Do you have a throbbing pain in your toe? If the toe is red and inflamed, chances are you have an ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenails occur when the corner of a toenail begins to curve and grow into the tissue of the tow rather than upward. The ingrown toenail can cause significant pain, swelling, and infection. Ingrown toenails are not uncommon and can happen to anyone. If you have an ingrown toenail, the following tips may help:
Soak Your Toe
One way to help ease the pain and infection of an ingrown toenail is by soaking it in warm saltwater. The warm water will help reduce the swelling and ease the pain. The salt, Epsom salt, in particular, helps to draw the infection out of the toe to help reduce the pain. You can soak the toe several times a day if needed.
Wear Shoes That Fit Properly
One of the main causes of ingrown toenails is wearing the wrong shoes. If your shoes are too tight, your toes will crowd together. To help ease the pain of an ingrown toenail, always wear shoes that fit well and leave enough space for your toes. If the weather is warm, try to only wear open-toed shoes. If possible, leave your shoes off as much as possible until the infection goes away.
Apply Topical Ointment
Another way to help ingrown toenails is by applying an antibiotic ointment. The ointment will help fight the infection that causes severe pain. You should read the instructions on the ointment and apply it to the toe when needed.
Take Oral Medication
If the toenail is causing you severe pain, you can take oral medication. An over-the-counter pain reliever will help ease the pain. If your toenail is in really bad shape, ask your doctor for an oral antibiotic. You may have a bad infection that could potentially spread to other areas of your body.
Signs of infection include pus, a bad smell, throbbing pain in the toe, and warmness to the touch. If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
Have the Toenail Removed
If you cannot get relief from any of these remedies, you may need to consider having the toenail removed. You may only need to have a portion of the toenail removed. The toe will be numbed with an anesthetic. The doctor then will decide how much of the nail needs to be removed. Just the side where the ingrown toenail may be removed.
If the toenail is really bad, the entire nail may need to come off. Though it sounds drastic, a toenail removal will completely remove the ingrown nail and provide you with significant relief. You can learn more by contacting local foot doctors.
Your feet are more complex than you might realize. You have the tarsal bones in your ankle, the metatarsals that form the top of your foot, and the phalanges that form your toes. Then, there is a complex set of ligaments and tendons that form the joints and attach muscles to the bones of your feet and ankles. With all of these moving parts, it's no wonder people often develop foot pain. Luckily, podiatrists know how to manage that pain. They can identify its source and recommend physical therapy, therapeutic shoes, or even surgery to make you comfortable again. As you keep reading on this website, you'll learn more about their work.