Toe problem - Health + Injury

Long Legs

14/08/2002 at 07:49

A few months ago I had to stop abruptly while running, I know I should take it easy when going around corners but....
Anyway, I am now faced with losing by big toe nail, and since I am still wearing sandals, has anyone got any good suggestions for disguising my lost toe nail.

fat girl slim

14/08/2002 at 09:35

If the nail is off, then you can just paint the top of the toe with nail varnish, as if there was a nail there. Might be an idea to go over the nail bed with a file/pumice first, just to smooth it over.

If you still have the nail, then cut as much off as you can, file it, and paint on a normal shaped nail.

I am of course assuming that you are a female Lyn!

Colchester Coyote

14/08/2002 at 09:36

Yes, Lyn is a female :)

Redhead

14/08/2002 at 13:05

Hey Lyn,

You can buy an acrylic nail builder which you could try (they use them in Nail Bars and I've seen them for sale in Boots) or stick on nails - although you probably wouldn't want to buy a full packet.

Susie

Long Legs

16/08/2002 at 08:23

Thanks for the suggestions, I will let you know what I do. I dont want to do anything that will halt the growth or spoil the nail bed.
The nail is still hanging on at the moment, but I think it wont be long before it is off.

Colchester Coyote

16/08/2002 at 10:22

Just to add to this thread!!! I finally got fed up with one of my toenails that went black after the Southend Half in June last night, and it had to come off, so now I am down to 8.5 toe nails. Less weight to carry around I guess :)

Paul

Bullington Bird

24/07/2003 at 18:31

Lost both big toenails in the great south last september.....its taken until now for them to grow back..

David Freedman

30/04/2004 at 12:19

I am building up my running for the first time in 14 years, have reached 75 mins but when I run 60+ mins my middle toes get very sore and the toe nails get bruised, and I can't then run for a couple of days. Any advice?

Helen Alexander 3

03/05/2004 at 22:51

Dear david the same thing happened to me but I have gradually built up over the last year and can now do around 18 miles (3 hrs) without really hurting my middle toes, I seem to get a blister under the nail which leads to it eventually falling off, I find it very painful, and changing shoes has not helped, does anyone have any ideas i have tried two pairs of socks and vaseline and using plasters to try to cushion. no luck

slow but happy

19/05/2004 at 13:18

Did anyone ever discover whether there was such a thing as a false/acrylic toe nail?? My big one is about to fall off after London Marathon and I can't face the summer looking at my scabby nail bed!

bottleofbolly

02/09/2004 at 21:04

I lost my nails from running and a fungal infection - nice!! Couldn't face the summer with stumps so my local nail salon put on acrylic extensions - just like the finger nail ones - they looked great all summer - now my infection has gone after 6 months of lamasil - be warned keep taking it til the very last bit of black has gone, or else it will come back. Doctors don't like to keep prescribing it cos it's expensive - but put your foot down for repeat prescriptions.
Now due to new trainers, mine are all black again -thank goodness sandal days have gone!!

slow but happy

03/09/2004 at 11:26

Hi bottle of Bolly(love that name, shame its taken now - it rather suits me!)Great to hear that you can get artificial toe nails - a little too late for me now as I have spent the whole summer looking at my scabby nail bed, filed down and painted. my big toenail has almost grown back - I reckon it will be a full 7 months until it is back to normal.

Sarcy

04/09/2004 at 16:20

Ooh, toenails - one of my favourites.

Have yoiu tried getting shoes 1/2 a size bigger than normal? As you run your foot swells resulting in your toes bumping the front of the shoe hence the bruising and falling off of the nail.

slow but happy

05/09/2004 at 09:16

I've done the extra half size and in general it has worked and my toenails tend to stay on my toes. I think this years problem in the London Marathon was that as it was raining torrentially for the whole 4 hours that I was running plus the 2 ish hours spent hanging around beforehand my feet were sodden and slipping around in my trainers more than they would do normally. Not to worry, 2 of them are totally back and I'm just waiting for my big toe nail to recover completely!

David Freedman

05/09/2004 at 09:34

Toe nails are interesting. What I found helped initially was doing my running shoes up differently by keeping the lacing a little looser around the toes but keeping the same tension further up, this might be worth trying before spending money on a new pair of shoes half a size larger. But what really helped was getting an inflamed bursar on my left hip that prevented running for months (even walking was painful) which has meant biking everywhere and biking at the gym too. Re fungal infections: yes, it is a very slow process and, yes, you must apply the ointment until the doctor says it is clear but a sensible doctor should send clippings away for analysis first in order to prescribe correctly. Enjoy the September sunshine!

bottleofbolly

05/09/2004 at 12:11

I got new trainers from a proper running shop in the hope they are the correct fit - I think they are - I'll try lacing them up as you suggested. I've just done 9.5 miles this morning and not a twinge or a blister in the foot region, so perhaps its just a case of getting used to a new pair of trainers and bedding them in. Wish I could say the same for my knees though!!!
Re fungal infections - the paint on stuff doesn't clear it - don't spend money on it - lamasil tablets are the only cure - they do have side effects - headaches - is one of the main and once you start taking them all the infected area turns black (nice) but they do work - just be patient cos it takes months to clear totally.
What a subject!!

David Freedman

05/09/2004 at 23:53

bottleofbolly. Just to explain when I said make the laces looser at the toe end what I did. I then stretched the parts of the shoe out at the toe end so that my toes had a bit more room for manouvre but at the same time kept the lacing width the same for the rest of my foot and it just seemed to give my toes that bit more space without going into a longer shoe, which I did not need. The other thought is that with my wide feet I wear New Balance because the shoes come in 3 width fittings. Here is not the place for your knees and my hip, but maybe they could get together!!

Theresa Smith

07/09/2004 at 20:44

Hi what a lot of nail probs out there! I ripped my big toe nail out moving furniture ouch. At A+E they injected the toe 3 times, re-bedded the nai and taped it down. I was told it would take about 6 weeks to heal and that i should trim the damaged nail as it grows. I havent been able to run since and only just today have been able to walk in trainers. Could anyone out there tell me when i should be able to start running again without damaging or dislodging the nail??

My 1st time on the forum and ive decided runners are indeed crazy people!

Cheers everyone
Tez

Fatkat

10/09/2004 at 12:46

Finally found the subject I was after....my 2nd toes (next to big ones) both got blisters under the nails after a 10k run and after I'd only been running for a few months - one went black ish but has stayed on and the other one definately was due to come off...in fact I have cut it back and painted the nail bed !!
My shoes were fitted properly and are 1/2 size bigger than more normal ones - but i do now run with plasters and a gel toe cap (from Boots) to give them added protection. Anyone know how long the toe nail will take to grow back...as it's only little !! ??

Bod

10/09/2004 at 13:54

I also find that if you put you're socks on tight then you can also cuase toenail blackening - next time leave 1/2 inch excess at toes to give wiggle room