Toenail Treatment Finale Part 1

After years of unsuccessful treatments for toenail fungus, including grinding, removing the toenails (which grew back with fungus), and soaking daily in Listerine, I finally successfully treated the fungus on my 2 big toenails with daily applications of oil of geranium mixed with DMSO.  A year of that treatment eliminated the fungus so that the toenails would regrow normally. Unfortunately during all the years when I had thick, fungus laden toenails, I developed bone spurs on the ends of my toes from pressure from toenails.  So the 'healthy' toenails could only grow into the fleshy, bone spurred ends of my toes and become 'ingrown'.


One podiatrist suggested I could either (1) keep trimming the nails as best I could or (2) have the toenail and matrix (envelope holding the nail) completely removed so that the nail would not grow back or (3) get the bone spur removed and flesh tucked to allow room for the nail to regrow naturally.  Option 3 sounded most promising for healthy looking nails.  However, that meant major inflammation and recovery after surgery.  Nevertheless, I planned to pursue that option with that doctor UNTIL I discovered he wasn't covered under my medicare plan.  I didn't want to pay for surgery outa pocket.  So I got a referral for a doc who was in network. 


The new doc saw the x-rays taken by the previous podiatrist, when I saw him 4 months later. However, he said the toenails were already looking ingrown and removing the bone spur may not cause normal regrowth.  The toenails had been damaged in the original accident and then later removed by an inept podiatrist who didn't remove the matrix, but only removed the toenail which grew back with fungus.  With that much injury and that much passage of time the new doc thought regrowing normal toenails was not possible.  He suggested option 2 (complete matricectomy), which would prevent toenail growout.  That would still require surgery, but not as complicated. 


So after enduring 2 more months of ingrown toenails (and daily application of analgesic ointment), yesterday I had a total matricectomy on my left big toenail.  The anesthetic prevented me from feeling anything beyond pressure.  However, I was advised to elevate my foot as often as possible for the next few days above my heart level to prevent swelling and more bleeding. Unfortunately I had to walk a long ways to my husband's car in the clinic lot. Then I had to walk up 2 flights of  stairs into our house.  By that time my toe was throbbing. So I took another tylenol (my 3rd for the day with my upper limit of 5 daily) and propped up my foot.  However, getting to sleep with my left foot propped up and my left arm propped on pillows and ice bags was almost impossible.  I finally gave up about 4am and read for another hour before rearranging the pillows and blankets and finally drifting off to sleep for a few hours before I had to get up and take care of my bird. Hopefully I can sleep better tonight.  At least I had my foot elevated for about 8 hours last night. 


The good news is that I may be able to walk around after a few more days. I will return to the clinic to have the dressing changed next week. The dressing look pretty bad now, but my sandle hides the worst blood stains.  The bad news is that I have to endure the same surgery on my other toe (right foot) next month.  Hopefully the first toe and my fractured elbow will have healed enough to make the second matricectomy process go more smoothly.