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Marina

Cutting toenails

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Sluggish
Marina

How do you manage to cut your toenails? It’s not that I can’t reach mine, it’s a combination of two things:

 

1. My big toenails are very thick and I need to use huge clippers, the type that look like huge cuticle clippers. Even with those, I have to snip bit by bit to cut the nail, which is how the pharmacist that sold them to me advised to do it, as I couldn’t possibly cut the nail in one go with anything. Then, I can’t properly get to the edge of the nail, so it ends up ragged.

 

2. My other toenails are just about thin enough for scissors - I’ve never been able to use those clipper things that you press down. Sometimes, it works fine; other times, the nail snaps off when I’ve only cut half-way.

 

In both cases, I can have shaky hands (intention tremor) or which get shakier/weaker the longer I spend on it, which makes me fear stabbing my toes with either the clippers or scissors... :blink2:

 

And the older I get, the more curved some of my nails are becoming, making it harder still to cut them.

 

How do you cope? Or do you have a chiropodist that you go to or who does home visits?


Marina

(belated DX in June '05, SPMS)

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Vegged Out
Shirl

Hi M

 

An intriguing and very necessary question...

5 hours ago, Marina said:

How do you manage to cut your toenails? It’s not that I can’t reach mine, it’s a combination of two things:

I did mine today! They've got gorgeous polish on them. It is my one luxury in life - a beauty therapist! Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and, in my case, that means:

  1. Pedicures - your part answer to the problem
  2. Eyebrow shaping & tinting (the frames of the eye)
  3. Eyelash tinting (no need for mascara)

However, your answer will come in the form of a chiropodist. Ask your GP surgery if they have a referral system. Not only is it important for your self-esteem to look after your feet but, as I am certain you know, there are health benefits too. I could tell you what implements to get but if you have an accident with one of them, the healing will not be great for you. As we (both) get older, the lower legs and feet need to be kept in tip-top condition to avoid ulcers etc.

 

Pete had horrid yellowing and thickened toenails. Our GP referred him to a chiropodist who took samples of his nails for lab analysis. From the results, the GP put him on a drug for six months only. He had to have regular blood tests to monitor his liver. He is fine and his feet no longer upset him. He, of course, does not have MS so he can wield the shears, secateurs and planes designed for toenails but I want you to go down the chiropodist + beauty  therapist route.

 

That's my advice, for what it's worth M. :idea:

  • Thanks 1


Shirley  "one day at a time"

 

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Sluggish
Marina

Asking my GP surgery for a referral to a chiropodist might be a bit of a joke... it's weeks for an appointment, even a phone one. I might try, nevertheless.

 

If that fails, I might try the one or two ads for chiropodists in my local magazines; those who show as registered, at any rate.

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Marina

(belated DX in June '05, SPMS)

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