One of my big toenails is 3rd generation. Lost the first one in grade school by dropping a manhole cover on it. The second time it was something silly in the shower with the drain . It is now very thick. I use a dremmell tool to grind it down a few times a year.
I'm still limber enough to be able to put my toes on the bathroom sink to clip my nails and dry between the toes every morning.
I know that it's possible to kill nail roots. I had a sliver of the other big toe nail removed. He basically cut the nail down the inside to the root to narrow it a bit & keep it from becoming ingrown all the time. Surprisingly little pain. Soft shoes for a few days. I'd think twice about removing your entire nail however. Google that one. There's free medical advice on everytrhing!