What to have ready for the call.
Before contacting a clinic, note which toe and nail edge is sore, when it began, what you have noticed, whether it has changed, and any relevant health conditions or medicines. If you have diabetes or peripheral arterial disease, obtain clinician advice before trimming a problem nail yourself.
A callback request is not a diagnosis, prescription, referral, laboratory requisition, document, payment, or confirmed appointment. The clinic reviews the concern and may recommend another setting.
When an examination, testing, or another setting may be needed.
This guide cannot decide whether it is safe to wait or which care setting is right for an individual concern. Some concerns need an in-person examination, testing, or another setting. If you are unsure where to go, contact an appropriate in-person healthcare professional or care setting for individual guidance. Use prompt in-person care if you are concerned about worsening symptoms.
Know when not to wait.
Call 911 for a medical emergency. For increasing pain, swelling, warmth, redness, streaking, pus, or fever, seek prompt in-person care. If you have diabetes or peripheral arterial disease, obtain clinician advice before trimming a problem nail yourself.
Virtual care is not appropriate for every concern. If your symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening, or may be an emergency, use emergency services or immediate in-person care instead of waiting for a callback.
Common questions about sore nail edge or possible ingrown toenail.
What should I have ready when I contact a clinic?
Be ready to describe the toe and nail edge involved, when the concern started, changes you have noticed, and relevant health conditions or medicines.
Can I use this page to tell whether I have an ingrown toenail?
No. This is general preparation and care-navigation information, not a diagnosis. A clinician can consider the information you share.
Will a virtual conversation be the right setting?
The clinic decides whether a virtual conversation or another setting may fit after considering the information available to them.
When should I seek in-person care promptly?
Seek prompt in-person care for increasing pain, swelling, warmth, redness, streaking, pus, or fever.
What if I have diabetes or peripheral arterial disease?
Obtain clinician advice before trimming a problem nail yourself.
Non-emergency request
Request a doctor call today.
For people physically in Alberta with a valid Alberta Health Care card. After a completed form submitted between 8 AM and 10 PM Mountain Time, a doctor usually calls back within 60 minutes. This is not a guaranteed callback, appointment, or live wait time. Requests submitted outside that window are reviewed by the clinic, but do not have a 60-minute or same-day callback promise. If your concern cannot wait, use appropriate in-person care; call 911 for a possible emergency.