“I had an ingrown nail on the big toe of my right foot,” reports Carmine Cuomo. “It was tender and sore, inflamed.”

Carmine says he was surprised by how rapidly the problem developed.

“It came on pretty quickly,” he recalls, “and I had to eliminate my walking routine for a while.”

Luckily, Carmine didn’t have to wait long to figure out what to do about his condition. He contacted his trusted foot doctor, board-certified podiatrist Keith J. Kalish, DPM.

“I’d gone to him before,” he explains. “He treated me when I had plantar fasciitis, so I’ve got a lot of confidence in him.”

There is a solution

Dr. Kalish is one of a select group of podiatric surgeons who hold dual certifications from the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics. He notes that his practice offers comprehensive treatment for podiatric problems.

“We treat all painful conditions,” he says, “from diabetic wounds to plantar fasciitis, bunions, hammertoes, heel spurs, neuromas, and skin, bone, and muscle problems.”

Pain from ingrown toenails can range from minor to excruciating, notes Dr. Kalish.

“It may seem like a small problem, but if you’re the one who has it, it can bring you to tears. I have seen some very macho guys almost crawling on their hands and knees from the pain of an ingrown toenail.”

The condition, he explains, is typically hereditary.

“We get these from our parents and grandparents: if you have a round-shaped bone in your toe, you’ll get more of a C-shaped nail, which sets you up for the ingrown toenail problem.”

Fortunately, regardless of the severity of the ingrown nail, there is an outpatient solution.

“The in-office procedure is a conservative treatment,” assures Dr. Kalish. “We numb the area and remove the offending portion of the nail back to the matrix, or root, then treat the side of the nail with a chemical to prevent it from growing back and recurring.

“This is a quick procedure, performed under local anesthesia, and the patient may wear a bandage for a day or two afterwards.”

Patients can resume normal activities, such as walking and bathing, and even leisure activities such as golf, soon after surgery.

“It’s very gratifying to help patients with this problem, as it provides relief immediately. And, unlike home treatment, it prevents the condition from recurring,” concludes Dr. Kalish.

Happy patient

Carmine was pleased with the ease of the procedure and the required follow-up.

“There was very little discomfort after the initial numbing agent wore off,” he marvels. “I took an anti-inflammatory one time, and that was it. I never even needed [prescription] pain medication.”

He has made a quick return to daily activities, noting that his walking routine is back to normal again.

“I just avoided walking for a couple of days after the procedure. But now I’m as normal as I can be. I’m still amazed that the amount of discomfort was so minimal.

“Dr. Kalish is very confident and pleasant, and his office staff are very pleasant and prompt, too,” assures Carmine. “They really make you feel at ease. I’ve had an excellent experience there.”

FHCN – Michael J. Sahno