Ingrown Toenail - My 'lil guy

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » December 23, 2006 10:34 am

Anyone have any experience with kiddos with ingrown toenails? My 'lil guy has one and it seems to be yucko infected. Should be a joy trying to get a Dr. appointment the weekend before Christmas.

Any experience would be helpful...

Thanks!

-Mal

carolinagirl · Post by **carolinagirl** » December 23, 2006 10:41 am

yes, my son has been plagued with them his whole life...

It is important to get him on internal antibiotics ASAP, so if you can get your pediatrician to just call one in to your pharmacy, that would help.

Also, we use peroxide with a dropper to clean out the dead stuff. It doesn't hurt... just pour it on while he's in the shower.

And SOAK in warm water twice a day... that is what the doctor says each time we take son in, "You've been soaking it, haven't you?" Oops forgot! It's hard to get a little one to sit still and soak for 20 minutes but if you have a basin you can maybe do it in front of the TV.

carolinagirl · Post by **carolinagirl** » December 23, 2006 10:58 am

Okay, in case you want more, long story...

Son got his first ingrown toenails as a baby. First badly infected one at 2.
I'd always been taught to cut nails straight across.
When he was 2, a podiatrist said he has a rare condition in which the toenails grow faster on the corners, and you have to cut them in a curve to keep them from ingrowing.

He had me hold my poor baby while he cut down both edges of the toenail with no anesthesia and gave me medicine for the bleeding.

It was horribly traumatic for son and me... I trusted he knew what he was doing, but I'd never do that again! Poor kid was white as a sheet and screaming.

Podiatrist said the best thing would be to surgically remove the edges of each big toenail to make the toenail permanently thinner and stop the hypergrowing corners... My brother had that done with my nephew when he was a baby and it worked. After my traumatic experience, I said NO, and I'd just keep trimming them. You have to really keep up with it.

As son has gotten older and taken responsibility (or not) for trimming nails himself, he has gotten more ingrown toenails. He says he wishes I'd had the surgery when he was 2, because he would have forgotten about it.

After his last ingrown about two months ago, which we treated with internal antibiotics, the doctor said we "HAD" to have the surgery. Son was petrified, and I said we didn't have to if he kept up with them. So, he has gotten more diligent with the trimming and peroxide.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » December 23, 2006 11:21 am

Wow! That is good to know. I thought my kid would be weird having them at age 2 (he's almost 3).

The one caveat we have in the situation is a history of MRSA infections in both hubby and in 'lil Tony, so it makes us especially antsy.

I'll give the Dr. a call and hope they'll call in an RX instead of making us go to the ER ($100

). But, if that's what we need to do, we'll do it.

Thanks so much for the input!

carolinagirl · Post by **carolinagirl** » December 23, 2006 12:08 pm

You're welcome... glad to help... hope Tony's is not a permanent thing...
Sometimes they just grow so fast, their shoes get tight.

Just tried to check son's and he keeps yanking it away... BOYS!!! At least it's not infected.

OceanCityGirl · Post by **OceanCityGirl** » December 23, 2006 12:13 pm

aw i'm sorry he's in pain. I've often wondered why kids seem to get sick or hurt most often on a holiday weekend, or even just Sat. afternoon. Then parents have to look at the situation and decide whether it deserves a trip to the er. My one son was up all last night complaining about his foot and a huge, nasty looking blister. Mr. OC who normally doesn't say this woke me up this morning to tell me he's going to have to see somebody. My dr is closed til Jan. 3.

El mojito · Post by **El mojito** » December 23, 2006 2:03 pm

Yap ! sure did it was my big left toe , Doc had to cut the toe and remove the right corner of the nail beleive it was no fun

Sidew13 · Post by **Sidew13** » December 23, 2006 3:53 pm

What's the problem. Just take a pen knife to dig down into the infected area and a pair of needle nose pliers to yank the problem nail out. OH and a stick to bite down on cause it will hurt like a mother. But it's cheap and easy

jimolliemom · Post by **jimolliemom** » December 23, 2006 6:33 pm

My Jim has always had a probelm with ingrown toenails. All the advice here is great...also check the toe cap on his shoes. Jim's toenails grow slightly upward, therefore, a taller toe on his shoe made them more comfortable adn less pressure pushing down.

Give Tony a hug too. Poor little guy. I KNOW those things HURT!

johnson2113 · Post by **johnson2113** » December 24, 2006 12:12 am

I got them real bad about 4 years ago. I went about 2-2.5 years before we finally did anything. They were always infected, and I was always run down.

Got them cut out and then they came back. So we had them cut out and deadened at the base. I still have a regular looking toenail, and have been doing good ever since.

I'd say if it persits have it removed, because it was the most miserable I ever felt, and didn't really realize it until it was fixed.

krusin1 · Post by **krusin1** » December 24, 2006 4:23 am

johnson2113 wrote:I got them real bad about 4 years ago. I went about 2-2.5 years before we finally did anything. They were always infected, and I was always run down.

Got them cut out and then they came back. So we had them cut out and deadened at the base. I still have a regular looking toenail, and have been doing good ever since.

I'd say if it persits have it removed, because it was the most miserable I ever felt, and didn't really realize it until it was fixed.

I'd second the idea. I had bad problems with both big toes getting ingrown. Tried everything, but nothing worked. Finally, the doctor numbed me up and then on one toe removed the left edge of the nail, including down to the root. Nail looks ok. On the other big toe, removed both sides of the nail down to the root - that one looks really weird.

It hurt for a few days, BUT... pain and trouble-free for over 20 years now.

Best wishes.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » December 24, 2006 11:33 am

Wow everyone! Thanks so much!

We did call the doc and he said to treat it with neosporin and bandaids 'til we can get him into the doctor on Tuesday and take him to the ER if there is any red streaking or fever.

I'm more apt to do the "surgery" thing if it's recommended 'cause then he won't really remember it when he's older. The 'lil guy sure doesn't want me messin' w/ his toes, not even to trim the toenails (his grow up-ish as well, so I think we'll see this as an ongoing problem).

*sigh*

I feel so much better now.

I hate when the 'lil ones are in pain. I'd just take all away from them if I could.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » December 24, 2006 11:39 am

Sidew13 wrote:What's the problem. Just take a pen knife to dig down into the infected area and a pair of needle nose pliers to yank the problem nail out. OH and a stick to bite down on cause it will hurt like a mother. But it's cheap and easy

I'll do that if you'll declaw your kitties that way.

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » December 24, 2006 11:45 am

Mal sorry to hear.. I have twin Nephews and they both have that issue..

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » December 24, 2006 11:47 am

ragtopW wrote: Mal sorry to hear.. I have twin Nephews and they both have that issue..

He's really doin' OK as long as he's in his sandals and we're not messin' with the infected area. He sure doesn't like when we have to poke it to drain it or put meds on it or re-bandage it.

It just look icky and I worry about the infection spreading.

carolinagirl · Post by **carolinagirl** » December 24, 2006 7:30 pm

buffettbride wrote:
ragtopW wrote: Mal sorry to hear.. I have twin Nephews and they both have that issue..
He's really doin' OK as long as he's in his sandals and we're not messin' with the infected area. He sure doesn't like when we have to poke it to drain it or put meds on it or re-bandage it.

It just look icky and I worry about the infection spreading.

Soak in warm soapy water and Epsom Salts if you have it!

tikitatas · Post by **tikitatas** » December 25, 2006 1:50 pm

Any better, Mommy? Be brave, Tony!