If you experience pain from one of your toes and have tried medications and other treatments to get relief, you might want to look at the nail a bit closer. Sometimes, pain can be a sign that there is an infection present or that you have an ingrown toenail. Here are a few symptoms to look for if you suspect this issue.
Tenderness
One of the first signs that you’ll usually notice from an ingrown toenail is tenderness. It could hurt to touch your toe or even wear shoes on the foot with the affected toe. When you visit a doctor about an ingrown toenail in Joliet, you need to make the staff aware of any pain that you feel when instruments are used for examining your toe.
Redness
As infection and pressure build in your toe, you might see redness or discoloration around the nail bed. When visiting a doctor for an ingrown toenail in Joliet, you should describe the changes that you’ve noticed over time, especially if you notice a dark red color or a green substance coming from underneath the toe as this could be a sign of an infection.
Swelling
Without treatment, your ingrown toenail will usually cause your toe to swell. Your toe could be significantly larger than it normally is, preventing you from being able to comfortably walk or wear shoes. Once the toe is treated and the infection goes away, then you’ll usually notice the swelling decrease.
Contact Suburban Foot & Ankle Associates for more information about symptoms of an ingrown toenail.
