Bay 12 Games Forum
Finally... => Life Advice => Topic started by: Robot Parade Leader on April 10, 2024, 07:56:24 pm
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I know I am not the only person dealing with these and there are much smarter people out there than me. There was also a bit of a derail in another thread about these issues. So, here:
I have an ingrown toenail. It's not fun. I treat it by soaking it and putting antibiotic Neosporin on it after soaking it. I also tried lifting the nail a little bit (because it was growing into my toe (side) a bit.
Part of the nail seems to have broken off, like the purple part of the nail by the side of the toe. I'm not a doctor but I think I might be seeing a little bit of the nail bed when I zoom in?
It seemed to have gotten infected, no pus but some nice throbbing and redness. My doctor prescribed a 10 day antibiotic course without seeing me or the toe (since I had just seen him recently).
It was actually another doctor from his office that wrote the prescription and that doctor said "You might want to see the foot doctor/podiatrist." (not having seen it).
I freely admit I don't know a lot about this. I still have 9 days of antibiotic left. I don't know what happens after that. I don't want to be the moron who screws this up more than I already may have..
Do I schedule a podiatry appointment with a foot doctor?
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Update. I was told to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist (Foot doctor), because the nail is broken. Like it is actually broken in the part you don't want it to be broken and you can see the nail bed under it by the edge near the border with the toe's skin.
I have never been to a foot doctor before. Not sure what the heck to expect. I'm hoping the missing part of my toenail (not the part you usually trim but the one under that) grows back.
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It probably will. My brother dealt with ingrown toenails in his teens and they'd cut away a part of it. However it may not grow back fully/healthy. You may end up with a thin veneer of nail over the top and it may be subject to unpleasantness like getting gross when it gets/stays wet for too long.
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Thanks for letting me know / commenting. Nobody talks about any of this and it should probably be common health knowledge but it just isn't. Especially, I don't think I'm diabetic but if anyone out there is, it can be a huge concern for them.
I wouldn't mind keeping it dry or whatever works either. It never occurred to me that part of the actual nail (not the part you trim) would break off. Very grateful I have an oral antibiotic, because otherwise I am pretty sure this would just be infected bad. $1.68 for 10 days and having to drink a lot of water because of the antibiotic is way better for everyone than an urgent care visit costing literally 100 times that.
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Mostly it comes up as an issue if you have sweaty feet. If you find your feet are sweaty and that's causing the regrown part of the nail to get soft and the whole thing gets gooey (which can lead to another infection) you can use foot powder to keep your toes dry. Or wear open toed sandals in the appropriate weather as an alternative.
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Thank you.
I also got some info from an anonymous person who showed me the possible costs for these things in my area from information I did not know existed. They said as long as it was never traced back to them and I knew it wasn't set in stone/only an estimate.
Of the last four numbers the first (leftmost) is the standard gross charge, 2nd is discounted cash, 3rd is standard minimum, 4th (rightmost) is standard maximum
HC TRIM NAIL(S) ANY NUMBER CDM 11719 CPT 761 214 74.9 56.28 188.32
HC DEBRIDE NAIL 1-5 CDM 11720 CPT 761 303 106.05 79.69 266.64
HC DEBRIDE NAIL 6 OR MORE CDM 11721 CPT 761 303 106.05 79.69 266.64
HC REMOVAL OF NAIL PLATE CDM 11730 CPT 761 515 180.25 135.44 453.2
HC REMOVE NAIL PLATE ADD-ONCDM 11732 CPT 761 303 106.05 79.69 266.64
HC DRAIN BLOOD UNDER NAIL CDM 11740 CPT 761 242 84.7 63.65 212.96
HC REMOVAL OF NAIL BED CDM 11750 CPT 761 1413 494.55 371.62 1243.44
HC REPAIR OF NAIL BED CDM 11760 CPT 761 706 247.1 185.68 621.28
HC EXCISION OF NAIL FOLD TOECDM 11765 CPT 761 634 221.9 166.74 557.92
I guess podiatry care can be expensive. Hope my insurance covers it and if not that they can give me the "discounted cash" price.
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That reads like an item list for fully excising the entire nail. Hopefully they don't have to go that far.
