What Causes Swelling Around The Big Toe Of The Right Leg Along With Slight Bleeding Beside The Toe Nail?

Posted on Wed, 13 Jan 2021

Question: Tip of the right leg thumb has swelled a bit . it pains. cannot wear shoe. this is there for last three days now. today I can see some blood coming out from the side of the nail. Her age is 43.

Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Ingrown toenail- needs surgery.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

I read carefully your question and I saw the photo you posted.

It looks like you have an ingrown toenail and it is infected.

What you can do is regular soaking for 15-20 min 3 times/day with warm water and Epsom salts for 1-2 weeks.
If not better of if worse then you should see a local doctor who must do surgery in your toenail and remove that part of the nail which is infecting your toenail. As a matter of fact it is not often that the conservative soaking therapy has proven effective, so the best thing to do is to consider surgery right away. But it is your choice if you want to try the soaking.

Also, to relieve the pain you can take Ibuprofen 400mg, 1 tablet 3 times/day.
You can also apply local corticosteroid cream like betamethasone 0.5%, twice/day. It helps to relieve the inflammation and swelling.

Hope this is helpful.
Let me know if you need more clarifications.

Regards,
Dr. Papaqako

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Klarida Papaqako (8 hours later)

thanks. one small doubt. The toe nail is not swollen yet. The tip of the thumb is where it hurts if pressed and is slightly swollen. The blood came out once and has stopped. she had similar pain few years back when someone by mistake had stepped on her toe. she was wearing heels. It took few months to heal then. this time there was no such accident. The pain is similar and almost at the same place . Do you still think that a surgery will be recommended.

Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
The nail most probably has grown wrong on the side of the toe.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for the follow-up question.
Sorry for the delay in my answer.

Most of the cases the redness and pain in that area come from the nail growing on the side of the toe in a bad shape, where it is not supposed to grow. So even if you do the soaking, that nail is still there and needs removal. It might also get inflamed in some other moment. And that is why she seems to have the problem without a trauma on the toe.

I hope this answers your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Papaqako

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee