Stomach-churning moment as man gets seven toenails removed while The Bad Foot Clinic treats his 25-year fungal infection that smells so bad he could ‘clean a room’
This is the horrifying moment a man had his toenails removed to treat a serious fungal infection he had suffered for 25 years.
In scenes filmed for new medical series The Bad Foot Clinic, airing tonight at 9pm on Real, York-based Craig went to see leading podiatrist Marion Yau and her husband Dr. Kenny at their clinic in London.
Stomach-churning footage shows Craig receiving 14 numbing injections into his toes before having seven toenails removed.
For the past 25 years, newly engaged Craig has battled a serious fungal foot infection caused by his days in the military, where he developed mild trench foot disease.
He said: ‘My feet smell disgusting, enough to clear a room. I am engaged to my partner Linsey, we hope to get married next summer. If I don’t get my feet in order, I’ll have to wear boots on my wedding day. It makes me very sad.’
Craig, from York, had seven toenails removed to treat a serious fungal infection he has had for twenty-five years
As Craig and Marion discussed the impact on everyday life, he said: ‘It can be difficult because it affects my confidence in getting by. My fiancée is getting quite frustrated that I’m not going 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 made her formal diagnosis and said: ‘You definitely have a fungal infection, you see the yellow discolouration of the nails, the thickening of the nails.’
She explained the treatment options and said: ‘You have to cut it back, then there’s a laser treatment, I think it’s too serious to work to be honest. Then there’s nail surgery.
“The purpose of nail surgery is to remove the nail and then watch them grow back, and I think it’s definitely worth it.”
When Marion started the treatment, she took out the needle to numb Craig’s toes before removing the toenails from the nail bed.
The stomach-churning images Craig is given fourteen anesthetic injections in his toes and seven toenails are removed
Craig went to leading podiatrist Marion Yau at her London clinic to have his toenails pulled from the nail bed in the hope of treating his fungal infection
At first Marion made her formal diagnosis and said: ‘You definitely have a fungal infection, you see the yellow discoloration in the nails, the thickening of the nails’
She said: ‘The worst part of nail surgery is actually injecting local anesthetic. We have so many nerve endings in our toes that we can feel the ground, and when we stick that needle in, it’s really, really painful.”
Shivering, Craig held Marion’s assistant, Stephanie, and squeezed her hand as the needle with the anesthetic jabbed in and out of each toe.
“I’ll just go under the nail and I’ll just take it out,” Marion said as she removed Craig’s toenails.
Craig said, “You can hear that kind of crunchy sound. It’s almost like torture, except I don’t feel the pain!’
Fourteen injections and seven toenails later, Craig left Marion’s office to rest and heal.
When Marion started the treatment, she took out the needle to numb Craig’s toes before removing the toenails from the nail bed.
Leading podiatrist Marion Yau and her husband Dr. Kenny (left) have a specialist foot clinic in London
Three and a half months later Marion inquired about Craig’s progress after treatment, where the improvement had been remarkable.
He said: ‘My nails have been very good since you removed them, there is no sign of an infection coming back, the athlete’s foot is completely gone. Since I removed the infected nails, my toes look normal!’
‘I have normal feet, normal nails, I can wear normal shoes and I have no pain – that’s the most important thing. I appreciate all the treatment and support!’
Craig revealed he now feels more confident showing off his feet and is planning a day out to find his new wedding shoes.
The Bad Foot Clinic, Wednesday from 8 p.m March, 9pm on Real and available to stream on Discovery+.