Could Nail Bracing Help Your Painful Toenail?

One of the problems we see quite often at Foot Corner, Ashford, Surrey is a toenail that keeps curving into the skin.

Sometimes it isn’t badly ingrown, but it can still feel sore, especially in shoes. Other patients tell us they are constantly trying to cut down the side of the nail because it feels uncomfortable.

And quite often, the first thing they ask us is:

“Will I need to have the nail removed?”

Depending on the nail and what is causing the problem, one of the treatments we may be able to offer is Onyfix nail bracing.

Onyfix is a nail bracing system that we use to help correct very curved or involuted toenails.

An involuted nail simply means that the sides of the nail curve downwards and start pressing into the skin.

Rather than cutting away part of the nail, we apply a special brace across the surface of the toenail.

As your nail grows, the brace gently helps guide it into a better position.

I sometimes describe it to patients as being a little bit like braces for your teeth but for your toenail.

The aim is to gradually improve the shape of the nail as it grows.

Does It Hurt?

This is usually one of the first questions patients ask us.

The nice thing about Onyfix is that the brace sits on top of the toenail.

There are no injections and no cutting involved when the brace is being applied.

We prepare the nail, apply the Onyfix material and then harden it into position.

Once it is fitted, most patients can simply get on with their normal day.

Whom May Benefit from the Nail Bracing?

We may consider Onyfix if you have:

• A very curved toenail
• An involuted nail
• A nail that keeps pressing into the skin
• An early or recurring ingrowing toenail
• Discomfort when wearing shoes
• A nail that is difficult to cut because of its shape

However, Onyfix isn't suitable for every painful or ingrowing toenail.

This is why we always like to look at the nail first.

Sometimes a little conservative treatment and advice may be all that is needed. Sometimes nail bracing may be worth considering. And in other cases, nail surgery may actually be the better long-term option.

How long does nail bracing take?

Toenails grow very slowly, so this isn't an instant fix.

The brace works gradually as the nail grows forward.

We would normally review the nail during the treatment and see how it is progressing. Depending on the shape of your nail, we may need to replace or reposition the brace as it grows.

Everyone's nails are different, so the length of treatment can vary from person to person.

Why has my toenail become so curved?

This is another question I get asked a lot.

Sometimes it is simply the natural shape of your nail.

But we also look at other things that may be contributing to the problem, such as:

• Tight or narrow shoes
• Pressure on the toes
• Cutting the nails too short
• Cutting down the sides of the nail
• Previous damage or trauma to the nail
• Repeated pressure from work, walking or sport

For us, it isn't just about treating what we can see on the day.

We also want to understand why the nail keeps causing you problems and what we can do to help prevent it happening again.

Is Onyfix better than nail surgery?

I wouldn't say one is better than the other.

They are simply different treatment options.

For the right patient, Onyfix can be a lovely conservative way of trying to improve the shape of a troublesome nail without surgery.

But if you have a nail that is repeatedly becoming very painful, inflamed or infected, nail surgery may still be the better option.

At Foot Corner, we offer both Onyfix nail bracing and nail surgery, so we can assess the nail properly and talk you through the different choices.

We won't recommend a treatment just because we offer it.

We want to find the option that is most suitable for your nail and your problem.

Are you constantly cutting down the side of your toenail?

If you find yourself forever digging down the side of a nail, cutting bits away or changing your shoes because your toe hurts, it may be worth getting it checked.

Sometimes patients have been putting up with a troublesome nail for years because they think nothing can be done or because they are worried that seeing a podiatrist automatically means having nail surgery.

It doesn't.

Come and let us have a look.

At Foot Corner in Ashford, Surrey, we can assess your toenail, explain why it may be causing you problems and talk you through the treatment options available.

To book an appointment, please contact us on 01784 250 781 or Book Online Here