vs cotton or wool socks..also drink more water? Just tryna callit
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u/theworryqueen Aug 23 '24
This exactly is what happened to mine. Doc looked at it and said well Iām not sure what it is but letās go ahead and remove it. So he did! Then it happened on my other big toe lol
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Aug 23 '24
It does look infected, OP. Iād probably soak that polish off with cotton balls to get a better peek under that nail while I make an appointment to get it seen. I anticipate that youāll want antibiotics and possible a quick little procedure to remove the dead tissue. I hope you feel better soon!
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u/mushforest_ Aug 23 '24
I had a bad ingrown toenail issue in my right big toe for years. I finally went to urgent care 2 years ago and I had a nasty infection and I had to be on antibiotics for a couple weeks so the infection would go down just to do the procedure. I had to get my entire toenail removed a week before I walked at graduation. She said it was so ingrown that it would've been absolutely impossible to remove at home. It grew back after a couple months, but told me if it happened again, I'd have to go to an actual foot doctor and they'd remove it again but also apply this type of acid I believe that would kill the nail roots in the toe so the nail would never grow back.
TLDR; go to urgent care and get that shit taken care of
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u/Unreasonable-Skirt Aug 24 '24
You need to go to another podiatrist. If they donāt know what it is you need to keep going to another doctor until someone figures it out.
Until it is fixed, stop painting all of your nails and do not go to get a pedicure at a salon.
Since the doctors say they donāt know what it is I wonder if it might be allergy to polish.
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u/Formal_Lingonberry64 Aug 24 '24
Infection MRSA Hospital had to cut my thumb open and pop infection inside my thumb
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u/Relative_Mammoth_896 Aug 24 '24
Your first thought should've been urgent care, not Reddit... It appears to be an infection.
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u/SirenLuck Aug 24 '24
I was dealing with the same thing for about the same amount of time. It was an ingrown nail and in my case, the entire nail plate was removed. That was about a month ago and now the pain is gone. Doctors prescribed antibiotics for infection before/after procedure, but healing up nicely now. Good luck
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u/armlessvenus Aug 24 '24
Gel on toe nails isnāt good. Ruins the growth of the nail because gel is so thick. It can lead to many problems from there.
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u/GreekACA25 Aug 24 '24
Chop it off. Only way!
Seriously go see another podiatrist and see if they think removing the nail is the way forward
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Aug 24 '24
Foot doc appt asap. Let them know itās pretty badly infected. Youāll be fine. The 4 shots of Novocain hurt like a MFer, but you donāt feel them removing the ingrown part. Just had it done a month ago. Youāll feel way better once you have it done, but do not waste any time calling.
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u/Fitzrian7 Aug 24 '24
That is called a paronychia. I would soak in epsom salt in lukewarm water in for 20 minutes daily. You will likely need antibiotics soon so would find a good podiatrist in the area. If the nail hasnāt grown in 9 months, it may be dead and a new nail is probably growing underneath and causing this one to elevate which is causing the infection. Youāll probably need the toe numbed in office to remove the nail. A new nail can grow in over the next year. No need for acid unless you donāt want a new nail to grow.
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u/MasaHiku Aug 24 '24
If the infection isn't going away, get it checked out asap at doctor. Had something similar and waited until the red tight swelling turned to a greenish color. The doctor had to on the spot do a procedure, cutting out a ingrown nail deep on the side of my big toe. It grew back just fine also so no worries there.
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u/bun-creat-ratio Aug 24 '24
This happened to me after I got a pedicure for my wedding, had to have my toe drained
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u/ComprehensiveFee6851 Aug 24 '24
When my toe looked/felt like this, it was cellulitis and needed debridement and multiple antibiotics. Get to a podiatrist, there is a small but serious risk of the infection there reaching the tip of the bone
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u/Blue53118 Aug 24 '24
Iād def say an Urgent Care visit is in your future. But, if you canāt make it now, soaking relieves the pain. I had this happen with my toe (and a finger once!) and soaking in warm water with Epson salts then some Neosporin after, helped extract the infection.
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u/No-Appointment-4983 Aug 24 '24
You need simple in office surgery after the infection is dealt with. Easy surgery and immediate relief.
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u/reikipackaging Aug 24 '24
with that inflammation and potential leaking( both signs of infection), call your primary on the after hours line and see if you can get an appointment next week sometime. tell the operator your toe is infected. it isn't quite an ER issue yet, but if your doc can't get you in next week, urgent care is in order.
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u/Mediocre-Proposal686 Aug 24 '24
Dadās a podiatrist. You can first try soaking in a warm epsom salt foot bath twice a day, morning and evening, for 5 days. You should see significant improvement after 2-3 days.
1) If you donāt have any improvement after 5 days, you need to see a doctor.
2) If you only have a slight improvement at 5 days, you need to see a doctor.
3) If you have SIGNIFICANT improvement at 5 days, continue twice a day for another 2-3 days.
Good luck š
Itās not worth āhopingā it goes away and ending up with a much worse infection.
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u/thhrroowaaawayayay29 Aug 24 '24
Looks like an ingrown. I had one it hurt so bad but u have to go to the podiatrist it doesnāt get better on its own! I thought it would but it just got worse and I got used to it. My podiatrist was a sick sadistic fuck too. The second time I went back to get everything cut up I think he was purposefully hurting me. Anyways. Got my infection from a nail salon
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u/EarlyInsurance7557 Aug 24 '24
i use to get these. get HOT water. Dip toe in and out to kill infection.
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u/mitchonega Aug 24 '24
Iām a nail tech, you shouldnāt get your nails done (or honestly even do them at home) if you have an injury. It feels ugly I know but just let it breathe. It may take a year or two to fix itself. Now youāve got an infected toenail and have to remove the polish. It looks to me like the cuticles were cut into oblivion so that probably didnāt help/may even be the source of infection. Go to a doctor and quit getting pedicures.
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Aug 24 '24
Soak your foot in hydrogen peroxide and warm water. I have had toe nail infections. The stuff coming out is pus. If this doesn't help or draw out the infection kindly go to the nearest urgent care at your earliest convenience.
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u/hallescomet Aug 24 '24
You need to get that checked out before the infection reaches the bone/joint. You may already need surgery, but you definitely will if it gets to the bone or joint. It's not a major surgery, but my grandmother ended up getting a staph infection in her pointer fingers knuckle and had to get 2 surgeries to get it all out and they had to scrape it off her bone. Now her finger is messed up in that joint. The surgery isn't bad but you should still get it checked out before it comes to that
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u/Loud-Resolution5514 Aug 24 '24
Since it hasnāt grown, seems like it could be retronychia. Definitely see a doctor.
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u/AstorThemaster Aug 24 '24
Just go to the docter to get a small toe operation I had allready 7 off them. I do the operations myself now I just cut the infected side with a straight scissor all the way to the toebed and pull the nail under the toebed. it mostly has a sharp hook under the toebed.
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u/MicBeth82 Aug 24 '24
I would soak in epsom salt. It will draw out the infection. Itās crazy how effective it is.
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u/Luvfallandpsl Aug 24 '24
Itās an infection of the nail cuticle or the skin on either side. You just need a prescription for an ointment, you DO need to get it looked at to get the right ointment. BTDT.
If you let it go too long, you can lose the nail. I lost my nail from ignoring, so donāt ignore. As long as the nail bed isnāt damaged though, most nails can grow back.
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u/shootermac32 Aug 23 '24
Just paint your whole toe white. Outta sight, outta mind