My son has been occasionally complaining that his big toe hurts, and the skin there is cracked and peeling. I took him to the walk-in clinic today and the doctor told me I should take him tomorrow for an x-ray to make sure he doesn't have any piece of metal stuck into his toe. I was pretty shocked to hear this, as I assumed it was a fungal infection if anything. Now that he's said this, though, I suspect that he might have a hair splinter from the cats, which will not show up on an x-ray. I can't imagine how he could have stepped on a piece of metal that is now buried invisibly in his foot, especially since he isn't limping and only complains about it occasionally. I asked the doctor if it was something else stuck in his toe (not metal) what would happen and he said it would just work its way out. He didn't say what would happen if it is metal.

Given all this would you bother going for an x-ray? We can do it but it's going to be a hassle, my husband will have to take a day off work, etc. Or would you try the anti-fungal cream that we also got a prescription for and give it a week or so?