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Please do not quote:
Not representing anyone. Not legal advice, if anyone takes legal advice from anyone online, then they are stupid. If you need a lawyer find one licensed near you as appropriate.
Agreed. it is a menu of costs for the most common procedures that could occur. Of course, it depends on what the physician says, but I imagine it is unlikely it would get to that point of the whole thing. Trimming and perhaps debridement would be most likely from a wide statistical standpoint, but again it depends on what the doctor says is wrong. Simply most would not have the whole nail removed, but someone could if things were bad. Hopefully just looking at one of those + initial visit cost. (Note different hospitals have different charges).
***** Primarily the point was to show some price differences, particularly if it ends up being self pay. Big difference for nail trim of $214 gross standard charge v. $74.90 for self pay/denial, right? Although I've gotten it lower before, though not easily.
[rant]
Very complicated and a major problem in the US. So basically, most insurance in the US does not cover foot care except in the event of metabolic (e.g. diabetic) or peripheral vascular disease, etc. If you don't have one of those magical qualifying diagnosis(es), then they deny you and don't care. One of the many things I have done is settle amounts with billing departments (who do not want to give you a lesser charge because they are in it to make money). Showing up with an attorney and basically challenging the cost/liability/(and coding in my case) can yield massively lower bills. I'm not exactly happy that multiple hospital administrators just groan when I show up at treatment facilities for this reason/doing my job. The facts that a.) Most bankruptcies in the US have a significant medical debt component and b.) most people (yes even many lawyers, but most also don't practice healthcare law) cannot read medical records, are tragic.
I did several types of law including personal injury law the right way, while others got more business because they are flashy. I am not flashy and am that disabled one with a nose in a book. Even far too many personal injury lawyers I have seen don't do things right, because they can't read medical records. Yes, I've fought them on this, yes they hate me for it, and I dislike most of humanity right back. I have three letters for them (MSP: Medicare Secondary Payer). By disputing the actual hospital, rehab and treatment billing and coding, the cost gets lowered. If the cost gets lowered, the amount Medicare takes out of the settlement or verdict goes down. Same goes for other payment sources like Medicaid, etc., etc. Yes, Medicare (remember, for the aged and disabled....) can take back money it paid for treatment from lawsuit funds.... Far too many lawyers would consider this not the practice of law and I would tell them they are lazy, don't know how to read medical records, cost their clients money, are missing an opportunity to bill for very reasonable and quite economically viable (for client and lawyer) services, and enriching the large corporate hospitals at their clients' expense, but they sure look good doing it. [rant]
TL;DR (We need more literacy focus in society): Keep careful tabs on medical treatment and cost stuff and your medical records. Get copies of things. It will cost you in the long run if you don't. I do not do this sort of thing anymore though and am not presently in a position to do so.
Practically:
Perhaps consider taking a picture of your toe with your phone every day, perhaps zoomed in. Create a timeline for your doctor to see that you can swipe for your physician so they can observe the progression of the area as relates to healing and possible infection. I have found physicians appreciate the few seconds of photographic evidence of an infected wound so they can see it progressing and apply their expertise, rather than rely upon only verbal descriptions of "It's red and swollen." How red? How swollen? O, it's right there in the picture for the doctor to see... The ones I have talked to have told me it is a useful tool.
Please do not quote:
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First of all you are a freaking legend and have my gratitude, again. Kind of amazed anyone knows this stuff.
Just got back from the podiatrist. His assistant gave me "CPT" codes
11730 (He called this one the temporary procedure) or
11750 (He called this one the permanent procedure where that part of the nail doesn't grow back ever)
Those look familiar:
HC REMOVAL OF NAIL PLATE CDM 11730 CPT 761 515 180.25 135.44 453.2
HC REMOVAL OF NAIL BED CDM 11750 CPT 761 1413 494.55 371.62 1243.44
So if I'm reading that right, the total cost of the first one 11730 would be $515 gross under insurance or $180.25 without?
Second one would be $1,413 gross under insurance and $494.55 without?
But that's only if their billing department agrees to it?
