I appear to have an ingrowing fingernail on one of my index finger of my left hand. This problem seemed to occur last July when I had what I know as a 'hang nail' on the edge of the finger which became infected - indeed I had to cancel going to one of Solari's playdays as my finger was so painful.

I suppose if I had an ingrown toe nail I would visit the chiropodist but I am not so sure what to do with this. I have tried to keep the nail filed 'square' but some days the pain is awful. It looks as if the nail has changed shape.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Goseeyourdoc. It's what they're there for.

You are right Anacrusis and logically I know that is what I should do but it is the thought the part of the nail would probably have to be removed that puts me off . That is why I am trying to cure it myself!!

(Sorry I have posted this in the wrong forum).

Surely logic says that if there is a remedy which would not involve having to remove the nail, any doctor would go for that option first!

Goseeyourdoc before if gets any worse.

Bear in mind that you are not COMPELLED to accept any treatment that your doc suggests. You can always whine and say something like "isn't there anything less drastic that we could try first?"

I for one avoid doing unnecessary things to nails .

Nails being removed were the one thing which made me squeamish when I was a student nurse - hence my reluctance to see anyone about it! You are of course right, SueHM, I am not compelled to have anything done. I have a ridge across my nail, a definite demarcation line which suggests to me I have somehow damaged my nail at some point. The new nail growing in looks much healthier although it has a long way to go before it gets to my fingertip.

I had a strip a couple of millimetres wide removed down the side of one of my big toe nails including the root so that it wouldn't grow back, to cure an ingrowing nail. It was done under local anaesthetic and was quite quick and painless. (The injection to numb it was the worst bit.) It took about 6 weeks to heal completely, but has totally solved the problem.