This is the gruesome moment a man had toenails removed to treat a severe fungal infection he’d suffered with for 25 years.
In scenes filmed for new medical series, The Bad Foot Clinic airing tonight at 9pm on Really, Craig, from York, went to see leading podiatrist Marion Yau and her husband Dr Kenny in their London clinic.
In stomach-churning footage Craig can be seen receiving fourteen numbing injections into his toes before seven toenails were extracted.
For the past 25 years, the newly-engaged Craig put up with a severe fungal foot infection caused by his days in the army, where he developed a mild trench foot condition.
He said: ‘My feet smell disgusting, enough to clear a room. I’m engaged to my partner Linsey, we’re hoping to get married next summer, if I don’t get my feet sorted, I’ll have to wear boots on my wedding day. It makes me feel really sad.’
As Craig and Marion discussed the impact on day-to-day life, he said: ‘It can be difficult because it affects my confidence in getting my feet out. My fiancé gets quite frustrated, that I won’t go anywhere with them.’
After discussing the impact of Craig’s condition, Marion was more motivated than ever to see Craig walk down the aisle in a pair of formal wedding shoes.
At first Marion gave her formal diagnosis, saying: ‘You definitely have a fungal infection, you can see the yellow discolouration in the nails, the thickening of the nails.’
She went on to explain the treatment options, saying: ‘There is cutting it back, then there is laser treatment, I think it’s too severe for it to work to be honest. Then there is nail surgery.
‘The point of nail surgery is to remove the nail and then see how they grow back, and I think it’s definitely worthwhile.’
As Marion began the treatment, she brought out the needle to numb Craig’s toes before removing the toenails from the nail bed.
She said: ‘The worst part of nail surgery is actually the injection of local anaesthetic. We have so many nerve endings in our toes to feel the ground, and when we put that needle in its really, really painful.’
Wincing, Craig held on to Marion’s assistant, Stephanie, squeezing her hand as the needle threaded in and out of each toe with the anesthetic.
‘I’m just going underneath the nail, and I’m just popping it out,’ stated Marion as she removed Craig’s toenails.
Craig said: ‘You can hear that kind of crunchy noise. It’s almost like torture, except I don’t feel the pain!’
Fourteen injections and seven toenails later, Craig left Marion’s practice to rest and heal.
Three and a half months later, Marion checked in on Craig’s progress post treatment, where the improvement had been remarkable.
He said: ‘My nails have been really good since you removed them, there’s no sign of any infection coming back, the athlete’s foot is completely gone. Since having the infected nails out, my toes look normal!’
‘I’ve got normal feet, normal nails, could wear normal shoes, and there’s no pain – which is the main thing. I appreciate all the treatment and support!’
Craig revealed he is now more confident to show off his feet and is planning a day out to find his new wedding shoes.
The Bad Foot Clinic, Wednesdays from 20 March, 9pm on Really and available to stream on discovery+.
