Our ten toes…so important…so essential…yet so PESKY!!! As podiatrists, a significant amount of our time is dedicated to treating common toe issues. These can come in many forms ranging from the common ingrown toenail to more complex deformities such as hammertoes and claw toes. One thing is true however; there are no other physicians who understand toes and their proper functioning like well-trained podiatrists. In our blogs over the next couple of weeks, we will briefly go over a few of the more common toe issues we encounter on a day-to-day basis.
Ingrown Toenails
If you’ve never had an ingrown toenail, odds are that you will eventually experience the joys of your toenail digging into your skin, as it grows outward. These most commonly occur on the big toes, but can also occur on any one of your toes. If left alone, they can eventually become infected and very sensitive to the touch. Keep an eye out for any drainage coming from the area of the ingrown toenail. Other indicators of potential infection are redness, swelling, warmth, and severe sensitivity to pressure.
So you may be wondering what are your options. First off, schedule an appointment with your podiatrist right away. Depending on the severity of the nail deformity several options are available. Regardless of the procedure selected all of this can be accomplished in the office to give immediate relief.
Recovery from any of the procedures is usually fairly quick. Often after the initial procedure has been completed, you will be expected to wear the bandage for at least 24 hours before you remove it. Besides Tylenol and Ibuprofen, prescription pain medication is rarely needed.
Conclusion
To sum it up, ingrown toenails HURT, but there’s no need to keep dealing with them when you have the experts at Sole Foot and Ankle Specialist to take care of you. Don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jay C. Larson at Sole Foot and Ankle Specialists in Glendale, Arizona.