I've had ingrown toenails causing wounds in both toes for almost 3 years now. When I went to the doctor they scheduled surgery but the anesthetic shots were extremely painful - they gave me 8 injections and it still didn't work so they referred me to a bigger hospital. Now I'm really scared of getting those anesthetic injections again. Is there any other way to treat ingrown toenail wounds without injections? What could happen if I don't get treatment for this?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Dhankecha Dineshbhai

General Practitioner

MBBS
6+ Yrs

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Chronic ingrown toenail needs surgical correction; anesthetic options include nerve block‚Äîuntreated cases may lead to chronic infection or tissue damage.

Dr. Dhankecha Suggests...

Consult a Podiatrist

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Answered 14/08/2025

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I've been struggling with this ingrown toenail for ages, but now there's this fluid leaking from the gap between the nail and skin of my toe. It's kind of freaking me out. What can I do about this? Would a dermatologist be the right person to help me out?

An ingrown toenail with fluid oozing can be a sign of infection. You can soak your foot in warm water and Epsom salts to help reduce inflammation and pain. You can also apply an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin to the affected area. In case of pain, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen. However, if the symptoms persist or worsen, it is recommended to see a doctor. A dermatologist can help with this issue by providing proper treatment and care, which may include draining the fluid and prescribing antibiotics if necessary.