Ingrown toenails are one of the most common reasons for toe pain, especially the big toe.  Ingrown toenails occur when the sides of the toenail grows into the skin.  The digging into the skin of the nail leads to a range of symptoms including redness and pain.  Often the skin on the affected side of the toe will appear swollen and may be firm. The skin may even start to grow over the nail.  In some cases there may be drainage from the toenail as well.

There are a couple of different possible causes of ingrown toenails including wearing shoes that are too tight and squeeze the toes.  As well cutting toenails too short or rounded can cause the nail to grow into the skin.  Injury like stubbing the toe can lead to an ingrown toenail.   Also some people are born with curved nails and are prone to develop ingrown toenails.

The condition needs to be treated in order to avoid infection, a common complication of an ingrown toenail.  Treatment at home consists of soaks and trimming the nail.  Sometimes at home treatments will not sufficiently remove the nail and can cause the condition to worsen.  Treatment by a podiatrist consists of removing the ingrown part of the nail through a procedure called a partial nail avulsion.  The doctor will first numb the toe then cut the edge of the toenail which is growing incorrectly.  The removed side of nail may take months to regrow.  It is also recommended following the procedure to wear sandals or avoid tight shoes.

If you are suffering from pain or infection caused by an ingrown toenail, make an appointment at one of our four offices located in Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Palm Coast, and Orange City, Florida.  The physicians at Atlantic Foot and Ankle Associates will treat your condition as conservatively as possible and get you back on your feet.

By Dr. Matthew Hentzel

Recently several athletes such as Penn State’s Devon Still, Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb, and New Orleans Saints’ Mark Ingram have been suffering from a common injury known as turf toe.  Although turf toe often affects football players, it can happen to anyone.  Turf toe refers to an injury to the ligaments and joint capsule of the first (big) toe.  Often for athletes, this injury occurs when wearing flexible shoes on a hard surface like turf.  The specific injury to the first toe typically involves hyperextension (hyperdorsiflexion) beyond its range of motion.  To explain, when walking the heel lifts up and places pressure on the ball of the foot.  Typically, the toes will then aid in propulsion; however, if the first toe fails to aid in propulsion and remains planted to the ground, then there is a risk of turf toe.   The injury can also occur with jamming or stubbing of the toe.  The symptoms of turf toe are pain which may last for a couple of weeks, swelling, bruising, decreased range of motion of the first toe joint, and sometimes even a pop can be felt or heard upon injury. 

There are three grades of turf toe.  Grade 1 is characterized by stretching of the joint capsule.  Grade 2 has an incomplete tear of these soft tissue structures, and grade 3 turf toe has a complete tear.  Pain, tenderness, swelling, and bruising typically increase with higher grades.  At Atlantic Foot and Ankle Associates, turf toe is treated depending on the grade of the injury, starting with RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation).  Often anti-inflammatory medications will be taken as well.  It is extremely important to avoid bearing weight on the toe for approximately 2-4 days and resting an additional 3-4 weeks.  If the injury is more severe and a higher grade, crutches or a cast and toe spica may be needed.  Extremely severe injuries may even require surgery.

If you’ve suffered an injury such as turf toe, do not hesitate to come into one of our four offices located in Orange City, Daytona Beach, Palm Coast and Port Orange.  Remember, this type of injury does not only affect athletes, it can happen to anyone. 

By Dr. Sona Ramdath Jr.