Do you see a doctor for a ingrown toenail?

For a long time i've had so much pain in my in my toes i though it was my shoes causing the pain i went through a lot of shoes then i showed my sis and she said it was gout i kept crying about it and she took a look it again and said it was ingrown toenail i nrver realized they were so painful what can i do with out going to doctor does anybody know what im talking about?