A discussion of Toenails (Warning: Not for light stomachs)
#1
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Thread Starter
A discussion of Toenails (Warning: Not for light stomachs)
First, the history:
Back in high school, around 12 years ago, I had ingrown toenails in each of my big toes. I had one round of operations, which were both unsuccessful.
I went in for a second round to see if it would be successful after the second go round. On one side of my right big toe it was successful. I now have no ingrown toenail on the left side of my right big toe. Whoop-di-doo. The right side of said toe is still ingrown, but I just clip it out every now and then. Not that big of a deal...
BUT my left big toe was severely traumatized by the second round and the toenail never grew back correctly. It started growing in an arch shape, where the sides were connected to the toe and the middle sort of arched up and after growing out would eventually start growing back towards the toe - thus making a kind of bubble underneath the toenail.
It's about to get really disgusting, folks...
I play ultimate frisbee and that requires wearing cleats - in other words, really tight shoes and occasionally getting stomped by somebody else's cleats.
One time, I don't remember exactly when, but I'll guess it was around 5 years ago, my toe got stomped pretty badly. As a consequence, the toenail turned a very dark red/black color. But it wasn't the toenail, it was the bubble, filled with blood.
To put it nicely, I depressurized the bubble and consequently ended up self-doctoring and ripping my toenail off completely. This happened for a number of years.
...I was about to post my method of removal, but I realized it's completely unnecessary and severely disgusting so I'll spare you the details of how I do it. I will say that I sterilize my tools by putting flames to them first. I also wash the wound immediately afterward.
Second, the query:
Anyway, until just now, the last time I had to do it was a year ago.
I've always had the thought that I should probably just get it permanently removed surgically since, despite my precautions, self-surgery is never the brightest idea... But I don't want to go through the surgery only to have it come out even uglier and less friendly than before.
So, my question goes to those of you with bum toenails or such - is it possible to have a toenail permanently removed? Have you had it done? Was it successful? etc etc.
Sorry if I disgusted anybody, but I did warn ya!
-ringding-
Back in high school, around 12 years ago, I had ingrown toenails in each of my big toes. I had one round of operations, which were both unsuccessful.
I went in for a second round to see if it would be successful after the second go round. On one side of my right big toe it was successful. I now have no ingrown toenail on the left side of my right big toe. Whoop-di-doo. The right side of said toe is still ingrown, but I just clip it out every now and then. Not that big of a deal...
BUT my left big toe was severely traumatized by the second round and the toenail never grew back correctly. It started growing in an arch shape, where the sides were connected to the toe and the middle sort of arched up and after growing out would eventually start growing back towards the toe - thus making a kind of bubble underneath the toenail.
It's about to get really disgusting, folks...
I play ultimate frisbee and that requires wearing cleats - in other words, really tight shoes and occasionally getting stomped by somebody else's cleats.
One time, I don't remember exactly when, but I'll guess it was around 5 years ago, my toe got stomped pretty badly. As a consequence, the toenail turned a very dark red/black color. But it wasn't the toenail, it was the bubble, filled with blood.
To put it nicely, I depressurized the bubble and consequently ended up self-doctoring and ripping my toenail off completely. This happened for a number of years.
...I was about to post my method of removal, but I realized it's completely unnecessary and severely disgusting so I'll spare you the details of how I do it. I will say that I sterilize my tools by putting flames to them first. I also wash the wound immediately afterward.
Second, the query:
Anyway, until just now, the last time I had to do it was a year ago.
I've always had the thought that I should probably just get it permanently removed surgically since, despite my precautions, self-surgery is never the brightest idea... But I don't want to go through the surgery only to have it come out even uglier and less friendly than before.
So, my question goes to those of you with bum toenails or such - is it possible to have a toenail permanently removed? Have you had it done? Was it successful? etc etc.
Sorry if I disgusted anybody, but I did warn ya!

-ringding-
#4
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Originally Posted by DrRingDing
I will say that I sterilize my tools by putting flames to them first. I also wash the wound immediately afterward.
-ringding-
-ringding-
uhmmmm, say what now !? put flames to them? you set your toenail on fire ?
#5
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I'd also like to know. I have the toenail fungus, and imagine at some point I'll have to have a couple nails pulled.
I've tried everything over the counter, nothing worked. Not a chance in hell I'll get the prescription, though, as it's terrible on the liver. Or, so I've read.
I've tried everything over the counter, nothing worked. Not a chance in hell I'll get the prescription, though, as it's terrible on the liver. Or, so I've read.
#6
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by dvd-4-life
Sounds like a fungus nail.They have medication that should take care of it but you need a prescription-the over the counter stuff doesn't work.

-ringding-
#7
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by skiblet
uhmmmm, say what now !? put flames to them? you set your toenail on fire ?

#9
DVD Talk Hero
Can someone tell me more about this toenail fungus - a friend of mine told me I have it (I have a couple superficial lines running down my left big toenail - but I've had it for years, and it doesn't hurt or have any sort of ill effect), and she gave me some ointment to rub on it, but I don't see what it could do.
#11
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by The Bus
Pics?
-ringding-
#16
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Thread Starter
As I said, I cannot give photos of the blood bubble since there is no toenail any more and I didn't take photos first. All I can show you is a toe sans nail which is also quite disgusting.
-ringding-
-ringding-
Last edited by DrRingDing; 10-17-06 at 04:38 PM.
#17
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by DrRingDing
As I said, I cannot give photos of the blood bubble since there is no toenail any more and I didn't take photos first. All I can show you is a toe sans nail which is also quite disgusting.
-ringding-
-ringding-
#18
DVD Talk Hero
Foot doctors can remove a nail (or a portion of a nail) and kill the cells at the base of the nail to keep that portion of the nail from ever growing back. You should look into this. I'm actually surprised that the doctor didn't mention it yet.
I had one ingrown toenail surgery and the doctor said that if it happened again they'd just kill that part of the nail that was causing problems.
I had one ingrown toenail surgery and the doctor said that if it happened again they'd just kill that part of the nail that was causing problems.
#19
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by El Scorcho
Foot doctors can remove a nail (or a portion of a nail) and kill the cells at the base of the nail to keep that portion of the nail from ever growing back. You should look into this. I'm actually surprised that the doctor didn't mention it yet.
I had one ingrown toenail surgery and the doctor said that if it happened again they'd just kill that part of the nail that was causing problems.
I had one ingrown toenail surgery and the doctor said that if it happened again they'd just kill that part of the nail that was causing problems.
You ask and you shall receive:

And with warning...
Spoiler:
Happy now?

-ringding-
Last edited by DrRingDing; 10-29-06 at 07:02 PM. Reason: Change of Image Host
#23
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Thread Starter
Wow. I thought I killed this thread. I gave it up for dead...
Actually, I realize that that photo is not nearly as bad as the toe looks now when I take off my shoes. I might post that even uglier photo sometime...
I've gotta go to sleep though. I have Czech class in less than 7 hours.
-ringding-
Actually, I realize that that photo is not nearly as bad as the toe looks now when I take off my shoes. I might post that even uglier photo sometime...
I've gotta go to sleep though. I have Czech class in less than 7 hours.
-ringding-