How do you cut thickened toenails?

[ellenrr]

I'm 67, and while researching this, I've discovered that thickened toenails can happen with age.
Great. Another happy thing about aging.

In recent years I started having trouble with how thick they are. Plus I have a torn meniscus in knee, so for a while I couldn't actually reach them.
so I went to a podiatrist who cut them.
He cut them so close, that they hurt me for 2 weeks.

I want to avoid a podiatrist if I can.
I am now able to reach my toes.
So I tried this morning after soaking in hot water for 20 minutes
(I added peanut oil)
And got nowhere.

One thing I realize is that nail scissors are useless.

So I'm going to cut some nail clippers-
they cut straight across.

and I read there is something called 'toe softening cream', if I can find that I'll try it.

Would like to know if anyone knows any "home remedies" for softening?

Anything that anyone has found - in terms of techniques, or in terms of clippers that help with this?

thanks.

(x-posted to Health)

[elleng]

1. With difficulty. Nail clippers only thing I use.

No special technique I know of. Try to find clipper that opens wide enough. Dad had a guy visit him regularly to clip his toenails. Don't know if his were thickened, or just wanted help with the physical maneuver.

I keep seeing 'ads' for the miracle of vinegar, useful in 'so many ways,' including toes/feet.

[ellenrr]

4. wish I could get someone to come clip my nails. nt

[Cal33]

23. Another way is to make the toe nail thinner. This can easily be done by using a file. (Be sure

not to make the nail too thin, though. You could hurt your toe). Then use your regular nail clipper.

[onecent]

2. Hey Ellen....About 20 years

ago I had to have my big toe nails pulled out. I was tired of my toes hurting
when I wore shoes..and it was the best think I EVER did.

My brothers followed suit when i told them...since you don't want to see a podiatrist (and I don't blame you) try buying some mineral oil - it is cheap and soak your toes in it.
Pretty good stuff compared to the high prices of these fancy smelly fragrant lotions...that do NOT WORK....lol

[ellenrr]

5. Ok, I'll try mineral oil I think I have some , also vinegar. nt

[No Vested Interest]

3. I treat meself to a pedicure every few months - not frequently enough really.

I go to a nail salon in a very large mall, where I figure the poor pedicurist has seen everything, so that actually mine are not the worst they've seen.
And, yes, I do see men as well as women in there, too.
For some nails, I can clip between times at homes, but, obviously, not the worst.
They also give a leg massage, sometimes at an extra price, while there, and work on callouses.

The thing I've heard about podiatrists, is that Medicare will pay for treatments if you say your toes hurt.
That may be cut back, with closer watching of Medicare payments, but bears looking into.
I've never been to a podiatrist, though my doc has recommended because of pre-diabetes.
I believe, and someone else can verify if true, that podiatrist treatments are considered part of diabetic care.

[ellenrr]

6. it is true, if you say your toes hurt, medicare will cover,

when I went to the podiatrist, the one that cut them too close, he and his nurse coached me into saying my toes hurt.
but it didn't feel right to lie. there are enough people de-frauding medicare, that is why I don't want to be another.
I wouldn't mind paying someone to do that if it cost $20.00, but with the cost of medical care, I'm sure the cost if I paid out of pocket is going to be $70.00, way beyond my ability to pay.
I have a torn meniscus in my knee, perhaps that will enable me to be covered by medicare. But if I have to have my dr certify- forget it!
I've been waiting 5 weeks for him to fill out a form for me to get a housing adaptation.!
can you believe it.?

[No Vested Interest]

7. Ugh nt

[Divernan]

21. For diabetics, medicare covers podiatrist visits every 6 weeks.

But I had to specifically request that they trim my toe nails - they don't get paid that much under medicare and they just wanted to zip me in and out as quickly as possible. Years ago I took my 80-something Mom to a podiatrist and he used this little electric sanding disc, which I think is less likely than clippers to trim too deeply.

[blackcrow]

8. nail scizzors

I've tried several things with my not very thickened toenails. I had thought my Swiss Army Knife scissors would be best, but a nail scissors actually beat them. I have two nail scissors, bought I have no idea where over the years. One is a wimp and the other works well.

Maybe you need a better podiatrist. Or would it help to caution him about too short first?

I would have no ethical problem myself asking for Medicare to cover this. There's a big difference between getting stuff done to make your life manageable and some fraud operation raking in millions for no good purpose.

What about a home health aide for an hour a month? She could help with other stuff as well. I think they make minimum wage.

