- In a acute condition the toe will be very red, swollen, painful to touch and there may be a discharge of pus or a watery discharge with a hint of blood.
- In a chronic condition the toe will appear slightly inflamed at the corner of the nail.
Common Foot Conditions:
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In Growing Toe Nails
Introduction to In Growing Toe Nails
In growing toe nails are one of the most common foot complaints treated by a chiropodist. This condition can be very painful and patients may often be very reluctant to have the condition treated. However, we can assure you that this condition will not resolve itself and requires specialist care. An In growing toe nail is caused by a splinter of nail or the whole nail causing pressure into the skin. Some In growing toe nails are acute which means that they have occurred due to a injury to the toe. Others are chronic, which means the patient has had the problem for a long period of time. The large toe is usually affected, however, it can also affect the lesser toes.
Symptoms of In Growing Toe Nails
- The condition may be aggravated by wearing tight shoes or shoes with a inadequate depth.
- In a acute condition the toe will be very painful to touch and there may be presence of a infection.
- In a chronic condition the toe will only be painful when the patient is walking with shoes on.
What a Chiropodist will do for your In Growing Toe Nail
- If the condition is chronic then the chiropodist will trim a small section of the nail to relieve the pressure from the In growing toe nail. He/she may also use dressings, pads, nail braces and silicone devices in order to prevent the condition occurring again.
- If the condition is at a acute stage (red, swollen and possibly infected), then surgical removal of a section of the nail plate or the entire nail plate may be necessary. This is called a partial nail avulsion (PNA). A PNA involves injecting the toe with a local anesthetic followed by removal of the affected section of nail (refer to diagram below). The nail bed will then be treated with a chemical in order to prevent the section of nail which was removed from growing back. This procedure is very common and is not painful. The site usually heals within 4-6 weeks following the surgery.
- The chiropodist may recommend the use of a antibiotic to combat an infected In growing toe nail.
Appearance of In Grown Toe Nails
Photograph 1.
Shows the excision line for a PNA (partial nail avulsion)
Photograph 2.
Shows the nail after the PNA.
Causes of in Growing Toe Nails
- Trauma to the nail
- Improper cutting of toe nails.
- Tight shoes or hosiery
- Abnormal shape of nail plate
- Abnormal thickness of nail
What you Can Do
- Cut toe nails straight across and leave them slightly longer to prevent a In growing toe nail.
- Avoid tight shoes
- If discomfort occurs try soaking the feet in luke warm salt water for 10 minutes each day.
- SEEK IMMEDIATE ADVICE FROM A CHIROPODIST
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