Those are not small differences, especially the second one. I mean and that's just a bad ingrown toenail. Do I wanna know how much something way more serious is like a surgery for someone in a car wreck or a heart thing or something?
Stupid question, do Europeans and Canadians and anyone else with socialized medicine have to deal with anything like this?
Anyhow the podiatrist said it would be 3 to 5 days of discomfort after the numbness wore off and 3 to 4 months for that part of the nail to grow back. He said he would take 2 mm of nail from the side of the nail closest to the left side of the nail. $180 is way less than $500 and I'm spending more than that on doctor appointments, medication and other stuff. If I don't do anything he said it will just get worse after the antibiotic wears off, because the underlying problem is still there without a larger treatment, "It's like taking an antibiotic for an infected tooth. It works for a bit but eventually you have to do something with the tooth like pull it or a root canal. This doesn't hurt as much though."
He called it something like a "matrixectomy?" I don't know. I might do it. Should I?
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If they're removing the nail bed, then they're removing the part that actually grows the nail. Between removing the nail plate (the grown part) and the nail bed (the part nearest the base of your toe where the nail grows from) that is more or less a full removal of the nail.
Mind you, when my brother had this done it was 25 years ago and under our mom's insurance. So I have no idea what it cost then, but healthcare costs being what they are, the cost for a simple procedure like this doesn't surprise me.
I'm guessing they're not going to remove all of the nail bed, but at least a portion of it. If they full removed the nail bed, they wouldn't be saying stuff like "some of it will grow back."
Do I wanna know how much something way more serious is like a surgery for someone in a car wreck or a heart thing or something?
You really don't. When I had sinus surgery it was $8k on insurance like 8 years ago. A friend just got what amounts to major back surgery, and her bill was easily $80k.
Healthcare in this country is a nightmare and it's being felt even at the lowest level of care. A simple doctor's visit on insurance is easily $175 for me right now.
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Please do not quote
I pretty much always liked this guy.
Pretty solid points. I don't know but from what I'm hearing it doesn't sound like full nail bed removal for the whole toe? Probably just the part behind the ingrown/infected area? Can't tell from this, but when I see "2mm" I assume this is 2 millimeters? If so, surprised he didn't describe it in fractions of an inch too just for clarity.
Also yes, medical care in the US can be an expensive nightmare. Yeah, surgeries can get real expensive, real fast. Then rehab in a SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility) for a car accident where somebody gets hurt bad.... It can be a ton. Don't get me wrong, a lot of the people who work medical do hard work, and I am not saying things against them. A lot of the nurses and people like that don't get paid enough and that makes no sense considering how much everything costs. I'm just saying the average Joe or Jane Doe can't really afford it easily or perhaps at all, especially without insurance. As an understatement, this is quite sad.
Much appreciated. I don't really do things like this anymore because I've been burned too many times. Also not in a position to.
CPT is medical billing and coding stuff. Call your insurance company and ask if they cover those CPT codes for you. You might need a preapproval or something. Or there may be restrictions such as trying other treatments first for a certain amount of time under your physician's care or who knows. This is why you ask the insurance what it covers. If it doesn't cover, then you might want to know that upfront instead of after you get a big bill.
Also call the medical provider's billing department and see what they can do for you about costs, because it is complicated and costs are approximate at best with the limited information available. For example, they could do that code plus another code or something. Also they might charge you more/provide different care if you have diabetes or peripheral vascular disease so tell the billing department that too. You might be able to ask for an estimate upfront, again based upon those codes/what your doctor said. There really is a lot to it and it isn't simple, so exact answers are not practical here or really possible. However, you might ask them (the billing department of the medical provider) about those figures. They may also charge you with a visit (follow up, operative, etc). Medical things are not cheap, sadly.
Matrixectomy https://www.gentlefootdoctor.com/blog/what-is-a-matrixectomy-and-why-do-i-need-one (https://www.gentlefootdoctor.com/blog/what-is-a-matrixectomy-and-why-do-i-need-one)
(obviously there's stuff about feet in there so fair warning but then again that's what the thread is so...).
Whether or not you do it is up to you and your physician (and honestly from a practical standpoint matters if your insurance covers it or not). I don't think it is necessarily appropriate for me to say one way or the other. I don't know if anyone out there has had one either or what their experience was.
