Thanks Dori, you’re right, the doc mentioned that too.
I was thinking about poking it with a hot paper clip to let the blood drain then pouring some kind of antiseptic on it.
Thanks,
Cynthia D.
Hi Mark,
That doesn’t sound so bad. Do you think I could still play softball after removal?
Cynthia the problem with doing this is that then there is definitely an opening for bacteria to get in and set up. Most healthy people could handle this but being diabetic runs the odds more in favor of the bateria. If a dr went this route he would prescribe anaphalactic antibiotics. I know we are talking quite an expense and a scary situation but it is better for the long run.
Mark: Ha ha! You so funny. Softball isn’t that dangerous as long as the players aren’t drunk. 
Cathy, she did. He was going to injure her toe further by removing the nail. =)
Hey Cynthia,
So how is your toe now? After looking back - have you tried any other shoes with a wider/larger toe box?
I also had an issue with my big toe. It started turning pink & began to get wrinkled. I happened to be at my endocrinologist & I asked him to look at it. He said, "I'm not interested...go see a foot doctor." (I won't be seeing him any more). I did some research & found that if the toenail is injured, it turns black & dies while a new toenail starts growing under it & you're not supposed to remove it because it protects the new toenail while it's forming. Then, it falls off by itself. That's exactly what happened. (I remembered stubbing it on the bed frame a few weeks ago.) After a few months, it started lifting away from the toe & falling off piece by piece, now it's gone & I can see the new nail growing. It does take awhile if you're "older" (60, like me). I was surprised that there wasn't much pain.
I have three or four toenails removed and they heal very nicely. It takes some time, about 3 weeks as i recall to develop a good callus. Once it does develop the callus, you can do anything you want and you will have no issue. Since i have a significant issue with ingrown toe nails I sort of joked with the podiatrist about having all the nails removed, and he did not really disagree. I have not done as yet, but If I have one more of these ingrown nails I may do the final deed and get it over with.
Now let me echo the crowd, please never ever wait on a toe issue. I have seen what happens and it is an awful thing. Do what the doc says sooner than later. This is nothing to mess with.