This is the horrific 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 Really, Craig, from York, went to see podiatrist Marion Yau and her husband Dr Kenny at their London clinic.
In stomach-churning footage, Craig can be seen receiving fourteen numbing injections into his toes before seven nails are extracted.
For the past 25 years, newly enlisted Craig suffered from a severe fungal foot infection caused by his years in the army, where he developed mild trench foot disease.
He said: “My feet smell foul, enough to empty a room. I am engaged to my partner Linsey, we hope to get married next summer, if I don’t get my feet sorted I will have to wear boots on my wedding day. This makes me really sad.
Craig, from York, had seven toenails removed to treat a serious fungal infection he has suffered for twenty-five years.
As Craig and Marion discussed the impact on daily life, he said: “It can be difficult because it affects my confidence in putting my feet out. My fiancé is very frustrated that he can’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.
Marion first made her formal diagnosis, saying: “You definitely have a fungal infection, you can see the yellowish discoloration of the nails, the thickening of the nails.”
She then explained the treatment options, saying: “There’s reduction, then there’s laser treatment, I think that’s too harsh for it to work, to be honest.” Then there is nail surgery.
“The goal of nail surgery is to remove the nail and then see how it grows back, and I think it’s definitely worth it.”
As Marion began the treatment, she took out the needle to numb Craig’s toes before removing the nails from the nail bed.
Stomach-aching images Craig receives fourteen numbing injections into his toes and seven nails are extracted
Craig went to see podiatrist Marion Yau at her London clinic to have his nails pulled from the nail bed in the hope of treating his fungal infection.
Marion first made her formal diagnosis saying: “You definitely have a fungal infection, you can see the yellowish discoloration of the nails, the thickening of the nails.”
She said: “The worst part of nail surgery is actually the local anesthetic injection. We have so many nerve endings in our toes to feel the ground, and when we put that needle in, it’s really, really painful.
Grimacing, Craig clung to Marion’s assistant, Stephanie, squeezing her hand as the needle went in and out of each toe with the anesthetic.
“I just go under the nail and just pop it out,” Marion said as she removed Craig’s nails.
Craig said: “You can hear this sort 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 office to rest and heal.
As Marion began the treatment, she took out the needle to numb Craig’s toes before removing the nails from the nail bed.
Podiatrist Marion Yau and her husband Dr Kenny (left) own a specialist foot clinic in London.
Three and a half months later, Marion checked on Craig’s progress after treatment, where the improvement had been remarkable.
He said: “My toenails have been doing really well since you removed them, there are no signs of the infection coming back, athlete’s foot is completely gone.” Since I had my infected toenails removed, my toes look normal!’
“I have normal feet, normal nails, I can wear normal shoes and I don’t feel any pain – which is the main thing. I appreciate all the treatment and support!’
Craig revealed he is now more confident in showing off his feet and is planning a day to find his new wedding shoes.
The Mauvais Pied Clinic, Wednesdays from 8 p.m. March, 9 p.m. on Really and available for streaming on Discovery+.