Atypical ingrown toenail? - Nail Problems Message Board

troubadour · 07-11-2007, 10:02 PM

I've had typical ingrown toenails where you definitely know there is something wrong because an infection is present. Usually, the nail grows into the side of the skin and it's very obvious. I have been cutting out my ingrown toenails myself for at last 8 years. I am finally going to the podiatrist for the first time on Saturday. Here's my situation: currently I have no infection, nor any noticeable inflammation except discomfort when pressure is applied to each side of both big toes and sometimes I feel pressure/pain/tingles/aches when there is absolutely no pressure on my toes (just sitting); sometimes I feel it for hours and then don't feel the pain again for a day. It is directly at the corner where nail/skin meet and it feels as though, instead of the typical ingrown toenail, my nails curve DOWN way too much (like an upside-down U) and are growing into the skin that way. Can nails get ingrown that way? I can't cut out the corners myself because it's way too painful to get all the way down there. I am mostly concerned that the podiatrist won't treat me seriously without very evident signs, but the pressure I feel is horrible. It seems that the only relief I get from my toenails are when they are cut out along the sides so they aren't by the sides of my toes at all.

Marti · 07-12-2007, 06:07 AM

The ingrown nails may have finally grown into what is called 'pincer nails'. This is where the nail plate curves sharply into the sides of the flesh and if you look at it from the front, they are indeed a severe 'U' shape. The only treatment is to have the sides of the nail plate permanently removed at the root.

troubadour · 07-12-2007, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marti

The ingrown nails may have finally grown into what is called 'pincer nails'. This is where the nail plate curves sharply into the sides of the flesh and if you look at it from the front, they are indeed a severe 'U' shape. The only treatment is to have the sides of the nail plate permanently removed at the root.

You are very informative!

I would just like to say that after looking up pincer nail pictures, I see very severe cases. Mine are not to that extreme, and it appears as though my toenails in general are much more deepsetted, but it makes sense. I recently had to cut the side off the tip of my toenail because it was gouging into the skin. I trim the sides of my nails to prevent them from becoming ingrown so it makes sense that I would assume it was only the corner behaving this way because it is the only part of my nail I see like this (save for the aforementioned tip). I try to stray from cutting the corners. I've cut them out before and it hurts horribly; I can't get a good straight cut. (I have actually deformed both of my toenails by trying to cut them out from the corner).

Clearly, I am looking forward to seeing a podiatrist for the very first time. It was impossible for me to get a referral from my parent's insurance (I never got one) and since I am on my own insurance, I can see a podiatrist without even needing a referral. I just wish I could have saved my toes before they got so bad. Doctors just liked to treat the infection but never cut out my nails, not even once.

Thanks for your help! I will let you know what happens.