Last September I had a small round blackish green bump on my toenail that hurt. I couldn't remember but I must have injured it, you could feel the bump. Not too long after, right in that area, half the toenail cracked from left to right. The left side of the toenail was fine, however. I noticed above the crack the nail wasn't attached to the bed, however I decided to keep the nail on there since only half the toenail appeared affected and cared for it.
6 months later, the crack grew out. The problem is the nail didn't seem right, it still looked discolored and didn't seem to have attached to the nailbed. I noticed underneath the skin seemed thick. I also felt residual pain.
Last nite I trimmed it down and basically, half my toenail on the right side is gone. The skin seemed a little bit thick in a couple of areas so I thinned it down. No pain. It looks ugly, but maybe I can give it another fresh start. The shape of the nail now looks like the letter "L" was cut into it..i filed the nail so there were no areas that were going to snag or cut into my skin. Maybe wearing heels to work wasn't helping the bed heel properly.
I don't want to go to the doctor - I'm afraid they'll want to remove the whole entire nail (remember, half of it is still in good condition, well attached). A coworker had this done and was in agony and her toenail never grew back. I'm not sure if I should clean it with anything, the skin isn't raw, or how I should treat it. In any case, could it be anything other than an injury at this point, should I apply any antifungal treatment on it "Just in case"?
DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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In all honesty, I don't understand your comment that you don't want to go to the doctor who can determine what it is after an examination and what needs to be done because he/she might recommend something you don't want done, yet you have no problem soliciting an answer, which ostensibly you might act upon, from a doctor who cannot examine your foot or even worse, a non-doctor who likely knows absolutely nothing about it.
Your condition could be anything including but not limited to a primary nail disease, a systemic disease that might have as one of its symptoms nail deformity, a damaged nail due to injury, a subungual hematoma, a fungus infection, a subungual exostosis, an osteochondroma, or even a malignant bone growth or a melanoma, both of the later being potentially life-threatening. Which it is, if any of the above, can only reasonably be discerned by an actual examination. If you value the aesthetics of your toe, your comfort and even possibly your life, go see a doctor. If after you find out what it is you still do not wish whatever treatment is advised, that is your option, but at least you will know what you are risking.
Last edited by FootDoc; 17th August 2008 at 08:49 PM.
isn't the whole point of this msg board titled "ask your question here" to ask about your foot related problems for free advice? I'm not expecting to take someones diagnosis, only that others who may have more knowledge in this area or have had this before might be able to shed some light.
I'm really disappointed in this response. however i have found very helpful information elsewhere on the net.
Although many questioners have expectations beyond that which is reasonable, the legitimate purpose of forums such as this is for the dissemination of GENERAL information for educational purposes. The obtaining of information intended to relate to how any individual's case might be approached, including diagnoses which cannot responsibly be made without a hands-on examination is not a reasonable expectation. This and forums such as this are NOT substitutes for medical care, but are intended to attempt to give questioners a greater understanding of the general characteristics, potentials and principle of treatment of an already know diagnosis or advice as to how to appropriately obtain same.
The fact that you are disappointed with my previous response simply points out your overly zealous expectations of what can safely be made available without the benefit of an examination to questioners such as you. It may or may not be that the information you received elsewhere on the "net" will turn out to be helpful, but I am not prepared to risk your well-being with an opinion based on information other than that which I demand in my office and that which I assume you would, or as least should demand of a doctor whom who you had engaged in the normal manner and to whom you would pay a fee. I think, Susan, that especially in view of my offering my knowledge gratis, your closing remarks were exceptionally rude, and as such, they speak rather poorly of you.
__________________ Foot Doc
Last edited by FootDoc; 17th August 2008 at 11:09 PM.
I didn't feel my remarks were rude, it is how they were interpreted by the reader. What it does say about me is not the type of person I am, only that I am a person who was hoping for a response that would be helpful and instead I felt the response I had defeated the purpose of this board. Why have an open forum such as this if the response is simply going to be "go to the doctor". If it were serious, I would.