Please do not quote
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Wow. You two are basically dead on right with everything you're saying. Whole operation will cost about $550 before insurance because they're tacking on an operative visit and stuff like that. Hopefully insurance covers it.
Procedure scheduled this week. Hope it goes well.
1.) Odd question. So you have to soak your foot in a tub. I have a plastic one for it. Am I stupid or is there any way to clean it?
I mean, it's hot water and antibacterial dish soap that I put in there and sometimes some episom salt for the foot soak thing.
I feel like I'm being dumb or not getting something about how to clean this because I already put antibacterial soap in it generally.
Do I just do that to wash it again but not soak my foot in it to clean it? Knowing my luck not doing that would cause infection....
I just don't want to be the moron who screws this up and ends up with a secondary infection, especially after I have the podiatrist operate on it.
I know it sounds like a riddle or something. How do I clean a foot tub that always has antibacterial dish soap in it? With what?
2.) I don't think I'm diabetic but I've heard people say things about it here. Would that matter for the operation if someone was? Asking for the same reason as always, because someone else might go through this. No one told me anything growing up.... At least someone might benefit from asking and having it answered.
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Ah yes, I remember the foot soaking.
Pour the contaminated water out, wash the container again with anti-bacterial soap and a sponge, let it dry. Don't overthink it. Those instructions are written for the worst case scenario: people who literally don't wash it after using it. That can lead to the introduction of bacteria to the container, adhering to the sides, that just more water and anti-bacterial soap with no scrub might leave behind. While you soak your toe, you'll have some blood and fluid dissolve into the water. A scrub and rinse will be fine to get rid of any residue. Obviously, use a sponge specifically for cleaning it, rinse it out thoroughly after use and throw it away when you're done. You won't need it too long.
2.) I don't think I'm diabetic but I've heard people say things about it here. Would that matter for the operation if someone was?
Shouldn't matter for the surgery itself, it's not a major surgery. Diabetes can present problems post-operation in terms of healing times and infections though. Hence the foot soak to continually clean dried blood and other substances out of the removal area.
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Honestly, good job asking that question.
Seriously. I would rather you ask that than risk getting your foot infected after surgery.
Too many people today deny not knowing just everything (no matter what it is).
Things get called "simple" or "common sense." Wound care after surgery of any type is not simple. No, it is not.
I know from my experience, my parents didn't teach me practically anything. They just yelled. Growing up poor sucks.
Looking back, it was just part of amazingly bad parenting on their part. If they did it today, they'd be in jail.
I was a kid and didn't know anything (See also, was a kid). Learned the hard way.... All they did was scream when I inevitably made
mistakes, because they didn't teach me when I was a kid. There was a time when I was told not to "waste anything," like that.
I could totally see my clueless parents yelling at me wasting soap and water on something that just got soap and water in it.... Ouch.
Washing things and sterilizing is important.
Because it is only one foot, ask about using a smaller, easier to wash and carry tub for one foot.
Please ask questions, preferably of your doctor / a nurse as well to avoid making some mistakes.
This is absolutely correct as far as I know.
Question: Are there instructions out there for aftercare? I feel like sometimes people just get thrown out there and expected to know things that practically speaking some of them just don't. Not about blame... just think the hospital or someone should throw that in there.
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Thank you both for not making me feel dumb.
Yeah, my parents didn't really explain anything either and yelled a lot too. Addiction is like that I guess. I feel like I don't know things other people do sometimes. So yeah, any explanation on this is helpful. Because I feel like I should know things I don't. Now that I think of it, that's probably how I wound up where I am needing surgery. Nobody taught me anything about foot care growing up.
I feel like the podiatrist just looks at it as normal to him, because he deals with this every day as his job. I've never done this before.
Right now I got a new tub thing and am washing it with paper towels and lots of antibacterial soap like a big dish or a pan or something. I can get a sponge for it I guess.
Another question, I keep a band aid on it until surgery is performed. Should I let that breath at night (sleep without the band aid) or just change it once a day? I was told to put neosporin (over the counter antibiotic) on it. I don't even know how I'm going to deal with surgical dressing after the procedure and am going to have to really ask about that and hopefully get it in writing.
