Skating with ingrown toenail...?

Question

I'm pretty sure I have an ingrown toenail on the right side of my right big toe. It hurts whenever I press on it even gently, and pus came out of it a few times. I soaked it w/ epsom salt and put cotton under the corner of my nail and it still hurts! So can you skate w/ an ingrown toenail? I went to practice thursday and it felt fine but now it hurts like crazy. I don't want to irritate it but I have to practice for a competition and I can't drop out because I have an important role. Also should I go to the doctor or will they tell me to take a few days off of skating? And if I have to get it surgically removed, how many days will I have to take off? Please help, best answer gets 10 pts!!! :)

Answer 1

This is gross, but my big toes are like that ALL the time from skating.  It's not that my skates are too small, but I have to make sure to keep my toenails trimmed otherwise it really really hurts.  I know what you're saying -- I'm very sensitive about my toes and freak out when anyone gets near them because they hurt soooo bad all the time.  My dogs apparently didn't get the memo because they're constantly stepping on them.  I don't think tights and toe jumps help the problem.  I think when tights and nylons get sometimes too tight on your foot, obviously your big toe gets the most pressure, irritating it even more.  And toe jumps, uggg, sometimes it's like cringe, okay pick and jump!  

I just continue to skate that way.  Like I mentioned before, I just make sure the nails are short and sometimes I even trim them shorter in the corners to relieve some of the pressure and they're not quite as painful and sensitive then.  I've never wanted to go to the doctor for them because I know with skating, they'll just keep getting re-irritated, so just try to keep them trimmed (and painted!) on my own.  Putting stuff on them or soaking them hasn't really helped in the past.

Good luck with your little piggies!!!

Answer 2

That sounds like it hurts. Skatting with and ingrown toenail is not the best idea  because it will push on it n cut through your skin wich will cause the pain. I think you should go to the doctor and have that looked at, if you got it surgically removed i don't think you would have to take too long off. it would just need enough time to heal your toe. if you were to get it surgically removed i am sure you could still skate after the surgery was over as long as your wrap your toe up really good. if you don't get this taken care off soon you are realy going to get a really bad infection and then things will be worse for you then they already are. read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingrown_toe...

Answer 3

to hey go see a doc but still skate just take it easy that has happened before and u should put a little extra padding on it

Answer 4

Ouch.

I know what you mean.

I have a bad habit of peeling my nails when I get stressed and it cause an infected ingrown nail at my left big toe. Even spins hurt. Not to mention picking. I skated and then saw a doctor a few days later. Don't put COTTON when there is pus. The pus will stick to the cotton. And vice versa.

Put gauze between the ingrown side and the neighbouring toe. Then wrap another layer of gauze AROUND the two toes. Tape them. If there is no space in your skates, just band-aid the ingrown side.

Unless it is very very serious, usually doctors do not ask for it to be surgically removed. You just leave with the pain and hope for the best. You may want to apply some analgesic cream in the area but not where there is the ingrown nail. Go skate, but please don't do too many spins or toe jumps that needs your right foot to be carrying the weight. After skating, wash your foot so that perspiration will be cleaned off. Change your wound dressing.

Doctors will give you a cream to make it heal faster. Most likely to tell you to keep off it, but the final decision is up to you. Very unlikely to have it surgically removed, since you could skate with no pain. The pain after could be caused by skating. So if your ingrown nail hasn't gotten better near competition, don't skate two days before.

All the best with your poor toe!

Answer 5

i've skated with ingrown toenails and with blisters right below my toenail, and without a toenail! (it got bruised and fell off, disgusting)

get some stretchy tape and wrap some cotton wrap around it and tape it very tight. hide it under the shower curtain when you are showering.

i would restrain from doing toe jumps on that foot. dont do more than 10 of each toe jump during practices.

put peroxide and vaseline on it.

and go see a doctor after you compete.