Toe Nail question

[bstiff]

I don't know if anyone has had to deal with this before. I was walking up the stairs when I missed a step catching the edge of my big toe nail on the stair. This had the effect of breaking it in the middle and and tearing it loose from the nail bed from the inside edge to the middle, the rest of it is still attached. Right now I can get away with wearing sandal now since Im off, but Im thinking closed shoes and socks are going to be a problem with a giant bloody hang nail. Anyone have to do any nail repair? Could I glue it down with something and let it grow out? If it was closer to the edge, I could probably just pull the thing off if the tear didn't go into the middle of the nail bed.

[TheKeck]

I am shuddering uncontrollably.

I don't have an answer for you. Sorry. :(

[Goronmon]

There's a few options and it's tough without being able to see anything.


You can bandage it up a bit and leave it. It will eventually grow through the break.

You can use some toe-nail clippers to cut off the damaged areas of the nail and then cover with a bandaid until it heals up a bit.

Go to the doctor and have them decide the best way to handle it.

[Karak]

The leg must come off.
Its the only way.

[rahsoul]

Just cut off what you can, then bandage the rest. It should grow out/heal normally. At any sign of excessive redness or pain, roll to the doctor and follow through with Karak's advice.

[Squidbot]

The leg must come off.
Its the only way.

From the neck down.

[fitbabits]

I don't know if anyone has had to deal with this before. I was walking up the stairs when I missed a step catching the edge of my big toe nail on the stair. This had the effect of breaking it in the middle and and tearing it loose from the nail bed from the inside edge to the middle, the rest of it is still attached. Right now I can get away with wearing sandal now since Im off, but Im thinking closed shoes and socks are going to be a problem with a giant bloody hang nail. Anyone have to do any nail repair? Could I glue it down with something and let it grow out? If it was closer to the edge, I could probably just pull the thing off if the tear didn't go into the middle of the nail bed.
Fucking Jesus, man! Like The Keck, I am shuddering!

I've had the nail on my right big toe removed twice. It kinda looks like brains under there. Hurts like stink for a couple of days, then grows back.

Also, GROSS! Cover the fucker up if you're wearing sandals.

[johnperkins21]

Just cut off what you can, then bandage the rest. It should grow out/heal normally. At any sign of excessive redness or pain, roll to the doctor and follow through with Karak's advice.

This is the best advice you will get. Clean it up and throw a band aid over it. The area beneath the nail will be incredibly sensitive for a few days, but that's just because it's never been exposed before.

If it starts to hurt, or turns an odd color, see a doc. Otherwise a bandage will help with the sensitivity, and time will allow it to grow back.

[Blue]

I nearly threw up.

[fitbabits]

Just cut off what you can, then bandage the rest. It should grow out/heal normally. At any sign of excessive redness or pain, roll to the doctor and follow through with Karak's advice.

This is the best advice you will get. Clean it up and throw a band aid over it. The area beneath the nail will be incredibly sensitive for a few days, but that's just because it's never been exposed before.

If it starts to hurt, or turns an odd color, see a doc. Otherwise a bandage will help with the sensitivity, and time will allow it to grow back.
Or if it smells. Especially if it smells.

[Trogdor]

You can use some toe-nail clippers to cut off the damaged areas of the nail and then cover with a bandaid until it heals up a bit.


I've done this a few times and it's worked okay for me.

My 2¢: This might seem obvious, but I'll say it anyway. If you do decide to bandage it or cover it with a band-aid, remember to do it in such a way that you can uncover it without causing any additional damage. Assuming you plan to check it periodically, that is. And you probably should. ;)

[JRR006]

Oh my God. *shiver*

What they said. Cut off what you can of the damaged bit, bandage it up, keep an eye on it, and at the first sign of infection go to the doctor.

[Ox]

This thread cuts me to the quick.

[resikel]

I lost 8 toe nails (all at the same time) after running the LA Marathon a while back. Don't worry; it will grow back.

[Inspector Fowler]

This thread cuts me to the quick.

I'll bite, that was actually pretty funny. :D

[Purple Santa]

Looking for an update. Did you lose the toe or did you go with the Karak therapy and just lop it off?

[destoo]

Pics or it didn't happen.

[Talanvor]

Pics or it didn't happen.

No. Nononononononono. :eek: I'm willing to believe.

Also, since you invoked a meme, I counter with this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/Okatha/DoNotWant.jpg

[Bandango]

I am shuddering uncontrollably.

I don't have an answer for you. Sorry. :(

Me as well.

[Bandango]

I lost 8 toe nails (all at the same time) after running the LA Marathon a while back. Don't worry; it will grow back.

UGGggg why?

[TheKeck]

Pics or it didn't happen.

Worst... Idea... Ever.

[bstiff]

Pics or it didn't happen.

Ok

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/picture.php?albumid=62&pictureid=540

The loose nail part finally pulled away from the nailbed enough so that I could cut it off. It kept getting caught on my sheets last night. It feels better than it looks now and shoes don't seem to be a problem anymore.

[Narradisall]

Thats nothing!

I have a deformed shell of a nail on my big toe, from having to have it removed in surgery due to it ingrowing.

In the surgery, they give you 6, yes SIX injections right into the toe, the first injection was like fire as the needle was stuck into the tip of my toe. Then they preceeded to cut away the skin and pull the nail out completely.