Thank you. I guess I don't know what I'm doing. But yeah, at least I can say it.
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This is a duplicate post. I'm sorry. The rest of the thread is good for posting though and please reply if you have something nice to say.
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I generally "air" on the side of "airing out." :P
Things do get gross if they're allowed to stay moist for too long, especially in a healing context. Neosporin also prevents air from getting to the area, which is by design. Air causes new bacteria to possibly get introduced, but NOT airing out allows bacteria to maintain a high moisture situation which can cause it to proliferate.
So....I would let it air out for a couple hours at night before bed. You don't want to sleep with it uncovered or it may end up sticking to your sheets, get fibers in stuck in the wound, etc....
If you're going to be sitting around doing nothing, I'd take the bandage off for a few hours while you sit to let it dry a little, then re-apply a fresh bandaid before bed.
I don't even know how I'm going to deal with surgical dressing after the procedure and am going to have to really ask about that and hopefully get it in writing.
They'll give you some supplies. Generally, change it once a day and keep it dry and you should be good. When it comes to showering it may be ok to the shower water hit it, as long as you adequately dry it afterward. I would write down your questions on your phone or something so you can ask once they've done the deed. It can be easy to get flummoxed and forget to ask things you cared about immediately afterward.
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I just wanted to thank you both so much again. I had no clue about any of this, because no one told me anything growing up. I am very grateful for anything you can tell me about this or any help.
Thank you for the idea of writing some stuff down too. I know I would forget stuff to ask the day of.
I talked to the podiatrist's nurse and she explained the difference between the "removal of nail plate," and the "removal of nail bed."
She explained it is basically the same procedure for me where it is partial and 2 millimeters on the ingrown side. I asked her how much that is in inches and she said just over 1/16 of an inch.
The difference is once the doctor cuts back to the base, the bed or source removal thing involves acid to make sure that 2 millimeters of nail does not ever grow back. The rest grows normal.
I asked her why anyone would do that, and she said one was temporary and one was permanent. That little strip of nail won't grow back ever from the base to poke you.
The temporary one would grow back and might cause problems in the future depending on how it grew. It is more money but you only have to do it and recover from it once.
I asked her if I would have a hole or a strip of my toenail missing forever and she said no that it would eventually grow to look normal.
I really don't get what she meant by that, because I thought the whole point of the permanent version was that part of nail does not grow back so it won't tear into the side of your toe.
I can't seem to find long term results for this surgery, like before and after or whatever.
That and I hope they teach me how to deal with the dressing. Other than putting on a band aide.... I think here has to be some special bandage or something for a toe thing like this?
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Perhaps call your doctor's office hopefully well in advanced of the surgery and ask to speak to someone who can tell you what you need to buy/stock up on prior to the surgery (of any kind) for aftercare....
Found out this is of paramount importance if you are alone/don't have someone else to care for you.
Politely but firmly keep asking for answers and don't accept "O it's simple" or "They'll go over all that after."
************ No *********** This is not an answer.... Polite but firm ask for a list of things to get.
You don't want to come across mean, but you'll be the one suffering if you need something and don't have it, cause they didn't say.
People telling you "It's simple" don't care about answering you. Or they care about shutting you up, quickly much more.
If it was simple, then they'd tell it to you, simply, and it would be simple to do it. However, they don't....
Stock up on whatever supplies they might say you need beforehand.
This goes for food too. If possible you don't really want to be grocery shopping or whatever immediately after recovering.
Some of these will deal with aftercare:
1.) Bandages? (of what type etc.)
2.) Antibiotics?
3.) Can you shower/get it wet? (If not then when, and until then should you use a cast protector (from experience with different surgery for broken bones. Ask them if this applies)
https://www.walmart.com/browse/health-medicine/cast-cover-for-shower/976760_1005860_1230858_5161969 (https://www.walmart.com/browse/health-medicine/cast-cover-for-shower/976760_1005860_1230858_5161969)
4.) Footwear <---- In your case especially. Can you wear shoes after (when?)
Sandals around the home.
