BootsnAll Travel Community

well, if you've read this far, then there is no need for me to apologize for such a gross topic.

i have a split that appeared across my big toenail (i originally hurt it five months ago). i tried to google for more info but seriously, the descriptions and (gross: photos) were very upsetting to me. all i got out of webmd is that -dont worry about it -it will take a year and a half for it to grow back. is this all i need to know?

-was your "nail bed" (just learned this word too) sensitive to the touch with the nail missing?
-did you try to hurry the process of the nail falling off?
-any other tips?

thanks,
zopa

Soak it in hydrogen peroxide.

Depends on how/where you split it...

I've split the side of my big toes nail before... Makes for difficult walking, as it was beside my shoe.

If you go to a drug store and look through the foot stuff they make elastic bands with pads that are helpful so it doent make you feel like your going to die each time you put a sock on.

I've heard that you can use super glue, if it isnt down to the nail bed and fill up the groove. But again, I've had problems with the sides, not across!

Painful stuff, toenails... Hope it gets to feeling better!

Hey Zopa,

I used to dance ballet, and those pointe shoes would wreak havoc on feet. For the life of me I can't remember how this happened (I find it hard to imagine it was strictly the pointe shoes - I must have dropped something on it also) but at one point, I had a gigantic black/blue/green bruise underneath the entire toenail on my big toe. It stayed that way for a while, and hurt, but eventually once the pain subsided, the whole toenail fell off. It was slightly tender to the touch w/ the nail missing, but it wasn't nearly as bad as you might imagine. And then it took about a year for it to be back to normal.

I really wouldn't try to hurry the process of the nail coming off - it seems best to let the body heal itself naturally!! If you take it off too early, there might still be unhealed skin underneath, which would be bad.

[same thing happened to both of my little toenails - I didn't have nails on either of those toes for part of a year!]

Make sure you protect that toe once tha nail falls off. There is a small area a point which starts the new nail growth. If that is permanently damaged then no nail. Now this is something my dad told me ..not sure if it was to scare me or whether its true.

quote:

Originally posted by Madhu:
Make sure you protect that toe once tha nail falls off. There is a small area a point which starts the new nail growth. If that is permanently damaged then no nail. Now this is something my dad told me ..not sure if it was to scare me or whether its true.

okay, this one was too cute. thanks, maddy. tell your dad he scared your cyberfriend zopa too!


thanks all. you've been real chums! since you've been so nice i will not post updates (photos) of my "situation".
-z