Hilarious thing was, I was like 16 at the time and they had this nurse there who was supposed to calm me (there was a curtain up so I couldnt see them cutting), she was really sweet and nice, until they started the op. Once they began cutting my toe she went pale and was going "Oh, Oh I didn't think this would effect me, but OH, theres SO MUCH BLOOD!". She passed out. I was fine with the op.

Back to the point, it grew back in some weird twisted shape, all lumps and weirdness.

So yeah, you may want to get that checked out if it doesn't restick to the base after a couple of days.

[maharahaj]

Yeah, that doesn't look too bad. The toenail on my big toe (right foot) grows at a sharp curve/angle on one side which cuts into my toe. I constanly have to pry the nail away from the toe using my nailer cutters as a wedge in order to cut it and keep it from growing too deep. Epic pain. Lately, on that half of the nail, I have pretty much cut it completely away so there is nothing to curl.

[Bad Buddha]

"Don't crush that dwarf, hand me the pliers!"

[Serapth]

You're all a bunch of Wusses... I had the same ordeal as Narradisall, but I didn't take the pussy way out. Just me, a lot of alcohol, a pair of tweezers, sharp scissors and a scalpel. It hurt like a motherf#$ker, but I tell you, when I finally got the shard removed from the skin of my toe it was like bliss.

Seriously, ive experienced a number of pains and maladies over my life, and frankly living with an ingrown nail is amongst the worse. This from a guy who has compound fractured an arm, broke ribs and got the "wire brush" road rash treatment, had all my wisdom teeth surgically removed and lastly suffered a ruptured appendix. Of all of those things, living with an ingrown nail was probably the worst.


Ironically, I started getting ingrown nails after stubing my toe and having the nail break in half, so enjoy your future bstiff! ;)

As to what you shoe do, rip that fucker off, peroxide and bandage the area and wrap it up, infection city down there. Where loose socks, wool if you have them and steel toe boots, like my Doc Martins are a god send!


Oh, and for those that don't know the wirebrush treatment is, see when you crash a bike and get road rash, instead of just ripping off the skin from your body, it also embeds chunks of gravel and other bits of road in the wound. As a result, when you are in emerge, they have a wirebrush they literally scrub against your naked wound. There are countries where this is legally considered torture.

[BigJonno]

What the fuck? Seriously, dude, I was expecting some mangled wreck of a toe with half the nail missing. I've done worse pulling my sock off too quickly.

[National Kato]

Dear bstiff,

When telling your horrific toenail story to a bevy of enraptured young vixens who are gently comforting you for your loss and admiring your strength and fortitude for surviving said ordeal, do not use that picture as a visual aid.

Your friend,

Kato

[diablopath]

This went from the abso-fuckin-worst thread in COG history to the biggest disappointment in human history.

Hey COG, I scraped my knee today. What would you do?

[Borthcollective]

Hey COG, I scraped my knee today. What would you do?
nJVuY1UefVo
This, until the pain becomes more bearable.

[zarathstra]

One time, when I was a kid, there was a table in the basement, with the legs removed, leaning against the wall. Somehow I managed to knock the table over, right onto my big toe. My entire nail turned black and fell off. It was gross. I tell this story to imply that you are a total pussy :)

[Vigil80]

That picture is kinda what my nails look like after simply cutting them. I hate having any length to my nails on my hands or feet, and I keep them cut (too) short.

In other words, no biggie.

[destoo]

Ok

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/picture.php?albumid=62&pictureid=540

The loose nail part finally pulled away from the nailbed enough so that I could cut it off. It kept getting caught on my sheets last night. It feels better than it looks now and shoes don't seem to be a problem anymore.

It must hurt like hell, but should be easy to fix.
My solution would have been to cut a piece of "second skin" and tape it there when you need to go out, but it should heal fine.


See guys, I told you we needed pictures!

[Handmade.Mercury]

That picture is kinda what my nails look like after simply cutting them. I hate having any length to my nails on my hands or feet, and I keep them cut (too) short.

In other words, no biggie.

Same thing happened to my left index finger when I slammed it in a door.

[Narradisall]

You're all a bunch of Wusses... I had the same ordeal as Narradisall, but I didn't take the pussy way out.

Hey! I was 15/16 at the time. I imagine if I'd been knocking back alcohol to dull the pain of my own surgery I'd have been in more trouble.

And besides, until you had 6 injections in your toe you can no way call it the pussy way out! :p

[Serapth]

Hey! I was 15/16 at the time. I imagine if I'd been knocking back alcohol to dull the pain of my own surgery I'd have been in more trouble.

And besides, until you had 6 injections in your toe you can no way call it the pussy way out! :p

... i've heard about the National Health Service, you indeed were brave. You risked them amputating your toe... most likely the wrong one. :D

[Narradisall]

... i've heard about the National Health Service, you indeed were brave. You risked them amputating your toe... most likely the wrong one. :D

I'm lucky I came out with all my major organs too. Those pesky Doctors will sell anything for a quick buck. :)

[Vandabo]

I've had horrible luck with my nails on both hands and feet. I've ripped by thumbnail mostly off (steel cleats sliding into home with me tagging the guy out, should've kept the hand in my glove), pulled my index fingernail partly out by smashing it under a rock (it fell off a few days later), and had multiple ingrown toenails on both my big toes that eventually led to them being permanently narrowed by cutting them to the quick and then burning the matrix with acid. Also, my left middle toenail was completely removed permanently (now my favorite toe).

If I had the option of just removing all my toenails at once and just staying off my feet for a week, I would love that. They are nothing but a liability. Fingernails at least have practical uses (Lego separating primarily) but toenails can go to hell.