About that torn meniscus, can nothing be done about it, or is the fix too expensive? I ask because I trashed my hip doing physical therapy that was supposed to improve fitness and now they say part of the problem may be a torn cartilage. Looking on the web for that, torn meniscus showed up, so I assume it is the same thing in a different place. I can't get anyone to take this seriously enough to do anything to find out what's actually going on, and the thing is like a knife in my hip every 20 feet or so.

[ellenrr]

10. Thanks for yr feed-back. I'm so sorry you have this painful problem---

for my torn meniscus, it took two months to get it diagnosed (3 doctors). that was the worse, not having any idea why suddenly I couldn't walk without excruciating pain.

after MRI revealed it (plus baker's cyst, inflamed patella and arthritis), I did physical therapy for 4-5 months. And I did exercises at home 'religiously')

I improved a LOT. But over the last month or so of PT, I realized I was not showing any improvement, so I stopped, and I suddenly felt a lot better.

which is strange, unless perhaps they pushing me too hard.

anyway, now I can walk some, and some days are better than others.
I will go to a different pt place this month, where the guy does a massage which is to die for. And hope that will get me all the way to being as I was.

I also take Flaxseed Oil, and Glucosamine Chondroitin and MSM, which is supposed to help build cartlidge. Some doctors say you can't build cartilege, or if you could, it would take years. I feel better since I started taking it - so don't know....

Re your question- torn meniscus is not cartilege but tissue.
(are these the same?)
That is terrible that physical therapy resulted in an injury to yr hip -

Have you had an MRI? That should be done if you haven't. I don't know why it took the 4th doctor I saw, to finally recommend the MRI and diagnose me.

I can imagine how frustrated you are. I would suggest you keep trying to find a dr who can diagnose you. Once you know what is wrong, hopefully you can find some method to heal it.

"I can't get anyone to take this seriously enough to do anything to find out what's actually going on" - I can well believe this. I suggest you ask everyone you know if they can refer you to a good doctor.

It's really hard to know when you have a good dr or not. My friend had back surgery scheduled (she was in great pain), and fortunately before she did it, she sought another opinion. The 2nd doctor told her
1. don't get surgery.
She hadn't even had an MRI!

2. The 1st dr was going to implant something, called a coflex. The 2nd dr said he had done many operations to take out the coflex, which he does not use. And it turned out that the 1st dr gets paid by the manufacturers of the coflex.

My friend is now scheduled for an MRI, and meanwhile, she is seeking a 3rd opinion.

Good luck to you, pls post if you learn anything.

[blackcrow]

13. MRI

I am trying to get an MRI scheduled. Apparently x-rays do not show what is really going on. My internist insists an ortho doc has to order it, but I have not yet found one who is any good; I've seen two. Darn, this hurts. I keep reminding myself it could be worse. I do worry that I am making it worse by walking, but not a lot of choice there.

I just started Glucosamine Chondroitin and MSM a few days ago.

Thanks for your advice.

[ellenrr]

14. yes, an MRI shows more than x-rays. My MRI was ordered by my general practitioner -

yeah, I probably made mine worse by walking, but some amount of walking has to be done.

When my pain was at the worst, I used those go-carts in the supermarket and big stores.
They made me feel self-conscious, but they are a god-send.

I couldn't have shopped without it.

after a while I stopped feeling self-conscious, and enjoyed the attention. Most people were very nice and helpful.
I used to say the thing should have a horn, I was always afraid of running someone over, but never did.

I could have used one yesterday. Went to museum. Pain was minimal, but sometimes I get so tired.

again I wish you good luck and a solution. Pain sucks!!

pls let me know how you do, if you feel like it.

[blackcrow]

19. stress fracture

Three to four months after I started seeing the doc and ortho docs about this, I finally got my internist to order an MRI. It seems to be a stress fracture of part of the hip, which it turns out I've been walking with for those months doing God knows how much damage because no one took it seriously.

I am simultaneously annoyed and frightened, because we all know the consequences of a hip fracture in the elderly can be permanent disablement or worse. Well, I'm not annoyed, I'm furious that ortho docs take such cavalier attitudes towards hip pain and the elderly.

[Hekate]

9. I'm also 67, so can relate. Check with your local beauty college to see if they train pedicurists...

Prices at beauty colleges should be minimal, and your person will be under supervision. You should be very directive about how you want the job done. I haven't been to our local college yet, but one of my friends goes regularly because she can't reach her feet.

Regarding the podiatrists doing nails: they are paying attention for complications of diabetes and other conditions with poor circulation and neuropathy. People with these problems can so easily lose a foot, and then a leg, due to an unnoticed sore becoming gangrenous.

