Oh dear. I had one when my big toenail was cut too short and it was very painful. Once it grew longer the pain went away.

Try to stick something under the nail to relieve the pain, like cotton, or even a piece of paper. You may have to keep this up until the nail grows longer. Did you cut them just before the pain started? Be sure to cut straight across and not too short.

If you can pry it up wedge a small ball of cotton between the nail and the toe as it grows out that will protect it and will just fall out when that part has grown out.

soak it in peroxide as often as you can too.

Take a look at this page

Here is a link that might be useful: treat a ingrown toenail

NailEase Ingrown Nail Treatment from Myfootshop.com
Nailease is highly recommended
NailEase Brace

Thanks for the replies. I have been soaking it and using an antibiotic ointment and cloth bandaid on it since it started hurting. I did cut it too short on one side, but it feels like it has grown into the skin that surrounds the toe nail. I will go to the pharmacy tomorrow and see if I can find the nail ease product.

Go get a pedicure! They can pry it out and fix it. Been there, done that!

I agree with Glenda. A pedicure is much less expensive than a doctor's visit.

another vote for a pedicure!!!!

Got the pedi Friday and that took care of that. The guy kept saying "am I hurting you?" and I said "just a little". I've had them for years, and have always cut them out myself. It was much easier having the pedi guy do it. I gave him a big tip.

Recommendation, you use your regular person for the pedicure. You know you are getting it RIGHT

I get these also. There's a Ddr. Scholls product. It helps a little. Best preventative I know is-get regular pedicures. Works for me. I've been getting pedicures for ten years and my feet are fine. Also helps with calluses on feet. I have the manicurist (pedicurist?) work on spots of dead skin. Plus I get a foot and leg massage that's very relaxing. And they use lavendar oil, so I get aromatherapy too!

I think my toe is much too sore for a pedicure, but thanks for all the suggestions.

How about soaking it in epsom salts to take the soreness out. At least temporarily until you get to the doctor.

Thanks, Glenda - I have been soaking it - still sore. I can't afford $170 to go to a doctor, who will tell me I will just have to let it grow out.

Really, if it's that sore you should have it looked at by a doctor. I would worry about infection.

Soak three times a day. I use to think zinc oxide was the wonder cure. The minute I put it on the pain was gone but you can't buy it over the counter anymore.

I've never had one but the ex used to get them all the time. He would cut a v shaped notch out of the center of the nail. Seemed to work for him. He said it released the pressure on the corners and kept them from digging in. Of course you also need to soak and use something to keep infection away. If you cut the nail really short you will have to let it grow out some.

I had to have both big toe nails removed because of them being so ingrown nothing I did helped. But...I remember before having the nail removed the Dr. had me soak my foot in white vinegar...in as hot of water that I could stand. Several times a day and that did help. The vinegar is an anti-septic and helped draw out any infection that might be setting in. I don't know what else you could do without going to a foot doctor and they are expensive! I hope you get relief soon because I know it has to hurt you badly!

Deb

I just use a sharp ball pointed stylus or something of that nature and just keep working at it until I can pry it out. Always make sure you keep it clean and antiseptic is good.

I just went and bought some Ingrown Toenail pain reliever from Walgreens - will let you know if it works.

Kay, I have quite a history with ingrown toenails and can tell many a story but right now I only have time for one ...

When I was pregnant my tissues swelled due to hormone changes and both pregnancies produced horrible ingrown problems. If I couldn't get to a dr. immediately, I would take a Dixie cup, cut out the bottom and slide it over the toe (in my case the big toe every time), so that the bottom of the cup was resting at the base of your toe. The top part (unless your toes are really long) should be protected by the top part of the cup without causing any undue friction. This worked especially good at keeping the sheets off my toe when I slept. Ingrowns produce some of the worst pain I've ever had.

When I was pregnant with my second child I went into labor at the beginning of my 5th month. I was ordered to complete bedrest and could not sit up or go anywhere but the bathroom for 3 months. About half way through the 3 months I got another horrible ingrown. I called my Podiatrist and told him my situation. He said he wouldn't come to my home (basically across the street from his office) but would meet me in the ER should I decide to go. I couldn't risk getting up, into a car and sit in an ER for any length of time so I decided to remove the offending nail myself.

I soaked my foot in Domeboro solution, which was recommended by the doctor and after an hour or more of soaking, while the tissues were very soft and pliable around the hurt, I took a disinfected cuticle trimmer and cut out a slice of nail. The pain is blinding but the relief the instant the nail is out, will make you smile.

Keep using Domeboro and antibiotic ointment on your foot for a few days.

Jodi-

Another vote for a pedicure.

Do you have a free clinic in your city? Our free clinic will treat anyone without insurance.

I had a problem with an ingrown toenail back when shoes were really pointy. I bought a tool like the one that I've linked and used that. One end helps pry the nail out. The other end files the nail down from the inside out. You might find it too painful to use while your toe is so sore, but as another poster mentioned, it's worth a few seconds of intense pain to get long-tern relief.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rasp

I couldn't even begin to let someone do a pedicure on me when I had my ingrowns. The pain was intense and throbbing. In one case, I actually had a red line that ran from my toe to the middle of my calf. It was that infected and did I mention it hurt? Yikes. The pain was so severe that the doctor gave me 11 (eleven) shots of Novacaine, and Zylocaine and neither of them worked. Eleven! After over two hour trying to numb and fix the toe, the dr. said it was after hours and he had somewhere to be. I could go home and come back the next day or have him remove it without anesthesia.

I chose to have him cut it out. I held on the nurse so tight while the procedure was being done that she probably still has fingernail marks on her arm.

They had to ask my DH to leave the room because he was feeling faint. LOL

Men, whadda they know of pain? :-)

Jodi-

I really feel for you as I suffered for years with a ingrown toe, on the side of my big toe the nail was growing side ways into the flesh, painful to wear any type shoes.

Finally had to have the nerve stripped out after getting a Corrizone shot. What ever it cost, go to the Dr, please don't suffer.

Thanks for all the suggestions - if the o.t.c. med. doesn't work, I'll check with the free clinic.

I was going to suggest what Pris said - cut a small v-shaped notch in the middle of the nail, just through the white part of the nail. I remember this helped a few years ago when I had an ingrown toe nail. I hope you feel better soon.

And speaking of toenails why do they say cut them Straight across,when the clippers are like half moons???
Kathi

Kathi -

luna-tics!

o j

P.S. I had a slight one a few months ago, soaked it daily, pushed the cuticle back with a wooden spatula-type thing, or nylon would be even better.

It helped to wear looser shoes.

o j

I had an ingrown toenail....I was in a lot of pain but kept putting off going to the doc.
I finally went and found out it was infected and learned I was in jeopardy of losing my toe.
It it is red, swollen and painful, don't put off going to the doc.
Hope it gets better.
Keep us updated, please.

Luckily, I never had a severe case of ingrown toenail!

Wasn't that aware that I had one, until getting a pedicure, and they pulled the corner of nail out. Ouchie!

Asked what he did and he told me. Said I had gone too long without a pedicure and that happens sometimes.

Now I have pedicures, not that often, but periodically.

Hope you get it tended to and never have one again!

I could never have tolerated a pedi during my bout of ingrown toenail. In fact, I think that's how I got it -- the operator cut it too short and it grew into the skin. I could not stand the sheet to touch it either. It stopped hurting once it grew beyond the tip of my toe.

I hope things improve for you soon.