I have a small lump on the side of my thumbnail and a doctor said it was an ingrown nail and cut it. But the thumb never healed and now the pain is very severe to the touch. The nail near the lump is also discoloured, and pus oozes sometimes between the nail and the skin. Which specialist doctor do I need to consult?

Dr. Potnuru Srinivaasa SudhakarHomeopath30yrs exp

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You can try the following steps at home to relieve the pain caused by your ingrown thumbnail and help the nail to grow out naturally: Soak your sore toe in warm water for 15 minutes 2 to 3 times each day. Wedge a small piece of wet cotton, such as part of a cotton ball, under the corner of your ingrown nail. Soak your thumb and change the piece of cotton each day until the nail grows out and can be trimmed. Do not use a sharp object like manicure scissors to dig under your nail, because the toe might get infected. Do not try to use a needle to drain the pus from your thumb. This could make the infection worse. While your ingrown toenail is healing, wear comfortable shoes or sandals that do not press on your thumb. Use these home treatment steps for 3 days. If they do not help, you might need to see your doctor. Be sure to see a doctor if your toe gets infected. Your thumb might be infected if it hurts more than it did before you tried the home treatment. Call your doctor if your thumb is red, warm, swollen, or drains pus, or if there are red streaks leading from your thumb. However, many times doctors opt for ?conservative? (read ?non-surgical?) treatment of various sorts including a sit-and-wait policy. In these cases it?s well worth taking a homeopathic remedy and the remedy of choice in this situation is Magnetis polaris Australis. Take one pill in a 30c strength three times a day for three days. You may be surprised by the result. To prevent ingrown thumbnails, always cut your nails straight across and not in a curve.  

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