If You Think It’s an Infection

Are you overlooking the ingrown toenail that has bothered you for the past few days? There may be signs of something worse that could happen if you don’t act fast. Infection is a common concern for all medical professionals, including podiatrists. One of the concerns is how fast an infection can advance and how it can spread to other parts of the body. For patients with diabetes, this could mean an amputation or even death.

At PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center, or goal is to catch patients before they have an infection. Do you ever wonder why your toenail is at risk? We’ll break down the details for this common condition, including the top causes and tips for treatment.

What is an ingrown toenail?

For this condition, keep an eye on your big toe. The big toe is most known to have an ingrown toenail. With this condition, the toenail begins to grow into the surrounding skin. Ouch! Yes, the continued growth causes discomfort for patients. The nail can eventually break the skin, which is a cut or open wound. This is when things become dangerous.

How do you know?

There are a few signs for infection. As part of your daily foot inspection, look for changes. Signs of redness and swelling should prompt you to seek medical attention. You also want to look for discharge. Here’s another one: does the surrounding skin feel warm to the touch? We encourage patients to contact us if they have any concerns about changes.

What could go wrong?

A patient can have a viral or bacterial infection with the condition. Over time, the infection can worsen. As we mentioned earlier in the post, it can spread. The surrounding bone can become infected, too.

Here are a few ways to tend to your ingrown toenail before your visit:

• Soak your foot in water with Epsom salt

• Do not pull or tear the nail

• Keep the area clean and dry

• Avoid wearing tight shoes to prevent worsening the pain

• Keep your hands away from the area to avoid germs

• ·Take an over-the-counter medication to help with pain

Our board-certified team of foot and ankle doctors at PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center has experience with addressing foot needs, including bunions and hammertoes, pediatric foot care, custom orthotics, heel pain, diabetic foot care, and more. The team includes Dr. Charlotte George, Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, and Dr. Laura Vander Poel. We have two locations in Hartford County: 1379 Enfield Street, Enfield, CT, and 1350 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor, CT. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.