Medical Advice - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

My dad is currently in the Sierras, and one of his two companions has a pretty bad ingrown toenail I guess. This is from his last entry on Trail Journals:

“Well, Dave is still limping. He insists his toe will not be a problem. Hmmm, I don’t know. There is an extensive area of red puffiness all around the side of his toe and around the top of the nail almost to the joint and it is draining pus from a spot on the side of the nail. I honestly don’t know whether to accept Dave’s opinion. We’ll still be here until tomorrow morning if anyone has some advice. I can be reached at dkosk@pocketmail.com.”

If anyone is reading this tonight or in the morning maybe you can give him some advice…

Thanks!

Matt

(I posted this on the PCT forum, but it seems like the AT forum is more popular, sorry.)

Matt

#2

I knew someone on the AT who had that problem. He had surgery in Erwin. I think he took about a week off, then went back to hiking the trail. I certainly wouldn’t ignore it.

Ginny

#3

I had one about 6 months ago, and tried to fix it myself. Finally had to go to the doctor after getting to the stage he is in. She said that surgery was required, and that there was no way for me to have fixed it myself. There is no way for the nail to grow through the infected part of the skin. Tell him to hit the doctor. There is the very real chance that it could keep getting worse and progress into something really serious, like gangrene.

reggaemylitis

#4

This isn’t necessarily an ingrown toenail, although it certainly could be from the description. Other things it could be range from a simple paronychia to a more serious infection. I would definitely see a physician ASAP or, at the very least, attempt to contact one by phone. You don’t want the infection spreading to the bone or joint (could lead to amputation or worse), and you want to make sure that a more superficial infection (cellulitis) doesn’t develop. These infections, once they take hold, spread very quickly and are difficult to treat.

Best of luck to your father and his friends.

emanon

#5

The best persons to ask medical advice is a person who has a medical degree,not someone who THINKS he/she might know whats the problem.The only advice I would give would to see a medical person ASAP.EMANON is correct,it could be anything! Wish him luck .:boy

Old&In The Way

#6

Can’t believe you’re asking for advice here…it sounds pretty serious and a visit to the doctor is definitely in order!!! Go now!!! Don’t wait!!! Does he want to be able to keep walking?

Very few of us here have any medical training…it’s like asking a guy at REI about what kind of shoes or backpack we need to do the AT=:D

www.jackielbolen.blogspot.com

Tell it like it is

#7

You don’t mess around with ingrown toenails. I had a neighbour who lost his leg due to gangrene caused by an ingrown toenail!

downunda

#8

it may not be the cause for this guy, but wearing shoes that are too small can cause ingrown toenails. maybe his feet have grown with all the hiking?

hephzibah