I have always looked after my feet - seen a podiatrist regularly and I am aware that it is a big no no to cut your toe nails at an angle.
But over the last 18 months I have had to seek hospital podiatry services to cut into a few of my toe nails to alleviate the discomfort. It’s as if the flesh around them wants to emulate a Swiss roll . I’m getting better at hacking into the culprits myself with proper podiatry scissors but it’s flipping painful!
I’ve looked for any similar references on this site without a result - so far!
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AnniesRyder5
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“I’m getting better at hacking into the culprits myself with proper podiatry scissors but it’s flipping painful!”..
Not a good idea😳
Might be the Pred rather than PMR..once I’d lost one eye with GCA decided it probably wasn’t a good idea to be cutting toe nails -so I got the podiatrist that came to hubby (he was diabetic ) to do mine as well. Not NHS, but private & house calls.
I found all the time I was on steroids I had issues with ingrowing nails on big toes -since being off them no problem at all. But then had knee/hip/shoulder issues which made life a bit difficult-now replaced , but it’s still my luxury though -every 6 or 7 weeks.
Did the foot-person advise on ingrowing toenails? Cutting the sides often makes it worse - a v cut away from the side and padding is sometimes advised.
It may have changed over the years but you need a good foot-person. Do you go to a medically-orientated person or to a cosmetically-orientated one? I have been to both - I was lucky enough to live next door to a very good medically orientated one who ran a clinic from home. Her care of my feet was entirely different from what I have experienced here where they are making them "pretty". One managed to cut my toe really badly while cutting the nail - I haven't been back!
My finger nails grew stronger than ever and I loved it - back to the old days since stopping pred. My toenails joined in and caused a problem. So NHS took over andthey have two type of people who do nails, don't ask me their rank, but one does 'normal' and one does warfarin etc and complicated nails. I am a complicated nail person and also now on warfarin. I do not know what I would do without them.
Wow! This whole thread has been a revelation to me. I thought my problems were related to Psoriasis. I must get a Podiatrist. I had no idea that this could be related to Pred. We do need to be extremely careful of our feet in later life so it is an investment.
I also have had problems with one big toe being extremely painful and not sure if it is ingrown toenail. GP gave me antibiotics which have calmed it down and has referred me to chiropodist.
So grateful for this forum which I read every day. Thanks all 😊
Just a few words from a retired podiatrist/podiatric surgeon, don't cut your nails down the sides and don't cut them too short. Also I'm not sure what kind of footwear you use. In general terms wear lace up/velcro trainers and don't wear slippers more than you have to, certainly not once dressed, you need to keep any pressure away from your toes.
Let the professionals take the responsibility for your foot health, you have enough on your plate.
Sorry It's happened several times recently - I must try to remember to put the person's name as well. If the reply is to the originator of the thread there is no name. It's one of HUs little quirks - some of them are very irritating
I was hoping you might write a post for FAQs - with an outline for simple foot care and what to look out for. Yes, you and I manage with the online offers, many older people do not and we try to make it simpler for them.
I to suffer with what you describe (big toes only) and have done for years but there is no doubt it's got worse this last year since taking Pred but that could just be a coincidence and it's really just an age thing. What has just developed though is pain on the skin on the tops of my feet, mainly left, between the toes and top of arch (pain similar to a "Chinese Burn" - if anyone remembers those from childhood?). I'm guessing that the skin has lost much of its elasticity due to Pred. Any suggestion to ease the problem will be much appreciated.
It doesn't seem so as they look clear and the pain is from the skin in the area from the back of my toes and across the top of my feet, almost as far as the front on my ankles. But now that you've suggested it, I will invest in some anti-fungus cream, just in case.
I have had fungal infection where there was nothing to see - strange but there it is!!!
Arthritis in my hips and knees affects my gait which in turn affected by feet which also have RA in big toe joints. I also have ankle tendinitis apparently caused by my illness Stills Disease.Walking badly created the need to visit a chiropodist which I used to self fund.
During lockdown I had a severe rupture of two muscles in my lower left leg. In my ignorance I thought it just a sprain that would heal and sought no treatment. Now 18 months later I’m still limping and in pain. My new limp has increased the issues with my feet and I saw a NHS podiatrist recently. Rather shockingly he did not treat the corns or hard skin pads that increase my limp and was not interested in RA in ball joint or ankle tendinitis or even the injury that has intensified my limp.
Chiropodist or podiatrist, neither have helped or seem interested in my feet. I worry about the future as I’m unable to use a stick or crutch due to RA in wrists, shoulders and elbows.
My complaint is frivolous in comparison but I must admit that I thought the NHS podiatrist was disinterested and was more interested in completing her report and getting me out within 15 minutes.I felt I was a routine tick box.
Having said that I could at least get an appointment which got me out of pain.
All the private podiatrists were booked months ahead.
I have great difficulty reaching my own feet due to a total hip and knee replacement and torn rotator cuff - all on the right hand side.
I can still reach my feet, mainly by lying on my back on the bed and curling up a bit, it allows me to rub cream on them but boy is it difficult to paint the nails in that position 😂
Look for a traditional chiropodist who offers diabetic foot care services - I know what you are saying and I think it is fluff, using "podiatrist" to baffle the client into thinking they are better than someone who carves out corns! Your GP practice nurse should be able to point you to someone who does that ...
Getting the corns that formed BECAUSE of poor gait due to PMR sorted meant I was walking properly and they have never formed again!
A little bit - but that was over maybe 5 years. The last lot of footcare I had she got the lot out and nothing has returned - it was in the middle of the ball of one foot and that was also maybe 5 years ago.
I see the podiatrist every 6 to 8 weeks. Since pred I have become diabetic , so really look after my feet. I had a fungal infection under my big toenail a couple of years ago. It was sooo painful and she had to remove the nail, it then took a whole year to grow back! Her advice is so useful about foot care, moisturise regularly and I use oil down the side and cuticle of my big toe nails . I do feel it’s money well spent.
Could it be down to the calcium supplements we take? My nails have been so strong since starting that, and don't break despite all the DIY, gardening and decorating I'm doing!
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It's happened several times recently - I must try to remember to put the person's name as well. If the reply is to the originator of the thread there is no name. It's one of HUs little quirks - some of them are very irritating 
Is this my PMR?
Another bug or PMR pain
sciatic or PMR 
PMR gone or has it?
Is this possibly PMR pain? 
