Ingrown toenails, onychocryptosis, and aging.
I'm pretty sure that I am not the only one out there who has suffered from ingrown toenails. For much of my adult life I would have to be very careful about my largest toes and their nail cutting into the flesh on the side of the nail. -- I tried both, letting the nail grow and trimming it off square and the other, cutting it back as far as possible. Either way, I continued to have problems but not enough for any kind of medical intervention.
Part of my concern started thirty years ago when I was a young medical photographer at a large hospital. I was called on to photograph all kinds of visible ailments, one being an older gentleman with gangrene to both large toes which had been caused by ingrown toenails. I happened to know him as the manager of the apartment house where I lived as a college student.
The elderly. Now that I am in my 60's I want to avoid this kind of problem. It is a fact that as you age, things like foot care become more of a concern, and proper trimming of something like that thick large toenail may become difficult.
In my case, the nail was not only thick but broad. It turned down on both sides of the toe into a deep crevice which made access all the more difficult. Then, about a year and a half ago, I went to see a podiatrist about getting an orthotic insert for my shoes. While discussing other things I mentioned my large nails and was given information on a process of toenail reduction where the sides of the nail are reduced. I made an appointment and had the procedure done to both toes on both sides of the nails. My insurance paid for the procedure and now, a year later I thought I would pass the information on to you. I could not be more pleased, and, being a retired photographer, the least I could do was to take a few photos along the way.
Photos information. Two on the left were from January and December of last year.
Group of four Left to Right, Top to Bottom are 1. Jan 2011, - 2. Feb 2011, and 3. July 2011. 4 Dec 2011.
