Yucky ingrown toenail--please read and help!

[McGucks]

I never had one of these before, but when my son was born in March, I started developing one.  It got so painful that I had to have a procedure where a doctor took off about a third of the nail.  It has now grown back (he said the procedure was only successful--meaning that the nail does not grow back--75% of the time) and is starting to hurt again.  I am desperate to avoid getting that same procedure, the shots for which I found to be incredibly painful--I honestly don't know if I could tolerate them again.  I am embarrassed to be such a wimp about them, but whoa did they hurt.  Per my GP's recommendation, I soak it daily, push the skin back gently, and heavily moisturize to soften the skin.  I don't wear tight shoes or socks.  Any recommendations?  The doctor who performed the initial procedure has left the area.  If I have to do it again, should I try an actual podiatrist, or is this a routine enough procedure that a GP should be fine to do it?  I am losing sleep worrying over having it done again.  Please help!

[Peony]

I had many of these infections 10+ years ago. I went to a podiatrist and sometimes that can make a difference since the podiatrist only deals with feet, they can have extra tricks up their sleeve that another doc doesn't. Cutting off the nail never seemed bad when he did it. Anyway, mine got so bad that the second my nail grew long enough and reached that area where I kept having the repeat infections it got infected, nothing we did helped. My podiatrist ended up killing part of my nail bed on one side of both large toes, essentially with acid, so my nail could not grow past that part, never once have had an issue since and no one can tell but me. 

[McGucks]

Mine did the same thing--used acid at the nail bed...it still grew back.  Did you not find the numbing shots to be incredibly painful?  I am glad yours resolved and VERY MUCH appreciate your having written back.  Thanks!