Self Maintenance

**Rick** · 03-25-2008, 08:03 AM

The inverted V was taught to the guys during WWII as a way of preventing foot problems associated with toenails. I learned it from my dad as a kid and I've never had an ingrown toenail.

**Tony uk** · 03-25-2008, 04:17 PM

I have an ingrowing toenail now, only a few months after haveing it removed, It isgrowing into the skin and there is no edge to even cut, There is there green fowel smelling puss comming from it, Im going to the doctor soon tho

Oh and by the way, ITS FU*KING PAINFULL !!!!!!!!!

**Rick** · 03-25-2008, 04:23 PM

Yeah, I'd wait on that, too. Gangrene will take a bit longer to set in. Then you can loose your whole freakin' foot. Isn't medical care free under the Queen? Doesn't she have some lackey that can give shots and dig out puss encrusted toenails? You might trying ringing her up and check on that.

**Tony uk** · 03-25-2008, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

Yeah, I'd wait on that, too. Gangrene will take a bit longer to set in. Then you can loose your whole freakin' foot. Isn't medical care free under the Queen? Doesn't she have some lackey that can give shots and dig out puss encrusted toenails? You might trying ringing her up and check on that.

Not under the queen, But in SCOTLAND !!!

We pay national insurence which means we get free medical care and operations, Plastic surgery isnt included tho

**crashdive123** · 03-25-2008, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by Tony uk

We pay national insurence which means we get free medical care

There's just something about that that doesn't sound right. We pay.......so it's free?

**BraggSurvivor** · 03-25-2008, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

There's just something about that that doesn't sound right. We pay.......so it's free?

As a self employed businessman in Canada, I pay a fee of about $1450.00 a year for a family of six. The rest is free.

If you make under 30K a year, it is subsidized. It is free.

If you work for a company covering all healthcare fees, it is free.

10K lifetime for cosmetic surgery - business right off

Free means heavily taxed to pay for it. (country in general)

**tim** · 03-25-2008, 05:42 PM

http://wildwoodsurvival.com/survival.../personal.html

**crashdive123** · 03-25-2008, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by BraggSurvivor

As a self employed businessman in Canada, I pay a fee of about $1450.00 a year for a family of six. The rest is free.

If you make under 30K a year, it is subsidized. It is free.

If you work for a company covering all healthcare fees, it is free.

10K lifetime for cosmetic surgery - business right off

Free means heavily taxed to pay for it. (country in general)

I was just having fun with the I pay, so it's free. As we all know, nothing is free. I won't get into the "free healthcare" discussion, because it will lead to a political one. My grandparents (mothers side) were from Nova Scotia. I remember that we had to move my grandmother down to the states with us for some care that she needed. Her doctor told her she would probably die while on the waiting list. Oops. Did I just .....

**nell67** · 03-25-2008, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by Tony uk

I have an ingrowing toenail now, only a few months after haveing it removed, It isgrowing into the skin and there is no edge to even cut, There is there green fowel smelling puss comming from it, Im going to the doctor soon tho

Oh and by the way, ITS FU*KING PAINFULL !!!!!!!!!

Well,I guess you like the pain?? since you are waiting till it rots off before going to the doc?

Thats just nasty Tony.

**trax** · 03-25-2008, 05:50 PM

actually crash, you just made a point that a lot of people are unaware of. I hear a lot of folks envying our health care system and the bottom line is, you get what you pay for. Your taxes covered it? well, not quite covered so we have to eliminate....advanced diagnostics, advanced cancer treatments, create months long waiting lists for dialysis, mri's, I could go on, I think you get the point.

**crashdive123** · 03-25-2008, 05:56 PM

Yeah, I know. I'm kind of a political junkie, so there's a whooooooole bunch of pandering going on by all in the current political season. (OK - step away from the keyboard - don't start -whew! that was close)

**Tony uk** · 03-25-2008, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by nell67

Well,I guess you like the pain?? since you are waiting till it rots off before going to the doc?

Thats just nasty Tony.

Well now that you say that, It has happened before and healed itself, But i dont think it will this time. Im going to the doctor friday to get it checked.

**AdventureDoc** · 03-27-2008, 08:20 PM

Awesome thread! I see this pretty often, about 3 per week, maybe more in the summer. Nasty, hanging toe nails, ingrowns, etc.

I remove about 1/4 of them. As mentioned above, diabetics need to be VERY careful fo their feet. A small infection can turn out of control. Diabetics loose sensation in their feet and hands (stocking and glove pattern) and cannot feel pain well. Thus, they don;t know how bad the sore or infection is. This can lead to amputations.

I think good hygiene is important and I would be very cautious about removing a nail in the field. A small "ring" of lidocaine is often good enough to produce anaesthesia of the digit, before removal. There is no magic secret, insert a pry-tool under the nail and start prying. Once it elevates a bit, get a shears in there and cut the nail in half, towards the nail cuticle. Then grab each side and pull with forcepts.

Persistent ingrowns can have the nail matirx ablated, usually chemically (silver nitrate sticks can do this). I have done this a few times too. No real problem, as the skin under the nail toughens up, in a few months.

As for prevention of ingrowns, well...I have some folk-remedies and urban myths, but no real evidence. I am very interested in hearing about some tips!

I have tried the "v" cut in the nail, with multiple attempts, none have ever worked, really well. Out of maybe 10-12 attempts to prevent, I had about 2-3 that ended up needing some help.