Ingrown toenails can be very scary for patients coming into our office. I have seen grown men cry before I even touch them because the pain is so bad and they’re so scared it’s going to get worse. Ingrown toenails are more common in children, especially children who are cutting their own toenails.
Ingrown Toenails Can Be Prevented
Most often, ingrown toenails are preventable. By learning how to properly cut your toenails, you are on the road to never having an ingrown toenail. Also, wearing the proper shoes that are fitted and measured to fit you is a great way to prevent ingrown toenails. However, some people are more susceptible to ingrowns and will need to be treated in the office.
The pain from an ingrown toenail can be terrible. It’s such a sensitive area and it get even more irritated as you walk and wear shoes. I see a lot of patients who will put off seeing a doctor for many reasons- they think they can easily take care of it themselves, they’re scared its going to hurt too much or they think they it will cost a lot to get treated.
She Waited a Year To Be Treated
For example, I had a lovely 61 year old woman who came in because of a painful elongated, ingrown toenail she had for over a year! She went to her primary care doctor who gave her antibiotics and told her to see a podiatrist. She took the antibiotics and felt better for a few weeks. She was so afraid to possibly get a needle, she avoided coming for over a year. She suffered in pain, took multiple courses of antibiotics then finally decided to come in and get treated. The entire process took 5 minutes and she was pain free! She said she felt silly for waiting so long!
Leave It to the Experts
We are the toenail experts! We have treated so many toenail problems, we can surely make you feel better. The difference between our office and your bathroom is we have numbing agencies, sterile equipment and experience! So the next time you’re about to try a bathroom surgery on a painful toenail, think twice and make a free exam appointment in our office to get out of pain safely and effectively.
