Is your toenail painfully digging into the skin around it? We always hope that we can successfully treat your ingrown toenail with conservative measures, but sometimes it is necessary to use a surgical procedure to remove either the full nail or a part of it. When this is the case, it is important to not only know what happens before and during the procedure, but also what to expect with regard to toe care after an ingrown nail removal.

Prior to the procedure, we will use a local anesthesia to avoid pain while cutting and removing the nail tissue. Once the surgery is done, the anesthesia will begin to wear off and you may experience some slight pain or discomfort. We can prescribe pain relievers to help with that. The good news is that it is only temporary.

Properly taking care of your toe after the ingrown toenail removal is essential for reducing the risk of pain or infection. We will likely recommend that you keep your foot elevated and do not put any weight on the affected toe for the first couple of days following the surgery.

Make sure to keep your dressing dry and clean at all times. If it becomes dirty or damp, it will need to be changed. When you do so, be sure to wash your hands with antibacterial soap and warm water first to prevent infections from developing.

In order to decrease pressure and promote healthy circulation to the toe, you should wear loose shoes and cotton socks for the first week or two after the nail removal.

When it comes to resuming normal activity levels, it is important not to attempt to do too much too soon following the procedure. This can cause pain and increase swelling in your toe. Light activities may be resumed after a few days if the pain is subsiding.

Our goal at Brook Valley Podiatry is to treat any foot or ankle condition using conservative care, but sometimes a surgical procedure is necessary. We will always provide the instructions you need for successful recovery after removal of an ingrown toenail or any other procedure. Your journey to pain relief and restored functionality begins when you call us at (845) 352-7507 for our Spring Valley office. Of course, you can also schedule your appointment online as well.