By the looks of the toe bandaging in this picture, she may have had a common procedure for an ingrown toenail called a “matrixectomy.” We aren’t friends with her and haven’t confirmed this….but let’s just speculate!
Ingrown toenails can be very painful and easily self-diagnosed, however, they are not easily treated at home. Some of the symptoms include pain, swelling, redness, drainage and a curved toenail near the borders. This is most common with the great toe, but can effect any toe.
If you have an ingrown toenail, don’t be scared. The procedure is virtually painless and I’ve performed thousands. It is an outpatient procedure performed in my office with little to no pain, minimal restrictions and usually only takes 15 minutes from start to finish. We apply a topical pain reliever in the form of a cream which helps with any discomfort you may have.
Kids are sometimes scared to be in a doctor’s office and the thought of a needle or procedure on their “painful” toe, but immediately after the procedure they are fine. It also helps that we give them a choice of a toy after!
Following the procedure, I recommend soaking, antibiotic ointment application, and daily dressing changes. As with any procedure, there are some risks of complication, infection, and delayed wound healing. Compliance with the post-operative instructions helps reduce the risk of infection.
I often hear, “I would’ve had the procedure long ago if I knew it was this easy!” They say this because patients hope that it will just go away, but unfortunately, it usually doesn’t. If an ingrown toenail is left unattended, you can develop an infection. Most infections can be treated with an oral antibiotic, but you don’t want me to tell you what happens in the most severe cases. Trust me, if you knew, you would call my office the minute you suspected an ingrown toenail.
If Kim can have the procedure, so can you! (Again, we are just speculating!)
Make an appointment with our office if you have any of the signs or symptoms of an ingrown toenail. We are happy to help! We also understand how painful it can be; we will try to get you in the same day or the very next day.
* People that read this post are also likely to be interested in: What to Expect with Ingrown Toenails