Kinda gross - need advice. My poor toe!

[septbride2002]

After the marathon I noticed that my right toe (what would be considered the index I guess) was black. When I got home I cut the nail and blood shot out from underneath it. The nail pretty much looks dead. What has me freaking out is that under the nail I have a big hole filled with blood! So I drained it last night and put some Neosporen on it. Well this morning it was filled with blood again! Anyone ever have this happen to them?

I really want to keep an eye on this since I heard that it takes forever for injuries on a toe to heal due to blood circulation.

~Amanda

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It's normal to lose a toenail--it will grow back. I've lost a toenail--we've had a few Team in Training Teammates with the black toes--once the underside heals--the top toe nail will be ready to come off-a new one will grow in its place.

Sorry to hear about your poor toe. Just care for it as is and allow it to do all the work. I wouldn't go draining it anymore.

Completely normal, though

 

[DoeWDW]

Oh Amanda, I'm so sorry about your toe!! I never experienced the black toe thing myself. I did have to drain a couple normal blisters and the area felt much better afterward, but no blood.

If you're having a lot of pain and/or swelling, I'd say go to the doc's - you don't want an infection to get out of hand. However, if it's just ugly looking, your body will probably take care of it just fine - I'd say wait a week and see if it's getting better.

Best wishes for a quick recovery!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If you're having a lot of pain and/or swelling, I'd say go to the doc's - you don't want an infection to get out of hand. However, if it's just ugly looking, your body will probably take care of it just fine - I'd say wait a week and see if it's getting better.

Best wishes for a quick recovery!

That's a good point--since you did drain it, keep an eye out and do see a doctor if necessary.

 

[sap1227]

I think I may have this same problem, I am just too scared to take the polish off and look at my toe. It feels like the nail is going to pop off at any second.
YUCK!
Christy

 

[ohMom]

i too have a 'purple toe' i have had before, this time it's worse. i think best to let it go - it's bruised. evansmom (marathon experienced) commented to me it could've been the hills and/or a shoe tied too tight. my shoes were fine, same ones i always wear, same socks, etc. definately watch for infection and amanda take your polish off -- that's what mom told me, best to let it have air to help prevent infection

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think I may have this same problem, I am just too scared to take the polish off and look at my toe. It feels like the nail is going to pop off at any second.
YUCK!
Christy

And if you leave it alone--my toe grew a "temporary" nail so that when the top finally did pop off--I didn't have exposed skin. This happened about 2 months ago and I am jus tnow seeing the ridge of the new permanent toenail coming back in.

 

[Tinks]

Don't be surprised if it seems like forever to get your new toenail. It could take many months. What a bummer!

I have a dark toenail, too, but it's not too bad. "They" say to buy running shoes at least one size larger than your regular shoe. It gives you more room in the toe box to prevent this type of injury.

Congratulations on the race! Take care of your tootsies!

 

[MelanieC]

My left big toe is all black too. I think mostly because of stubbing my toe when I fell down the "Contemporary Hill". Some of it is from the rubbing from my shoes. The right big toe is slightly sore but luckily didn't turn colors. It just feels sore when I touch the nail.

I had this same problem when I was increasing my mileage last month, except it was the 2nd toe on each foot. I'll have to try different shoes from a good running store and see if that helps.

Right now my toe is so sore. It seems to have gotten worse with each passing day. The pain switched from the nail and now the part on the skin below where the tonail starts hurts. It actually feels like it's pounding. I had to go to work today and my shoes are killing me. I wish I would have brought slippers or something. Tomorrow I will bring slippers or my shoes I wore after the marathon and just add socks.

I hope it gets better soon!

 

[sap1227]

And if you leave it alone--my toe grew a "temporary" nail so that when the top finally did pop off--I didn't have exposed skin. This happened about 2 months ago and I am jus tnow seeing the ridge of the new permanent toenail coming back in.

From your lips to my toes. I did take the polish off and they are a little purple, but not too bad.

I first felt it when we were running down Contemp hill, and it HURT!