See this thing right here where the sandal has the piece between the toes? AVOID THAT Piece between the toes.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/George-Men-s-Casual-Flip-Flops/465334570?athbdg=null%26athbdg%3DL1600_L1600 (https://www.walmart.com/ip/George-Men-s-Casual-Flip-Flops/465334570?athbdg=null%26athbdg%3DL1600_L1600)
If you do not, then that thing will be right up against where the operation happened. Get a sandal that does not have that there.
See how the one below this sentence does not have anything between the toes? See how it opens up and closes around your foot with Velcro so you don't have to try and even slide it through? You can just put your foot on the sandal and then strap this around the foot?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/George-Men-s-Comfort-Slide-Sandals/1278528061?athbdg=null%26athbdg%3DL1600_L1600 (https://www.walmart.com/ip/George-Men-s-Comfort-Slide-Sandals/1278528061?athbdg=null%26athbdg%3DL1600_L1600)
Question: What do people think about Crocs if you have to go out the first couple days rather than a shoe?
Verify you can drive after (Worse if right foot than left, but yes).
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I just wanted to thank you both so much again. I had no clue about any of this, because no one told me anything growing up. I am very grateful for anything you can tell me about this or any help.
You're welcome.
What you'll probably want is:
-Gauze bandage
-Adhesive bandage wrap to keep the gauze on. Either that or medical tape. You probably don't want to wrap it up super tight but tight enough that the bandage stays on.
-Epsom salts
-The soap (I assume they provide that?)
Your toe and by extension your foot will probably hurt for a couple days. Probably not enough to prevent you from driving or limping along, but obviously you want to stay off your foot as much as possible. So buying some groceries for a week's time is probably a good idea. And make sure if you do have to go out or do something, you've got the right footware. Under no circumstances should you try to stuff your bandaged toe into a shoe.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaYDLIswEV4
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaYDLIswEV4
So RPL should just cut the toe off?
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Cutting the toe off is a clinical call, which should be made by RPL and his local mob enforcer, when appropriate.
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I don't even know how I'm going to deal with surgical dressing after the procedure and am going to have to really ask about that and hopefully get it in writing.
They'll give you some supplies. Generally, change it once a day and keep it dry and you should be good. When it comes to showering it may be ok to the shower water hit it, as long as you adequately dry it afterward. I would write down your questions on your phone or something so you can ask once they've done the deed. It can be easy to get flummoxed and forget to ask things you cared about immediately afterward.
Thank you very much. You actually gave me more explanation than they did after it was done. They didn't give me any supplies either so I bought some stuff at Drug Mart like bandages, wound care kit for small to medium wounds, bactrican antibiotic zinc ointment. I'm a little surprised at the hospital. I get that it's not open heart surgery or whatever, but still. I would've expected 5 minutes with the nurse or someone on aftercare.... I told them I didn't know anything.
Its been like a day and a half or so. They said to keep the original dressing on for 24 hours, clean, dry and intact, then take it off. Then, soak it for 10 to 15 minutes with epsom salt and mild antibacterial dish soap like Dawn in a basin. I did. I stayed off it and am pretty much staying off it. When I took off the original dressing there was blood and drainage soaked through, and I don't know why because I stayed off it and nothing even bumped it. I called the nurse and sent the podiatrist a picture to be safe. No reply yet, still a bit red but the bleeding stopped. Well there's a little red on the new dressing but nowhere near what it was the first time.
Weird thing yesterday was about keeping the foot up. If I kept it at normal height it felt heavy like it had water in it and a a bit wet outside, which I guess was that blood through the dressing. As long as I kept it up high it felt less painful. Seemed like I couldn't keep it up too long without it feeling weird. Oddly, the toe itself is a little numb still, which might be a good thing?
Someone told me to sleep with it elevated on pillows with a spare blanket under it like a trough with pillows on either side of it like guardrails to keep the foot from falling in my sleep. Thank you, because this helped a lot and the pain is better. The advice to keep it higher than my heart was very helpful.
