ttoe
10-21-2008, 01:09 AM
Here is my big toenail history (first, I had perfectly normal and healthy toes before the injury):
1. Mid July: big toe hit rock. At the time nothing unusual seen, just somewhat painful, not too much.
2. A few days later: bruise and blood under nail. After squeezing out the blood, there was liquid under the nail. Podiatrist used needle to punch a few holes to let out the liquid through the holes. After that, I used band-aid to wrap the toenail (following the dr.'s advice). Also applied bacitracin zinc ointment (antibiotic cream) when wrapped with band-aid.
3. Early-mid August: started swimming and used public swimming facility (used towels provided there to dry my toe).
4. About late August or early September, I noticed my toenail very very thick, discolored (light brown + black/blue), and the upper half was separted from the nail bed. Also, near the root there is a ridge or indent, above which the nail becomes thick.
At that time, I thought this was just due to the injury, didn't even think of fungus. Now I have been able to cut off the upper part of my nail since it's separted from the nail bed. What's left in the upper part is a think layer of keratin (not soft flesh). There are a little dark color in the corner, maybe the old bruise.
What I am interested to know is: are these--thickness, discoloring and nail separating from nail bed--necessarily fungus? They certainly are consistent with fungus symptoms, but is it also possible they are the result of the injury? Could injury cause such, too? Could fungus develop and progress so rapidly--from initial injury to whole nail discolored and thickened etc., it took just about 6 weeks?
What's more likely and what should I do? Thanks for your time!
1. Mid July: big toe hit rock. At the time nothing unusual seen, just somewhat painful, not too much.
2. A few days later: bruise and blood under nail. After squeezing out the blood, there was liquid under the nail. Podiatrist used needle to punch a few holes to let out the liquid through the holes. After that, I used band-aid to wrap the toenail (following the dr.'s advice). Also applied bacitracin zinc ointment (antibiotic cream) when wrapped with band-aid.
3. Early-mid August: started swimming and used public swimming facility (used towels provided there to dry my toe).
4. About late August or early September, I noticed my toenail very very thick, discolored (light brown + black/blue), and the upper half was separted from the nail bed. Also, near the root there is a ridge or indent, above which the nail becomes thick.
At that time, I thought this was just due to the injury, didn't even think of fungus. Now I have been able to cut off the upper part of my nail since it's separted from the nail bed. What's left in the upper part is a think layer of keratin (not soft flesh). There are a little dark color in the corner, maybe the old bruise.
What I am interested to know is: are these--thickness, discoloring and nail separating from nail bed--necessarily fungus? They certainly are consistent with fungus symptoms, but is it also possible they are the result of the injury? Could injury cause such, too? Could fungus develop and progress so rapidly--from initial injury to whole nail discolored and thickened etc., it took just about 6 weeks?
What's more likely and what should I do? Thanks for your time!
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Marti
10-22-2008, 09:39 AM
Fungus is characterized by a yellowish discoloration, apparent nail plate separation and thickening with apparent debris in the area of separation.
Pseudomonas bacterial infection is characterized by a green to brown to black discoloration and nail plate separation with some thickening. Since it is now black, I suspect Pseudomonas bacteria. See your podiatrist for a proper diagnosis and treatment. If bacterial, it will only get worse.
Pseudomonas bacterial infection is characterized by a green to brown to black discoloration and nail plate separation with some thickening. Since it is now black, I suspect Pseudomonas bacteria. See your podiatrist for a proper diagnosis and treatment. If bacterial, it will only get worse.
ttoe
10-22-2008, 01:49 PM
Marti, thank you for your reply. About the color, I don't think there is any green, it's sort of uneven among blue/purple/yellow/brown (the dark part may be close to "black" but not exactly black color). What do you think the horizontal ridge near the root? Caused by injury or infection? Do either bacterial or fungus infection cause such ridges?
Also (if I may): how fast do bacterial infections and fungus infections develop, respectively? (which one is a closer match to my timeline?)
Are bacterial infections contagious like fungal ones?
Many thanks for your time!
Also (if I may): how fast do bacterial infections and fungus infections develop, respectively? (which one is a closer match to my timeline?)
Are bacterial infections contagious like fungal ones?
Many thanks for your time!