Christy

 

[TammyNC]

I have a couple of sore toes, especially the one right beside my big toe on each feet. I still have polish on mine as we are still at WDW. I think I'll just wait until we get home to take it off. I have been padding those toes before going to the parks each day. I hope everyone's feet feel better soon. Hugs to you all.

 

[AKASnowWhite]

I too have an unwanted souvenier from the race! On my left foot, the second toe (you know, the little piggy that stayed home toe..... ) my nail is completely blackened and will without a doubt fall off! The good news is that after the race my toe was quite swollen and a very odd purple color...that has subsided...but I'm sure glad it will be a while before "bare feet and sandle weather" hits New England

 

[MelanieC]

They may not fall off though. My two "little piggies" (the second toe on each foot) were black after my 8 mile walk back in December. They are slowing getting back to normal and I don't think they will fall off. Not sure what will happen to my big toe that hurt.

I was reading a book today that said its caused by the foot hitting the front of your shoe because they are too small and the blood pulls under the nail. He said the best way to buy shoes is with the socks you will run/walk in and do it in the afternoon after a long walk when your feet are swollen.

 

[pixiedust27]

I feel like a little bit of an expert on this subject -- I lost 2 toenails while training for the marathon and then while I was running the marathon another one bit the dust.
I went to the Dr. for the 1st 2 and she basically removed the dead nail from my toe. Then later on the rest of the dead part just fell off (sorry, I know that this is gross). What she told me to do (and believe it or not it REALLY helped) was to soak my feet in Epsom salts for at least 30 minutes each night. Then carefully dry your toe and apply neosporin and a bandaid. Also, she told me to put A&D ointment (yup, the diaper rash stuff) on my toes and heels before putting on socks to run/walk in. I got my toenail issues not because my shoes were too small but because the toe box was wasn't high enough and they were actually a little too big. I'd bought them big because my feet swell when I run but then my toes were slamming into the front of my shoe. So I ended up going down half a size (which is still bigger than my normal shoe size though).
I hope your toes feel better! Try the epsom salts -- I thought it was crazy but it helped me so much.

 

[sap1227]

Well, this must be the weekend to lose the toenails. I know OhMom postes one of hers fell off and the same just happened to me :-(.

YUCK!

 

[littlegreydonkey]

I always think your first black toenail is a mark of achievement, made me feel like a real runner!! I tend to get them after races (as I run faster) on courses with lots of downhills. Don't have much to add except to say that they don't always fall off, sometimes they just go back to normal. And that if they are going to fall off it doesn't happen soon (I blackened one set end of October 2003 and they fell of the night before the Disney race 2004! - how sad is it that I know that). You'll generally know though as they're thicker at the top than the bottom as they grow - like an acrylic when it grows out. My favourite (?!) thing of the whole toenail experience though, the first night after a race where your muscles are fine, your lungs are fine and you slide into bed ready for a lovely night's sleep and even sheets resting on your toenails hurt, strangely enough I never get enough sympathy for that one!

 

[pixiedust27]

My favourite (?!) thing of the whole toenail experience though, the first night after a race where your muscles are fine, your lungs are fine and you slide into bed ready for a lovely night's sleep and even sheets resting on your toenails hurt, strangely enough I never get enough sympathy for that one!

You have my sympathy! When I damaged my first toenail I couldn't fall asleep that night because of the same problem! I finally ended up having to hang my foot out from under the sheets so I could fall asleep.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

How does this happen? From running?

 

[TammyNC]

I still have my two black nails. I keep wondering if I'm going to lose them. They are not sore thank goodness, just not looking real pretty. I am glad it isn't sandle weather.

Thanks for the tips that I just picked up, I'll have to remember those. It has been amazing how much I have learned from my first experience of doing a 1/2 and reading everyone else's tips too. I hope that I can just remember everything for the next one.

 

[maryliz]

YUCK is right, Christy! Both of my big toes seem to have "dead toenail" on top, and I "think" that a new one is growing underneath. About every week or so, after a bath, I try to cut away any of the loose stuff and I'm working my way towards the top of the toenail. The "dead stuff" is now about the top half of each of the 2 big toes. Luckily, they are not painful.

DH commented on the looks of them so I just told him that it's merely a price to pay for "being an ATHLETE"

MaryLiz