Issues with my big toes

I couldn't find anything on this specific issue, so I figured I'd just start a new thread...

Last fall, I had to go under the knife to fix ingrown toenails on both my big toes. Once I was finally back on my feet, I headed to a podiatrist in January to get them checked out. Everything seemed fine at first, but just a day later, my right toe started acting up—this red spot with a white center popped up right along the cuticle line. It looked exactly like a small pimple. About a week later, the white part burst and leaked some fluid—probably pus, likely some kind of bacterial infection—and then it settled down.
Then, about a week after that, the exact same thing happened to my left toe. Burst, leaked, the whole deal. That was three weeks ago now. What’s really eating at me is that it just won't heal; I still have this red, tender patch along the edge of my toe that hurts whenever I touch it. The nails themselves aren't digging in anymore and seem okay for now.
What should I be doing here? Should I try applying some Bivacin or maybe Betrion?
I'll be honest, I'm pretty terrified to see my doctor because I'm scared they'll tell me I need another surgery. 😢

Maybe I should start keeping a closer eye on those legs a little more often, haha...

ruggedhound24 said:Maybe watch a little more football, huh? lol.......

Yeah, right... total nonsense.

Mark Perez2, I’ll send you the private number for the physical therapist who saved my life. My feet were so swollen I could barely walk, and she fixed me up almost entirely without me ever needing surgery. She’s the one you need to talk to. 🙂

Good luck.

p.s. I have your number now, so I'll PMnem you in a bit.

Olivia Green46 said:I have to admit, I’m actually terrified of going to see my doctor. I'm just scared she'll take one look at me and tell me that this needs surgery, too... 😢

I hear you loud and clear.😢 I’ve already gone under the knife twice for this, and honestly, I should have known better than to try a third time with some local "natural healer." She was out there digging at my nail beds until they were bleeding, promising a miracle, and all it did was provide a temporary fix before everything went right back to how it was... 😢
Honestly, my podiatrist is the only reason I didn't lose my mind over this. Once he showed me the right technique for trimming that edge, everything changed. Now, the second I feel even the slightest bit of pressure building up in that spot, I just go in and trim it myself before it turns into a whole thing...

Bivacin actually works wonders for that kind of infection; at least, it did for me...
Look, don't go shoving your finger in there; that’s just asking for trouble. Instead, once you're back home, just apply a little bit of the cream and leave your foot bare to breathe. It was way easier for me since it was summer—I could just slather it on and head outside—but you can definitely make it work like this too...

ambermason16 said:nah.. forget it.

Mark Perez2, I’ll send you the number for the podiatrist who basically saved my life. My ingrowns got so bad I could barely walk, and she sorted me out completely without even needing surgery. She’ll know how to help you. 🙂

Good luck.

p.s. I have my phone on me, so I'll PMnem you in a bit.

Unless you're based in San Francisco. 🙂

hiddenscout362 said:I totally get where you're coming from.😢 I ended up having two surgeries myself, and then I went to this "holistic healer" who just ripped at my nail edges until they bled, which didn't actually fix anything—it was just temporary relief. 😢
That’s why a real podiatrist was my savior. Once I finally learned how to trim that edge properly, the issues stopped. Now, the second I feel even the slightest pressure in that spot, I trim it immediately.

Using Bivacin ointment is good for that infection/pus buildup; at least it worked for me.
Just don't go mashing it into your toe—just apply a little when you're home and leave your foot bare. It was way easier for me since it was summer and I could just apply it and head outside, but you can make it work either way.

Thanks. I still have some of that ointment left over from the fall, so I'll give it a shot. Hopefully, it isn't some serious infection.

Olivia Green46 said:unless you’re from San Francisco. 🙂

Oh, sure, now you’re just trying to 😬

I didn't even see the location... 🙈

hiddenscout362 said:I totally get where you're coming from.😢 I ended up having two surgeries myself, and then I actually went to some "natural healer" who just kept digging at my nail edges until they were bleeding. It didn't solve anything; it was just a temporary fix. 😢
A real podiatrist finally saved me, and once I figured out how to properly trim that edge, the trouble stopped. Now, the second I feel even the slightest bit of pressure in that spot, I go ahead and clip it.

Bivacin ointment is actually great for that infection part—it worked wonders for me.
Just don't go soaking your toe in it; just apply a little when you're home and let your foot breathe. It was way easier for me since it was summer and I could just slather it on and head outside, but you can make it work either way.

I've already started using the Bivacin. I have some Betrion too, though I doubt there's much difference between them. No changes yet, but I'm applying it twice a day. 😢