I remember trying to explain this to my own mother, but she refused to give over her outrage at a medical doctor coming to the senior center to cut toenails and charge the government for that service. In her mind it was just wrong. But she was frail and had the horny toenails of old age, so she should have just gone with the program instead of contorting her arthritic body to do it herself. I try to learn from her example, shall we say.

If you want to try mineral oil, remember that old fashioned baby oil is just scented mineral oil. Look for a sturdy set of straight across toenail clippers to do the job. The ones I have are good for me, but the ones my dad used to have looked like they belonged in his toolbox they were so rugged.

Best of luck.

[ellenrr]

11. thank you for yr feed-back, and that is a good idea about a college for podiatry.

I wish I could find a podiatrist like the one I had decades ago. I was in my 20's and my feet hurt so much! Someone recommended I go to a podiatrist. The podiatrist could have sold me on those things they custom-make for flat feet- forget what they ere called, but they cost a bundle.
Instead, he suggested I try buying Dr. Scholl's shoe pads, which raise my feet, for little $, and since then, my feet don't hurt.

I agree with you and the other poster about doctors cutting peoples' toenails.

I am by no means railing against doctors doing this and medicare fraud. It is a necessary service, and people deserve to have it. I was saying that I personally feel funny about lying to get it and would rather not. But believe me if that was the only way I could get my nails cut, I would.

Actually I found that soaking in vinegar softened my nails and I was able to cut all the nails except the big ones.
so next time I will soak again and buy some good clippers or scissors and try the big ones.

BTW, I cross-posted this to the Health Forum, and there is also a lot of information there, if anyone is looking for more info.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/114214076

[ellenrr]

12. oh, I misread yr post. You said beauty college....nt

[RKP5637]

15. I see a podiatrist every 2 months or so. He uses a grinder of sorts, something like a

dremel to reduce the thickness and then trims them, It's doesn't hurt at all, but it does vibrate quite a bit, it tickles the toes. I also have a nail cutter that's something like a side cutter used to cut heavy wire. I start at one edge and just trim a little at a time working my way across.

It's something like this.

http://www.amazon.com/Clippers-Trimmers-Podiatry-Instruments-Stainless/dp/B00B407KAI/ref=sr_1_15/184-0691310-3863841?ie=UTF8&qid=1421026316&sr=8-15&keywords=nail+cutter

PS: I have arthritis, so I guess that's why it's covered.

[ellenrr]

16. thanks. nt

[Paper Roses]

17. A relative of mine had to trim her nails with a commercial grade rasp.

I's sure there are better ways to trim back nails but at the time, this was all she could do. It did the job but took a long time.

[ellenrr]

18. Has anyone used this?

I tried one of these, but it was a cheap one, so maybe this one would work better.

I can't figure out how you can use it with one hand.


http://www.amazon.com/Mehaz-Professional-Straight-Toenail-Clipper/dp/B0033EUIO8

[LiberalElite]

20. I've used Miracle of Aloe (brand) Toenail Soft

Don't recall where I got it but it does work.

http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Aloe-Ingredients-Discolored-Eliminates/dp/B002MF5JKW

[CTyankee]

22. My nail salon does lots of older people's basic pedicures, including me.

Can you get into those chairs? If you can (I can with a bit of difficulty) it's really great. I get a simple pedi for $25 and I have them done every 6 weeks. They also soften the dry skin on your heels and even a little calf massage. It is a real pleasure to go.

[Peregrine Took]

24. I find a nice application of coconut oil makes my nails look and feel young again

Much easier to cut,too

[demosincebirth]

25. You might have toe nail fungus. If you do good luck. Any way, try Tree tea oil

[ellenrr]

26. reply

thanks. no fungus. thickened nails.
I soak them in vinegar, and then cut with these $20.00 nail scissors. Expensive, but they work.

[davidpdx]

27. I have the same problem in terms of think toenails

I'm wondering if it is a hereditary thing? I sometimes try to cut the nail diagonal a bit to get it to break before cutting the length of the nail (I hope that makes sense) except you have to be really careful not to cut too far of course.

I'm not a senior, but landed in this group by accident playing with the touch screen and happened to see the topic.

[question everything]

28. I have an electric pedicure kit that I've purchased many years

at Brookstone. I don't think that they carry it anymore but this is close

http://www.target.com/p/micropedi-manicure-kit/-/A-15009221?lnk=rec|pdp|viewed_viewed|pdpv1

I first clip the nails with a clipper and then file the top to smooth them. Mostly, to prevent snagging a sock. And, if needed, I also file the width of the toe itself.