Home› General Training Discussions

Ingrown toe nail - 2 days from race

Phil MillsPhil Mills
in General Training Discussions
.Pain started out of nowhere last night, on the outside of my big left toe. Soaking made it feel better, but still painful.  I am at the dr's to see what can be done.  Any suggestions for race day?

Comments

  • Peter NoyesPeter Noyes
    In the past I have had success by prying up the nail and stuffing a small piece of cotton under it to relieve the pressure.
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    It's probably not what the doc will order, but trimming the bad corner way back so that it's just "not there" if you can will offer the short term relief you need for the IM.
  • jalesliejaleslie

    @ to dig out that corner.  I've found that if I just go slow, pry a little, wait a minute, pry again, repeat over and over, my pain tolerance improves and I'm ultimately able to get the corner up and get any pus out.  This is like screaming while you do it pain...but it will feel soooo much better once it's done.  

    BTW....cutting that big toenail straight and keeping it a little longer will prevent future occurrences.  A true toenail clipper is straight for that reason.  

    Obviously, I've not done the best job with the straight trimming (see paragraph 1)!  

     

  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    My dad was an ER doc. I had an ingrown big toe when I was in my 20's. He gave me a shot of nerve blocker in the toe, splashed some betadyne on my foot and then PULLED the whole toe nail off with a forecepts.

    The nerve block didn't do anything. I screamed blood murder. If I would have had any secrets, I would have spilled my guts. The up shot was that 20 minutes later there was NO pain. Totally healed. By the next day it had dried out and pain free. The nail grew back in about 6 weeks.

    Problem solved!
  • Leslie KnightLeslie Knight
    Most people realistically take about 48 hrs for the skin to harden so that it doesn't hurt. But a partial nail removal of the ingrown part is the best medium term answer. Digging that edge out and just cutting off the worst offending part may be the best short short term solution. Soak in warm Epsom salt water three times a day to promote healing.
  • Shaughn SimmonsShaughn Simmons
    I cut them out and the toe is usually good to go the next day.....
  • Phil MillsPhil Mills
    update...the dr cut out the ingrown nail and all is good. The ingrown nail was down at the base of the nail which made it cutting it out myself difficult. It wil be interesting to see how it feels at mile 8 on the run. Thank you for all of your quick responses everyone.
Sign In or Register to comment.