chronic toenail injury - Nail Problems Message Board

darlene003 · 08-24-2007, 07:17 PM

My big toenail first got injured 18 months ago. It was red and painful all around the nail on the skin for a few days, then the nail became dark red, then it became yellow and about 75% detached. As it started to grow out, it got injured again, with the same cycle... red on the skin, then dark red on the nail, then it becomes detached, yellow, grows out. The injuries usually take up about 1/2-2/3 of the nail.

I saw a podiatrist. He sent a sample to the lab and says it is not fungus. However, it is so sensitive to injury that all I have to do is wear shoes that touch my nail at the surface (not at the tip, as it hardly ever gets long enough to look normal) and it becomes injured (same cycle). It grew out completely one time, but then a few weeks later was injured again. I would estimate that it goes through this cycle monthly.

Any ideas on what it could be?

Marti · 08-31-2007, 05:02 PM

It could possibly be the type of shoes you are wearing, sports you may participate in, or paronychia infection of the nail folds, or any number of things. If this is a constant repetitive injury, you might want to consider having the nail permanently removed. This way the skin would harden and end up protecting your toe instead of the nail protecting your toe.

darlene003 · 09-01-2007, 05:28 PM

Thanks for the response. I guess I need to go back to the doctor - a different one.

Darlene