Ingrown toenail
For the past week and a half, I have been suffering with an ingrown toenail. I had hoped I would not have to go to a doctor about it, but sometime last week it became infected (I know eew!).
If you have never had one, I can assure you it is a terribly painful condition. In most cases — mine included — it is caused by clipping your big toenail too short. I had a hard time believing this was really the problem, as I could clearly see the edge of the nail. But, my doctor assured me, this was the case, and informed me she would be removing part of my nail (double eek!).
The procedure involved shooting my foot up with lidocaine and clipping off a small portion of my nail. I was surprised how relatively painless the entire procedure was. The worst part was the description. Even after the lidocaine was long gone, I had no pain.
I learned two things from this experience: cut your toenails straight across rather than with the curve of your toe, and see the doctor as soon as you see any swelling. Waiting it out doesn’t work.
[tags]medical procedures,ingrown toenail,feet[/tags]
March 7th, 2006 at 3:09 pm
[...] ~Don’t ignore foot pain. Foot pain is unlikely to just go away and it can get worse if it is left untreated. ~Wash your feet thoroughly and regularly. Wash them, dry them and moisturize them. ~Trim toe nails regularly. You will want to trim your toenails regularly, but you don’t want to cut them too short. Cutting nails too short can cause ingrown toenails. ~People with diabetes, poor circulation or heart conditions should not treat their own feet because they may be risking their health. Consult your doctor. ~Don’t buy shoes if they are too tight. Shoes that are too tight can promote bad blood circulation and can actually cause blood clots. ~You don’t want to wear the same shoes every day. This can be bad for your feet. ~Wear shoes that are appropriate for the activity you are engaging in. ~Only walk around barefoot in your own house. Walking around barefoot can cause you to step on sharp object or pick up bacteria. ~Wear running shoes when you go running or jogging. Normal sneakers or tennis shoes will not be comfortable and may harm your feet. ~Be careful where you get pedicures. If the salon’s sanitation isn’t just right, you could get bacteria. Technorati Tags: feet foot pain health health & beauty healthy feet ingrown toenail pedicures [...]