My Big Toenails are Detached...HELP!
Posted , 7 users are following.
About ten years ago I began to develop slight toenail fungus on one of my toenails. The nail thickened, and it looked as if debris was underneath the nail, but impossible to scrape out. It was part of the nail, and it was painful if I tried to cut it down or scrape it out.
Since then, I have been suffering from toenail fungus that has spread to 5 of my toenails, the worst being my two big toenails. Each of my big toenails are discolored and brittle. They are only attached at the cuticle, and are complete DETACHED from the actual nail bed to the point that I can put a toothpick all the way under. They get very sore and painful. Every so many months the toenails look like they are growing, and then I end up stubbing one of them and the toenail lifts up and bleeds very badly. This is horribly painful. It will be sore for about 3-4 days, and then I am able to cut it down to practically nothing. Debris collects under the big toenails, and if I scrape it out it has a bad odor.
Just last night I lightly stubbed my right big toe (lightly meaning that the average person with normal toenails probably would have shrugged off the stub) and I was immediately in excrutiating pain. Blood was pouring out from under the nail, and with each step I took blood would shoot out. I applied pressure to stop the bleeding, rinsed my toe with water, and went to bed in pain.
My questions pertaining to my problem are:
1.) What is this? Is there treatment for it? I went to doctor a few years ago, and he said he had never seen such a bad case in somebody so young. He prescribed Lamisil to me, however after doing my research I decided that my liver was more important to me than my toenails...but I do live in Florida and wear sandals all of the time, and am extremely embarassed of my condition.
2.) How should I go about cleaning my toenail once I do stub it? What should I use??
Any insight and/or feedback is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Painful Toes
1 like, 3 replies
katie.k.
Posted
I had identical problems with my toes many years ago - started off with just athletes foot (give to me by a longstanding boyfriend - nice!!) and then developed into a really horrible fungal infection which discoloured the toes. At that time there were only really topical treatments available which didn't work, and for many years I spent hours filing them and painting them and trying to keep them out of view - they were not a pretty sight ......yuk. And, like yours the whole big toe nail fell off
Then I heard about Lamisil and begged my GP to prescribe them. He was loathe to because they were really expensive, but I managed to twist his arm. After a week of taking them I could see a beautiful new nail growing through on each toe and this continued until they were all completely clear. Took about four months in all.
I must say I wasn't warned about liver damage and never read instructions anyway!! I would strongly recommend you take the drug (I'm sure your GP will agree to liver function tests to check) - and you will end up with lovely toes like mine!!
If the drug really was that damaging I am sure it would have been withdrawn by now. Your nails will not improve without treatment, but will just get progressively worse ... so I would definitely go for it!
FungusHumongus
Posted
Wow, I'm sorry to hear that you're going through this first of all. Toenail fungus is no joke, and getting rid of it is a serious commitment.
There are several options- Lamasil being among them- but I think the most important thing to keep in mind, no matter what method you decide, is that the process takes some time and to stick with it. Once I decided that the only way I was going to get over this thing was to buckle down and spend the time, it was a lot easier to just concentrate on being diligent in the treatment and stop worrying about how long it was going to take.
So yes, there are definitely a variety of treatment options out there. It really depends on you and how you feel comfortable doing it.
Surgically removing toenails is an option, but the nail doesn't always grow back. It kind of seems like a primitive method for dealing with toenail fungus at this point, just from the info I've gathered.
There are lacquers and oils, which need to be applied very diligently to the affected nails over a long period of time. An example of this is tea tree oil- a natural substance.
Another topical medication is called ciclopirox or Penlac™. You paint onto the infected nails and skin once a day, then after seven days removing with alcohol and reapplying.
I opted for the laser treatment which is relatively new (2008), but it did work. I read a Wall Street Journal article that talked about an 85% average success rate, which was encouraging (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704476604576158351630076320.html). I'm in London, so I had it done by a local chiropodist, but I know there are podiatrists who use this treatment throughout the states as well.
Lamisil and other oral medications are typically effective in I think 60% to 70% of cases, but there are possibilities of damaging your liver. For this reason, if you're general practitioner prescribes orals, you will have to get liver function tests throughout the treatment.
Obviously I didn't skimp on the research. I was tired of having the problem, and by the end of it my family was tired of articles I had printed out and laying everywhere.
Hope this will help if you haven't already gotten it taken care of (which I HOPE you have!!!).
Cheers!
mhel_46239 Guest
Posted
I am absolutely in the same situation as you. My toenail is now lift up from the nailbed and it seems like my nail is burying itself inwards which causes so much pain, I can't bear it anymore. The problem is I don't know who I can have a consultation with about this because I feel like it is getting bad now and very painful as well.
May I know if there is a way to pry it off myself or who can actually help do it for me in a less painful way and hopefully bloodless process. I am really scared now and I'm getting stressed by this so much. Also, did your toenail fell-off now, did you wait for it to fell-off or you seek help by a doctor to do it?
Hope you can help me please. Thank you very very much!