Ali's mum here - wanting advice yet again on a couple of things

Firstly, Ali has a really nasty ingrowing toenail on the big toe of her RSD leg / foot
I have tried to cut the nails as best I can with a pair of professional nail clippers but the nail is far too deep to do anything with myself
The problems is that you can only touch Alis foot on the ends of the toes or from about 3 inches above the ankle joint on her leg. Everywhere else is so hypersensitive that she screams so anything like this has to be done in stages
I really need for her to see a chiropodist but have no idea how they would do the necessary work to remove the ingrowing toenail without causing her real distress.
Has anyone had experience of chirpody on a RSD affected limb - should we be discussing this with the hospital - would she need sedation etc...

Secondly, we have had to change Ali's dentist as her old one was on a 1 in 3 hill with nowhere to park outside so getting the wheelchair there would have been a feat in itself. This one has better facilites for the wheelchair so should not be a problem
Recently Ali has suffered quite a few chipped teeth so will need a fair bit of work - what should we be recommending to the dentist about do's and don'ts for RSD patients - I don't want to take any risks if you know what I mean....

Thanks again
Love
Andrea

I would think with the toe that they could give her some lidacane that would numb the area and than they could attempt to cut the nail if possible. I can only imagine how difficult it is to cut the toenail for her. I have RSD in my left foot and this is difficult. My nails tend to grow in but I can get a clipper in there and I cut the nail very low as far as I can. They are brittle and chip off so its not bad, but when they are short it feels better. May not look cool but thats not such a concern.

Hi Andrea,
On Ali's ingrown toe, is it infected? If so, soak some white bread in milk, wrap the toe with the bread, wrap bandages around the bread and let it soak on there over night. It will draw out the infection which will lessen the pain in the toe and maybe you can clip the nail easier. ( Old family remedy, but it has worked numerous times ). If not and you need to take her to the doctor, they will probably spray her toe with a numbing spray and try to clip it in the office, if that doesn't work than they will discuss other options with you and Ali.

On Ali's dentist, I suggest you go to http://www.rsds.org and print out their guidelines for dentist to follow. Take those to ANY dentist you go to!!

I hope this helps you out some. I wish you and Ali all the best!!

Love, Peace & Blessings,
Marla

Hi Andrea..

I have brought this artical into my dentist as well.
http://www.rsdhope.org/Showpage.asp?...1&PGCT_ID=3396

I have never heard of the bread and milk thing, and I wound be worried about doing that to my own RSD foot (rt, site of orginal onset).

I have had troubles with in-grown nails too...and I know how bad it hurts. If I can't stand the whole digging out deal...and if I have enough toe nail that is clip-able, then I go back to an old family remedy thing too. If Ali has enough toe nail that isn't clipped, to cut a small "v" in the middle (or around...it doesn't have to be exactly in the middle) of her toe nail, try doing that. Then, I would soak that bugger in a solution of Epsom Salts & hot (as she can stand it) water at least a couple of times a day. You can do that even if you can't cut her nail, as it still will help. The Epsom Salts might tingle a bit...but they wont hurt her(I mean....Taking Epsom Salts baths is a thing that lots of us do around here to try to help ease pain. Especially in cold weather) and they help to draw out the infection, while the warrm/hot water feels good and helps to soften things up.

I would worry about wrapping soggy milky bread around something that was already infected (which is usually what an in-grown nail is..right?) and letting it sit, because of all of the bacteria. But, that is just me, I guess.

ANyway...I hope that you all are able to find something to help relieve this in-grown nail pain. My heart really goes out to her, because I do know how much it hurts!!!

Love and
Jose

Hi - its Alison's mum here
Thanks for all of the advice, will try some of it out and give it a few days, if it doesn't get any better I will speak to Alison's doctor.
Marla, Alison's in grown toenail IS infected it is yellow and red.
Thanks again
Andrea.

I am so glad her toenail doesn't look infected, that is a definite bonus for her. And getting in touch with her doctor would be a really good idea if it gets worse.

As for the "bacteria" from soaking in the bread with milk, like I said it is an old family remedy that has worked "Numerous" times for not only me, but tons of others with the same issues. Although I do understand your hesitation in doing something that sounds so bizarre, because when it was first told to me by my great-grandmother when I was about 10, I thought she had lost her ever lovin mind. But my mom made me try it and Low & Behold, it worked. So ever since then, and that was many many years ago, I have been using that trick and it has done me proud every time, it's better than the Crisco commercial...hahahahaaha. But I do know how you feel.

I just know noticed that you are from Yorkshire, my daughter in law is from around there as well. She still has family there too. She has shown me pictures and it is a beautiful wonder land of green....and rain, but it looks so lush. I envy you for having all that beauty.

Please keep us updated on how things go for Ali, and give her my best wishes!

Much Love, Peace & Many Blessings,
Marla

You've been given great advice about protocols for preventing problems with dentistry. Pre-emptive analgesia followed by post analgesia has been recommend and it does work for me. This is what my dentist does. He uses cream, followed by a non adrenaline (very important) injection. Then another injection at completion of the procedure which should be kept as short as possible.

Re the toe. If it is established that the problem is RSD and not something else, mirror therapy could help. Mirror therapy works by retraining the brain. In the case of a toe, you could place a mirror beteen your legs on the floor such that you can only see the good foot/toe and the mirror image of the good toe. You move in such a way that would be painful for the other toe. You do this maybe 10 - 20 times and then stop. You repeat several times a day. A little and often. If at any time more pain is experienced of course you stop. The idea is to retrain the brain that everything is ok, not to experience pain which would be counter productive. If you try it remember to look at the mirror image of the good toe which appears to be the painful toe.

If you are interested in the research then google "mirror therapy for CRPS". or click one the "mirror therapy" tag to the left of my blog.

Hope this helps.

jeisea
http://www.crps-rsd-a-better-life.blogspot.com

ps
Marla I hope to get back to you soon as when things settle here I plan to do a feature on you and your site. If I haven't in 2 weeks I would love you to email me a reminder.

Hi Jeisea (Jan),
It is so good to see you here. How have you been doing girl?
I have been worried about you!! I hope you are feeling well, or as well as possible.
Your website has been keeping me busy, there is so much valuable information there,
it's an amazing site, and I am learning a great deal about "Mirror Therapy!! It's very interesting and I have utilized some of it and it has helped a great deal, So ROCK ON GIRL!!
I appreciate your doing a feature on me, I think that is such an awesome honor for me.
Thank You!!

Love, Peace & Blessings,
Marla

InHisHands had to have surgery for her ingrown toenails, and she has quite severe RSD in both legs. Perhaps if you do a search for her strings you might find her descriptions of her experience?
oh wait - I searched and found it! it's quite long, it was first posted on 07-24-2007, 01:46 PM with the title RSD/ ingrown toenails! HELP! What to do?? Will it heal??
Molly

P.S. Please don't wait a few days. Infections are unusually dangerous for people with RSD, because the immune system is compromised.