A student has shared the harrowing experience of having an ingrown toenail that ended up being surgically removed at the cost of £4,000.

When Maya Levinson, 22, first felt her nail in pain, she didn’t think too much of it – having suffered from the issue off and on for two years.

After several attempts to remove the uninvited inconvenience proved fruitless, having visited the doctor multiple times and paying for the pleasure, she decided to simply leave it.

But the Boost Juice worker would soon regret this decision as an infection began to fester.

Taking to TikTok to warn others, Maya’s story has racked up 3.8 million views and 323.6K likes.

“I went [to a doctor] twice and they didn’t seem that invested in my toenail,” she told NeedToKnow.co.uk.

“I did get prescribed some antibiotics initially and the developing infection seemed to subside but it didn’t help the actual toenail.

“After leaving it for nearly two years I had made a habit every night of getting tweezers and scissors and try to pull it out [myself].”

The toenail had even become a bit of a joke among her and her friends.

It was only when her friend Josie showed a picture to her own podiatrist, [of Maya’s toenail] that things suddenly things became serious.

She said: “All my white blood cells were trying to fight off the infection so I was also getting sick a lot.

“When my friend told me what her podiatrist said I went to a good general practitioner who referred me to a specialist.

“I went in to see the specialist and he put me down for an immediate surgery.

“He was stunned I had left it for so long.

“I went to the private hospital where they put me under general anaesthesia.”

The surgery cost $8,000 AUD (£4,000) and Maya was even told her toe might have been amputated, had the infection been left to fester further.

She said: “The surgery took around an hour.

“I remember being knocked out and waking up with a giant bandage on my entire foot and it was completely numb.

“I now have a healthy-looking toe and haven’t had any issues.”

“My biggest advice would be to address it immediately and save some big money.

“Luckily the healthcare system in Australia got me some money back.

“I was also off work for two weeks as I was on crutches for the recovery.

“ It is now a running joke in my life about the time I had surgery on my toe.”

Social media users have been left stunned by the story, with people rushing to comment on the incident.

One person commented: “How did you ignore it though? Like did it not hurt at any point before then?”

Marissa added: “Lol that happens to me, Except it was a year, it was the worst pain of my life.” [sic]

Kenzie wrote: “Mine was ignored for so long my toe turned purple.”

“I walk weirdly because I had it for so long,” said another person.

“I need to see, mines been infected for 3 years and the doctor said I’ll have to get plastic surgery but I am not paying $2k to get a toe fixed,” added someone else.

ENDS

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