given i am young with a heart condition and have well spent my money this year in hospitals, i have things in perspective and honestly..it's just a toenail. i was only seeking some insight, and as for perception when i read the response i felt it was not empathetic nor helpful. I only hope other readers have gained shared knowledge with others on this forum
Perhaps you consider that a response of "Thanks for nothing," to someone who has attempted, for free, no less, to offer you what he believed the most appropriate response to your question is not rude. I emphatically disagree! I believe that I adequately answered as to the legitimate purpose of this forum, and that my original response to you was in keeping with such responsible criteria. As opposed to any lay person who might in good conscience offer any manner of response, even one based on totally incorrect information, in offering a professional response, I charge myself with the personal responsibility of staying within the boundaries of what is and what is not possible to determine in a forum venue where real-time interaction with the questioner and physical examination of the problem area are both impossible. I cited for you many possibilities as to what you might have, some of which were relatively benign and a couple which could be QUITE serious. If you are looking for forums where former patients who have experienced problems which they THINK may be like yours and give advice based on their entire experience of a single episode and which may, in fact, be more harmful than helpful, they are certainly to be found on the Internet . . just not here!
For goodness sake ! Honestly. I came to this site with a question of my own and found a pointless blabbering response from a so called doctor. Poor Susan gave a detailed explanation of her toe which as a women can be very embarrassing. Instead of receiving any sort of insight she was BLINDED WITH SCIENCE and then made to feel like an idiot for her honesty. If he had no advice at all why get his knickers in a twist simply because she wanted further insight BEFORE going to a doctor.
I totally agree with you Susan that I too thought going on this particular site would be beneficial. I have gone to doctors before and due to the fact that they do this every day they sometimes do not unfortunately give their patients the pro's and con's of a procedure. These sites are here for us to find out for ourselves what we are possibly in for when we get to a doctor.
Why then are you here doc if you cannot give a straight answer ???
I would expect that attempting to talk sense to you would be no more uselful than it was in the case of Susan. Therefore, the best I can do is to offer you your money back. I think that's MORE than fair. Try THAT with the next doctor you ACTUALLY pay for and with whom you are dissatisfied. I'm confident that such a situation is not new to YOU. How do you think I might know that?
No need to return my money (quite scary you think money ever exchanged hands between us). You are paid far more than you are worth here!
From what you have said leads me to believe that one or more of your patients have been dissatisfied with you and you are still reeling from the embarresment of them asking for their money back. I can assure you that I have spent tens of thousands with doctors and even though one procedure was very dissapointing due to the lack of advise I mentioned, I did not once ask for my money back. What I have learnt though was to find out the pro's and con's of any procedure before innocently relying on one doctor's advice.
The point of a forum is to promote discussion. I had every expectation that, with that spirit in mind I would find an open discussion of medical issues here.
You sir, need to invest in some etiquette. Then, possibly, you can elevate yourself and stop pouncing on people you try to imply are your inferiors.
Your drivel doesn't deserve a reply, and so I offer you nothing but my sympathy for your unhappiness which obviously transcends this issue. Our conversation is otherwise concluded.
There are docs all over the internet giving reasonable advice for many issues and NONE are rude to "questioners" nor do they continue to WHINE about giving "FREE" advise. This is a pompous podiatrist on a pedestal. I would actually make a contribution to this website in order that the admin actually hire a podiatrist to answer questions.
I have to laugh haha!! A pompous toe surgeon hahahahahahaha!!! Which do you specialise in, the left or the right toe? I nearly fell off my chair laughing and my fiance nearly wet herself and had to run to the toilet as she was in such hysterics hahahahaha!!! Maybe you can be a little pomous if you were a brain surgeon or heart surgeon or even a gyno, but TOE SURGEON, what's that? Hahahahahahahahahahahahha!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( You total twerp!)
Now give someone what they ask for without too much drivel drivel drivel or go take a walk off a short pier..
Santa's sledge broke down on Christmas Eve. He flagged down a passing motorist and asked, 'Can you help me fix my sledge?' 'Sorry,' the motorist replied. 'I'm not a mechanic - I'm a podiatrist.'
Dear Doc, I have just stubbed my toe really badly on my coffee table leg. It is bleeding and the nail has lifted. Should I see my local podiatrist or will it heal ok on it's own?
Oh s**t, forget it, I just read your replies to some others on this page. You're an idiot!
i came on here to find out whether i needed to see a dr cos my toenail has lifted,but i have to say,i laughed myself silly,mainly cos i dont see what the problem is with the answer by the doc,and the patients reactions,or rather OVER reactions were so hilarious,also because the second person to write in didnt get the sarcasm of being offered his money back,but mainly cos i am in england and i can go see my doctor for free.
Thanks for the laugh though,i feel so much better
Possible toenail Injury: Half came off
Re: Possible toenail Injury: Half came off
Re: Possible toenail Injury: Half came off
Re: Possible toenail Injury: Half came off
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