Right now the toe is a little red and not happy looking. To be fair little part of it got removed by a doctor so I guess that makes sense. He said he had to to "get the whole offending part of the nail out," and that he expects it to heal closed in time and I "will get used to the slight difference." Right now, I am just airing it out elevated on those pillows. There's a a slice of nail gone, and a little bit from the toe's side right where the nail dug into it bad. At least the nail ends in a straight edge now instead of the jagged torn edge it used to have.
Thank you for helping me, and explaining. I really appreciate it. I am staying in touch with the podiatrist's office, but some people here have been very helpful with details they seem to think are "simple," and "common sense." Maybe to them, and that's cool but I haven't done this before.
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I'm a little surprised they gave you nothing.
Well hopefully they instructed you to look for signs of infection and instructed you what those were to be safe. Things like red lines moving up your toe/foot? If you see one of those, immediately contact a medical professional. Also, while avoiding the wound area, make a gentle mark on your body with a pen where the line ends. That way you (and the medical professional looking at you) can know if it is moving (sort of spreading up your body). Hopefully you won't see anything like that but just since you're looking at the area anyhow....
Also sterile dressing changes help. Washing hands thoroughly and I always used disposable nitrile gloves. Maybe some might say that's overkill but at least none of my numerous surgical wounds got infected.
Glad to hear you are staying in touch with your doctor. Hopefully they respond helpfully. That's important. Hope it goes well. Best of luck.
Also, $1.99 and these things look like they fit over a big toenail while wrapping around a toe more or less:
https://discount-drugmart.com/products/details/?id=000933511242504473302 (https://discount-drugmart.com/products/details/?id=000933511242504473302)
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Thank you. Those are really good points. I sent a picture to the podiatrist. He says I am doing ok on antibiotics now.
I'll put on gloves it if keeps things from being messed up. Using those bandages is so much easier than doing the other stuff and for like 20 cents a pop, sure.
I really appreciate the helpful responses. Nobody taught me anything about this and I didn't know there was even surgery for it at first.
So far it is a pain but I mean if it goes better long term I can handle it. Tylenol not just for the pain, but the swelling helps a lot, because it feels like there is a lot of that without that pill.
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That's just the healing. Within another week your pain should be? down significantly. Depends on how good of a healer you are.
You might try Ibprofen as well. It will help with the pain and reduce inflammation and swelling, which will also help reduce the pain.
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Oh fuck I'm late to the toenail party. I've struggled with ingrown nails all my life and tried all kinds of remedies and proved (or not) solutions, so I could have suggested some things. Surgery is very annoying but by far the most efficacious way of treating it though. Hope you make a speedy recovery. :)
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Oh fuck I'm late to the toenail party.
S I G G E D
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You continue to be very helpful. Thank you.
This thing got infected, but the good news is my GP prescribed me oral antibiotics and it seems to have cleared up.
I have no idea how that happened. I have been soaking it every day, using antibiotic cream, and I haven't worn shoes since the operation/procedure.
I mean I also keep it covered with a bandage too, so I don't get how it happened. At least it seems better now.
It does not throb anymore on antibiotics and Tylenol but it used to do that all the time.
Tomorrow is a follow up with the podiatrist. Hoping for good results and I mean it still has a scab on it and no more infection that I can see. So that's good.
Thanks man. I don't know. We probably need something like that, I mean not exactly but I know nobody told me anything about any of this growing up Same goes for a whole bunch of life.
Also the party is still going and you are fashionably arriving when you meant to. Come on in.
Thank you. Yeah the swelling was just nuts whenever I wasn't on antibiotics. Weird thing was sometimes it helped to elevate it and sometimes it didn't. I mean it helped at first to elevate it but then if I kept it up there elevated for a while it started to hurt again. Then, weirdly, it just sorta started feeling better once I put it back down after elevating the foot for a long time. I'm not brilliant but I don't get that one.
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You continue to be very helpful. Thank you.
This thing got infected, but the good news is my GP prescribed me oral antibiotics and it seems to have cleared up.
I have no idea how that happened. I have been soaking it every day, using antibiotic cream, and I haven't worn shoes since the operation/procedure.
I mean I also keep it covered with a bandage too, so I don't get how it happened. At least it seems better now.
It does not throb anymore on antibiotics and Tylenol but it used to do that all the time.
