Toe issues

[runningwild]

Looking for advice on how to deal with a seriously bruised toenail bed. My big toes is swollen and really bruised under the nail, but also right down into the cuticle.  Went to the doc on Monday and she figures I should just leave it alone.  It hurts like hell...I don't care if I lose the nail, but would love to be able to put shoes on!!  Flip flops are no good for running in!!

Any advice?

Cheers,
 Stephanie

[Rhonda]

Just wanted to mention that you still ran a great 1/2 marathon with that sore toe.

[Sandy]

I think your Doc is right.  The only other thing you could do is if there is fresh blood under the nail to drill a hole in the nail and drain it OR go from under the nail and drain it.  If it is not fresh blood then cut the nail as short as tolerable so it doesn't catch on anything and as it grows continue to keep the nail short.  It will behave like a bruise and will hurt less as time goes by, it is just agravated and raw from it's newness.

BTW ditto what Rhonda said...congratulations!!!!!

[Lisa C]

Sandy you scare me.

[runningwild]

Well, I ended up trimming the toenails down as low as I could, and managed to drain a bunch of fluid out, so the swelling is gone and it feels much better.  It feels like the nail is totally detached from my toe, and just holding on for dear life at the cuticle!

Not sure if I should just leave it alone or what.  I tried to go out for a run today, and it was super uncomfortable.

Oh, and thanks Rhonda!  I had a blast and was just glad my back didn't give me a hard time.  I'll take a screwed up toe over a back issue any day!!

[Rhonda]

Rip it off quick like a band aid.

[Newt]

Rhonda, "Rip it off quick, Like a bandAid", I cringed just reading that. But then I'm a bit of a softie. 

Maybe, Stephanie you should take up Barefoot running, certainly sounds better than the toenail issues you're having. Then, you also have the excuse of doing short runs for a few months to get your body accustomed to running that way. 

This running stuff sounds a lot like some sort of cultural cult where self inflicted torture is looked upon as some sort of utopian goal. To me it all sounds completely cruel, you couldn't pay a sane person to do that sort of stuff to themselves.   

Peace
Peter

[Sandy]

You're funny Peter.

Don't rip it off, it's like a loose baby tooth, it will come off it's own time...although you'd have a great story to tell, maybe even a movie!    If it's particularily painful try holding it in place with a bandaid or medical tape just so you don't get that slight back and forth movement of it and wear open toed shoes or shoes with roomy toe boxes.

As beneficial to erdicating overuse injuries as barefoot running has the potential for, the majority of injuries we are seeing with barefoot and Vibram Five finger use is in fact damage to nail beds, ends of digits etc. I would suggest looking at hydration and electrolyte usage. 

[Jon]

I can't resist.... Did somebody say, TOE ISSUES??? 

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/n3g9NavvCso" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/n3g9NavvCso</a>

[April]

Mmmmm 

[runningwild]

Wow Jon...that was intense!  I am happy to say my feet did not look that bad, although the fluid leaking out was similar. 

Is it possible that my shoes are a bit too small?  Someone mentioned to me that she started wearing Mizuno's a half size bigger after being at an 8.5 for ages.  Just a thought.

[NancyR]

Ditto April!!! 

Nancy

[Sandy]

It's possible.

Good to hear from you Jon!!

[gimmeahorse]

OK - just out of curiosity - what causes you to lose the toenails? What do diabetic runners do (considering that whole circulation thing) - is it a concern???  Is it a fungus thing? (like athlete's foot?)

[Newt]

G'day Gimme,

I think for most runners it's just the toes hitting the end or top of their shoes for hours on end. Small impacts repeated over, and over and over and over. You get the idea.

Peace
Peter