Need competent foot doctor ASAP

[FreelanceFamily 14]

I'm hoping someone can offer a doctor recommendation. Or any advice at all would be welcome.

 

My son (14, a passionate runner and soccer player) has a painful infected big toe (one side of the nail and the area around it) that is getting worse. It is hard for him to walk on it, and it has been going on for weeks.

Here's what we have done so far:

1) We tried to take care of it ourselves at home (soaking, antibacterial cream, etc.)

 

2) We went to a 'medißinische Fußpflege' place that had good google reviews, and they cut it open, made it worse, and then said basically "Oh god. you need a doctor to look at that and give you antibiotics. That looks urgent."

3) We went to the foot-focused orthopedic clinic they recommended, got seen for about 5 minutes by the physician's assistant, and were told to come back if he had a fever.
 

The problem is that everything I can find on the subject says that we should be taking this way more seriously. Sorry to be graphic, but it is pussy, swollen and getting worse. I don't want my athlete kid to lose his toe (extreme outcome, I know) because we aren't networked into the good doctors here yet. 

If anyone knows anyone good - specialist or not - I would love your recommendation. German-only-speaking is fine. 

Thank you!

[emkay 7,339]

That's sounds awful, your poor son. I take it that you weren't given antibiotics at the ortho clinic?  I wouldn't have thought that you actually need a specialist foot doctor. A normal Hausarzt should really be able to treat this and prescribe any necessary medication.  Also worth checking tetanus vaccination. If the Hausarzt believes that more specialist treatment is necessary, he/she will give you a relevant referral. 

 

Other members might be able to give you more specific advice though you will need to change your profile to state your location in Germany. 

 

All the best.

[robinson100 11,314]

If the toe hasn't settled down a bit overnight, and is really causing extreme pain, I would suggest taking a trip to the local A&E department.

[snowingagain 1,867]

Go to A and E.  Honestly this is what they are there for.   I know nothing of Berlin but there is a Kinderaertzlicher Bereistschaftsdienst in Lichtenberg you could ring for advice of where to go with this sort of problem.  They are open 8.00 to 22.00 weekends.  Telephone 31 00 31.

 

https://www.kvberlin.de/30patienten/10bereitschaftsdienst/20kinderarzt/index.html

 

In a similar situation during opening hours I would advise going to a Fachaerzte fuer Orthopaedie und Unfallchirugie. We have one near us.  A cousin visiting from overseas had an infected toenail (but not as bad as your son's) and we were advised to go there.  They immediately did a small surgical procedure and cleaned it all up.  We have also seen them for 3 broken arms.  Much quicker than a general A and E that are dealing with all sorts.  Here is something similar in Berlin:

 

http://www.ortho-neukoelln.de/

[lisa13 7,793]

sounds like an ingrown toenail perhaps?

 

If that's what it is, my brother was plagued by them as a teen, and antibiotics are pretty important if it's infected - asap!  But more than than, he had to have a mild surgery to clean out the ingrown section as if that remains, it will just get infected again.

 

I'm baffled that the orthopedic clinic didn't do anything...I would go for emergency treatment instead of waiting til tomorrow.  You don't necessarily have to go to an emergency clinic - check your local notdienst listing to find out which doctors in your area are on duty today.  Here is an example search if you are in Berlin: http://home.meinestadt.de/berlin/gesundheit/notdienst-arzt

[MadAxeMurderer 5,090]

I also vote ingrown toenail. The problem is the swollen tissue makes the nail dig in deeper causing more irritation and swelling make the nail dig even deeper...

 

Until the toe goes gangenous and the foot falls off. Ok now I'm exaggerating calm down

 

I had them on both feeth and they were treated by a chirpodist for 2 years causing me immense pain and no cure. And she kept telling my mother & me, don't take him near a surgeon, they'll destroy his feet for ever. Finally went to a suregon who fixed me, and said don't listen to chiropodists. They will keep cutting the nail, jabbing the swollen flesh with silver nitrate and get nowhere.

 

The problem is ingrown toenail is not seen as a real problem. It's very real to the kid suffering from it, and their parents.

 

Has your Hausartzt seen it. He would normally refer you to a surgeon who would operate. But stay away from chiropodists and faith healers.

 

p.s. It is not a minor operation. They have to destroy part of the root of the nail which means cutting deep into the toe behind the nail. I was in hospital for 1 week after the operation.

 

And I also went and got my toe infected. I was brought up as a nice Catholic boy where you always respect your elders. So the idea of me ringing for a nurse when the man opposite me started dying was out of the question. I got out of bed and shuffled to the nurse's station. Bloody Irish Catholic upbringing. 

[FreelanceFamily 14]

Thank you so much everyone! I will try a Fachaerzt fuer Orthopaedie und Unfallchirugie first, and if I can't get into one I will go find myself a Hausarzt. We are new here and haven't needed one yet, but there are several in our area. 
 

I will keep you posted. Wish us luck!
 

30 minutes ago, MadAxeMurderer said:

p.s. It is not a minor operation. They have to destroy part of the root of the nail which means cutting deep into the toe behind the nail. I was in hospital for 1 week after the operation.

 

Thank you for the grizzly but helpful reality check about the surgery.

30 minutes ago, MadAxeMurderer said:

 So the idea of me ringing for a nurse when the man opposite me started dying was out of the question. I got out of bed and shuffled to the nurse's station. Bloody Irish Catholic upbringing. 