Tomorrow is a follow up with the podiatrist. Hoping for good results and I mean it still has a scab on it and no more infection that I can see. So that's good.
As I said, not giving it time to air out daily can lead to an infection. Unsure how much of that you did. And there's levels of infection. I mean.....I basically took the entire surface of the last digit of my right middle finger in an accident. (Pinched in a fork lift.) That thing took months to heal and it looked SO incredibly fugly I would have thought it was infected. And yet it wasn't and I didn't take antibiotics. Feet are just gross, I guess, and nearest to everything that can introduce bacteria. Consider that your carpets are loaded with foreign particles. Anyways, glad to hear it's not super infected and that you got stuff for it.
Thank you. Yeah the swelling was just nuts whenever I wasn't on antibiotics. Weird thing was sometimes it helped to elevate it and sometimes it didn't. I mean it helped at first to elevate it but then if I kept it up there elevated for a while it started to hurt again. Then, weirdly, it just sorta started feeling better once I put it back down after elevating the foot for a long time. I'm not brilliant but I don't get that one.
That's just blood pressure at play. Elevated and most of the blood has run out of it? Contraction. Pulls on the wound. Pain. Not elevated? Loaded with blood due to gravity, it swells pushing out on the wound. Pain.
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I would air it out for a few hours I guess and always did sandals so it never touched the ground. I'm sorry you had to go through that with your finger and hope you are ok now.
That is the best explanation I've gotten. I asked the podiatrist and he did not seem to know. He said that problem pain when elevated sometimes happens with peripheral vascular disease, but that I am healing this pretty well so not that.
So more follow up I guess.
Also, they charged me exactly what T said they would plus the procedure visit and stuff. The permanent procedure was like $2000 with everything including 2 follow ups, phone consult things, and the prescription exam. Insurance covered all but like $273. They did have to be argued with though.... I mean, it isn't cheap but seeing a foot doctor 4 times and having a nurse for phone calls isn't bad. Plus something went wrong with the infection, and it is permanent so no recurrence "unless I missed some but I did not. I never have but talk to me if I ever do."
I'm just hoping it heals well over the next few months and looks normal/no more infections.
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A bit late to the party, but glad that you got your issue treated and that it won't recur. In the general case, if you have an inflamed toe (and it isn't e.g. gout), I would consider a chlorhexidine or aluminium acetotartrate drenched bandage (refilled every 3h). If there is an abscess (i.e. pus filled) I would puncture it. Antibiotics are usually not needed (unless you develop a fever or the inflamed area spreads), and should be avoided on a population level, but individual cases may be different. There are a number of non-surgical treatments for ingrown toe nails, but if a patient is healthy in other respects, a permanent surgical procedure could take 30 mins (same precautions afterwards to avoid new problems). Most GPs do that here at no cost, but I guess salaries are a third of US ones, and a sixth after taxes.
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The US healthcare system is a nightmare. Everything costs a lot. The healthcare workers don't get paid well and are too stressed. Try to mention socialized medicine and there is a good chance someone will get absolutely pissed at you, because people have been told it is evil for basically forever. Well, I'm still here so that's good. :)
I've been on antibiotics for most of the past 3 weeks, because it got infected. Getting off those and I really hope that goes well.
I'm letting it breath. I found a good trick is to basically have the bandage with a flap that can close over the area and stick around to the other side of the toe or just remain open. Much easier to apply and open/close.
I haven't really worn shoes since (I mean a little bit for actually a couple of hours at a time at most). I stopped soaking it because the doctor told me that was to draw out fluid and he didn't think I needed it anymore.
It is still weird to feel throbbing in the toe sometimes. I guess it is what nenjin said about blood pressure at play putting more or less pressure on it depending on if it is elevated. Weirdly if I sit still (which has to happen) it can be worse for a bit but I can take a couple of steps and that temporarily helps? OR there might be other issues but the throbbing lessens? I guess I never thought about it like that. That and it's kind of weird it's been 3 weeks and this is still happening. Most of it hasn't been that bad because of antibiotics though. That seems to have been the key.
I'm a little worried about going off antibiotics. Hopefully won't matter after this long.