I'm scared to go to the doctor, advice please?

[Anonymous]

Hey everyone, I have been in some discomfort (not to painful!) But I have a ingrown toenail and I am scared to go to the doctor because I heard it would probably result in them removing the nail and using stuff to prevent it from growing back..

I'm scared because if it happens I'll be to embarrassed to wear any open toe shoes or sandals as it'll look so not good to be missing a toenail..

Am I just overthinking it and should go even if that does end up being the end result?

I heard there is things I could try to fix it myself like ripping the nail towards the side it's ingrown..

[Anonymous]

Ok well then think if you don’t go? It could become a lot bigger than it is. Usually our most fearful thoughts don’t come to fruition. What if they could take care of it w minimal invasive procedures but now they have to take the whole nail off now because you were too scared to go in. Either way you need to go. It could get really infected, maybe systemic causing worse issues.

[Pyrofox]

They probably won't rip it out but they may trim it back and tell ya to make a big weekly diary of how it grows back. Generally doctors won't fully remove a nail if it's not infected or ultra painful for patient.

[Pyrofox]

Whoops "biweekly"**

[Marked_Man]

Will you still feel that way when they have to amputate your toe because it got infected and septic? Go to urgent care. They will numb the area with lidocaine and pull the nail away from the area that it's ingrown.

[SnowedIn]

I had this done once. Doc can cut that piece out and then if you keep them properly trimmed, it shouldn't return.

[Guy13]

Go to doctor and find out. Heresy and decision making is not smsrt.

[slatyb]

Go to a podiatrist.