Your big toe has been sore for days. At first, it was just slightly red and tender, but now it throbs constantly, and the skin around your nail is swollen and warm to the touch. Ouch! Does this sound familiar?
At Alpine Foot & Ankle Clinic, our Missoula podiatrist, Dr. Gregg Neibauer, regularly helps patients who've delayed treatment for ingrown toenails find relief. With over 20 years of experience, our Montana foot doctor offers efficient, minimally invasive solutions for relieving pain and preventing recurring problems.
Here's what you should know about this common foot problem, when to seek professional care, and our treatment options.
Understanding Ingrown Toenails
An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the nail grows into—instead of over—the surrounding skin, causing irritation, pain, and sometimes infection. These minor podiatric issues can turn into major predicaments, especially for patients with diabetes or poor circulation. Though many patients attempt to treat ingrown toenails at home before seeking help, this often worsens the situation.
Watching for Symptoms That Serve as Warning Signs
While minor ingrown toenails might resolve with home care, some symptoms indicate it's time to contact a professional. Seek professional podiatry treatment if you experience:
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Severe pain. When you can't comfortably wear shoes or the pain limits your daily activities, your ingrown toenail needs more than home care. Pain that intensifies with pressure or prevents you from walking normally indicates a worsening condition.
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Swelling. Redness and inflammation that extends beyond the area around the nail and feels warm to the touch can signal an infection.
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Discharge. Clear or yellowish drainage or pus around the toenails is a serious sign of infection. We offer prompt, convenient care to relieve pain and prevent the infection from spreading to deeper tissues or bone.
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Recurring ingrown toenails. An underlying issue may be to blame for ingrown toenails that occur repeatedly despite your best preventive efforts. Professional treatment addresses the root cause to prevent recurrence.
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Chronic pain and/or altered gait. You can develop compensatory knee, hip, or back pain from walking abnormally to try to avoid putting pressure on the affected toe.
Without proper treatment, an ingrown toenail can become debilitating. Our Missoula skin and nail podiatrist offers comprehensive care to help Montana and northern Idaho patients get back on their feet without pain.
Exploring the Advantages of Professional Ingrown Toenail Treatment
When you visit Alpine Foot & Ankle Clinic for ingrown toenail evaluation and treatment, you experience care that's far more effective than home remedies. Our Missoula foot expert provides treatment that delivers immediate relief and promotes long-term prevention.
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Thorough evaluation. Dr. Neibauer thoroughly evaluates the affected nail, your footwear, nail-trimming habits, foot structure, and any underlying health conditions to ensure that treatment addresses the root causes of the problem, not just the symptoms.
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Reduced infection risk. Our use of sterile techniques and proper tools minimizes infection risk. Unlike home treatments or dangerous do-it-yourself "surgery," professional podiatry care uses medical-grade instruments, significantly reducing the risk of bacterial introduction and ensuring complete removal of the affected parts of the toenail.
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Painless procedure. We prioritize pain management during treatment, using an effective local anesthetic to ensure patient comfort throughout the procedure. Professional ingrown toenail removal is painless, with most patients experiencing immediate relief.
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Permanent solutions. For patients with recurring ingrown toenails, Dr. Neibauer offers partial nail matrix removal, a minor procedure that prevents the problematic portion of the nail from growing back. This technique is highly successful and can permanently solve a chronic problem with minimal downtime.
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Recovery guidance. We personalize your post-treatment care instructions, providing clear guidance on wound care, activity restrictions, appropriate footwear, and proper nail trimming techniques to help prevent future ingrown toenails and ensure proper healing.
Don't let foot pain keep you from enjoying Montana's beautiful mountains and trails. If you're experiencing persistent pain, redness, or swelling from an ingrown toenail, the skilled team at Alpine Foot & Ankle Clinic can help you recover and return to your favorite activities.