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complications after ingrown toenail removed

Discussion in 'Ask your questions here' started by Unregistered, Jul 30, 2009.

  1. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest


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    Hi

    On the 10th of this month I had an ingrown toenail removed on the right side of the large toe on my right foot.

    All was well at first I did the soaks and it drained but after about a week the upper part of my toe started to turn red. I had my 2 week checkup and told the specialist that it was still draining and very painful. It was also darker red and puffy by the most sore spot. He said I was just having an allergic response to the chemical he used to kill the nail to keep it from coming back.

    Ok since the doc wasn't much help and just told me to use a steroid cream and call him in 3 weeks if it was still there or had gotten worse can you help me?

    My complaint is that the upper part of my large toe has turned red although it is not hot it is just red. The lower area of my toenail where the ingrown part was removed it's darker red and puffy. It is also highly painful in that area and slightly painful in the area where the tip of the ingrown part was trying to come through the tip of my toe. Although the tip of my toe isn't darker red or nearly as painful.

    I have a picture that I drew on where the red starts and where the painful areas are. The larger circle is where it is most painful and darker red/puffy.

    I was doing 2 soaks a day of epsom salt and bandaging with neosporin but I was told not to do that by a family member because I could cause an infection in it. I tried to let it dry out but I couldn't with the pain and swelling it caused. I tried the cream the doc recommended but it just became more swollen to the point that I thought it was going to burst. I switched from that a couple of days ago to leaving it open during the day and using hydrogen peroxide 2x daily and at night putting a bandage on with neosporin which has helped but the lower part is still a bit puffy and is still very sore. It has started to drain again also.

    I'm going to call the doc and schedule an appointment to see what he has to say but would like to hear what you think also.

    Oh and to answer a couple more question from the "read this section" ;) I am starting to do things since I changed over to the peroxide and neosporin like swimming (major hot streak here is wa usa) and working with my horses wearing regular shoes but it's still very sore and throbs. I take extra strength tylenol which helps but only if I don't touch it again after I do the treatment. A couple of days ago it was hard to walk even barefoot because my toe throbbed.

    Here is the picture. I hope that helps.

    [​IMG]

    Thank you for any help you can give me.

    Katie
     
  2. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    DISCLAIMER:
    THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
    ***********************************************************
    In my view, your doctor should have been on top of this from the get-go, as what you are describing is a common occurrence following chemical destruction of a portion of the nail matrix in an attempt to resolve an ingrown nail problem. Although infections are certainly possible and should be treated as such unless ruled out, the more common reason for redness, tenderness and swelling at the operative site is not really an allergy to the chemical as you were led to believe, but a strong tissue reaction to what is certainly a chemical tissue irritant. Precisely what needs to be done can only be definitively recommended after a hands-on examination, but more often than not, there is a complete or partial blockage of the drainage often due to the drainage becoming thick and sticky and sealing off the portal through which normal post-operative drainage should be taking place. When that occurs, the drainage is normally reinstituted by mechanically opening the blockage. This should be done only by the surgeon with sterile precautions and is not something that I suggest you do yourself. The use of soaks is generally important, and if an antibiotic such as Neosporin is to be employed, I would recommend the cream rather than ointment formulation so as not to block the drainage with a water immiscible product. I'm sure that your doctor is very well aware of what I have told you and I have to wonder whether there was just some mis-communication or perhaps an incomplete telling of the story on your part. I would think that your doctor might do well to see you right away.
     
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2009
  3. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Thank you Footdoc

    I pretty much told him the same thing. I showed him the puffy painful area and the redness in my toe. I told him what I had been doing walking, working, etc wise and what I had been doing treatment wise. At the time I saw the doc I had just stopped using the neosporin the day before so it was just starting to get really painful and I explained about the drainage having just stopped.

    He barely looked at it and said it was an allergic reaction to the chemical and gave me the steroid cream. He said it would help should reduce the symptoms quicker than without. He also said that if the symptoms where still there or worse to call in 3 weeks. The nurse did say the doc wasn't feeling well which really didn't help things.

    However when I used it by the end of day 2 the one area was double the size as when I went to see him. I changed to the peroxide and neosporin and was going to call him but haven't yet. I will call his office and make an appointment tomorrow morning. Is what I'm doing treatment wise ok until I see him? Or will it do more damage than good?

    Thank you again

    Katie
     
  4. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    DISCLAIMER:
    THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS-ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
    ***********************************************************
    It is impossible for me to advise you specifically on your individual condition, as such advice would only be appropriate based on an examination. But I can't see that what you are doing would be harmful. In general, the key to such a situation as I infer you have is reestablishing of the drainage, if needed, generally by mechanical means (by a professional) and soaks. Ancillary medications such as peroxide and Neosporin may or may not be helpful, but as I stated, I prefer the cream rather than ointment formulations of topical antibiotics for this sort of problem. See your doctor and follow his directions.
     
  5. Jose

    Jose Guest

     
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