 

That is pretty much what I can picture my son doing too, minus the Catholic upbringing. It will be a nightmare to keep him still for two weeks.

[Feierabend 580]

A few years ago I had both big toenails removed from the root as they were ingrowing and subject to fungal infection. The op was carried out under general anaesthetic just as a day procedure by an orthopedic surgeon. I seem to remember I needed at least three weeks before returning to work. (would recommend wearing steel-capped work shoes if anywhere in the vicinity of children and dogs careering around ...)

[FreelanceFamily 14]

Just because I hate loose ends...

 

Thanks everyone for your help with my son's apocalyptic toe adventure. It has taken months and a bit of doctor shopping, but it's all better now. Thank goodness! I would have been lost without all of your help. 

[RinLeipzig 1]

On 5/24/2018, 9:04:20, FreelanceFamily said:

Just because I hate loose ends...

 

Thanks everyone for your help with my son's apocalyptic toe adventure. It has taken months and a bit of doctor shopping, but it's all better now. Thank goodness! I would have been lost without all of your help. 

 

I am having a similar problem with my toe, is there any doctor that you could recommend? Preferably one who speaks english. I have been to the local A&E and they just bandaged up my toe and set me up for another appointment after keeping me there for 11 hours. The next doctor who saw it didn't help either. I don't mind traveling a bit to see a competent doctor.

[RedMidge 4,106]

3 minutes ago, RinLeipzig said:

 

I am having a similar problem with my toe, is there any doctor that you could recommend? Preferably one who speaks english. I have been to the local A&E and they just bandaged up my toe and set me up for another appointment after keeping me there for 11 hours. The next doctor who saw it didn't help either. I don't mind traveling a bit to see a competent doctor.

Have you seen your family MD? They can refer you to an appropriate specialist.

[fraufruit 24,974]

Have you been to your Hausarzt for a referral?

 

Ouch!

[RinLeipzig 1]

16 minutes ago, RedMidge said:

Have you seen your family MD? They can refer you to an appropriate specialist.

 

16 minutes ago, fraufruit said:

Have you been to your Hausarzt for a referral?

 

Ouch!

 

No, I went to the A&E first because it was the weekend and then they sent me to the orthopedics department on monday. On monday the doctor who saw me told me I needed a surgery, but she needed a few days to get the forms ready and told me to come again the next day. I am just baffled by all this waiting, and the walking back and forth from the hospital is only making my toe worse.

 

Would it be better to see a Hausarzt or some other foot specialist?

[fraufruit 24,974]

This shouldn't be taking so long if it is urgent. Is it also infected?

 

My Hausarzt always steers me in the right direction for such things. Do you have a good Hausarzt?

[someonesdaughter 2,714]

34 minutes ago, RinLeipzig said:

Would it be better to see a Hausarzt or some other foot specialist?

 

The usual procedure is Hausarzt/family MD (under the week), if he/she can't treat it  -> referral to the specialist. 

 

But you've seen a specialist already:

 

Quote

they sent me to the orthopedics department on monday. On monday the doctor who saw me told me I needed a surgery, but she needed a few days to get the forms ready and told me to come again the next day.

 

Today is monday, was that last week? Did you come back last tuesday? 

[El Jeffo 29,336]

Just as an aside, @RinLeipzig: this is the Life in Berlin section, but kudos to you for using the search function.

 

If you're looking for local recommendations, please post in Life in Central Germany.

 

Good luck in your search.

[MikeMelga 3,408]

On 10/22/2017, 10:45:34, MadAxeMurderer said:

I had them on both feeth and they were treated by a chirpodist for 2 years causing me immense pain and no cure. And she kept telling my mother & me, don't take him near a surgeon, they'll destroy his feet for ever. Finally went to a suregon who fixed me, and said don't listen to chiropodists. They will keep cutting the nail, jabbing the swollen flesh with silver nitrate and get nowhere.

 

I had the opposite. Went to a surgeon, against the advice from a podologist, and he messed up the nail's bed by just removing it. When the nail grew up again, the toe already had a different shape, so it grew awkwardly.

[RinLeipzig 1]

1 hour ago, fraufruit said:

This shouldn't be taking so long if it is urgent. Is it also infected?

 

My Hausarzt always steers me in the right direction for such things. Do you have a good Hausarzt?

Yes it is infected, with a fair amount of pus and blood. Unfortunately I don't know any Hausarzt but perhaps I could ask around for one nearby.

 

1 hour ago, someonesdaughter said:

Today is monday, was that last week? Did you come back last tuesday? 

I meant today. I haven't decided if i should continue going to this hospital, I'm honestly scared to do surgery especially since the doctor seems to be an orthopedist rather than a podiatrist.

 

40 minutes ago, MikeMelga said:

I had the opposite. Went to a surgeon, against the advice from a podologist, and he messed up the nail's bed by just removing it. When the nail grew up again, the toe already had a different shape, so it grew awkwardly.

This makes me really afraid to do surgery for my toe. 

[AnswerToLife42 1,883]

@MikeMelga:So what we see as your avatar is actually a picture of your toe?

Back to the OP's question: If Heidelberg is not to far, you should find specialists here. google "fußspezialist heidelberg".

Some time ago I saw this on TV:https://programm.ard.de/TV/swrfernsehenrp/die-knochen-docs---und-wie-es-weiterging----/eid_28231673257752

[fraufruit 24,974]

Do something before you lose your toe. Did you at least get meds for the infection?