my big toes have been sore since saturday, just had a lot of fluid come out from underneath them, all the way back to the cuticle… sooo i guess i’ll be losing them. what do i do to treat it, and can i keep running?
Go up a half or full size in your running shoes.
my big toes have been sore since saturday, just had a lot of fluid come out from underneath them, all the way back to the cuticle… sooo i guess i’ll be losing them. what do i do to treat it, and can i keep running?
Keep it clean and be patient while it falls off and grows back. I was able to keep running but I don’t know if that’s sound advice. There was some discomfort.
Go up a half or full size in your running shoes.
I actually think it may have been from my cycling shoes… the top of them is mashed in from flying mounts, and i noticed as soon as I started running that my big toenails felt weird.
can i keep running in the meantime though?
I’ve heard of people drilling a small hole into their toenails to relieve pressure from a black toe. Eventually, it will fall off. Somebody in my marathon training group is running without a big toenail, so it definitely can be done.
You just raced IMTX, right? Taking off some time from running might not be such a bad idea anyway…
Ignore them (unless they get infected). They’ll grow back and you’ll lose them again. My massage therapist told me last week. “you toes finally look good, right on time to lose em huh?”
As in can you run. Hell yea! Why not?
I’ve heard of people drilling a small hole into their toenails to relieve pressure from a black toe. Eventually, it will fall off.
Easiest way to do this if needed, is to heat up a really small drill bit with a lighter, hot … almost red hot. This will not only sterlize the instrument, but will also help it burn through the nail as you slowly use a drilling motion with your fingers to puncture the nail to relieve the pressure. Hell of a lot easier than trying to drill through nail itself.
The post prompted me to search as I was wondering about treating something like that with anti-fungal. I’ve heard that it’s easy to get a toe nail fungus after you loose one.
Anyhow…I came upon something far far more interesting, amusing or possibly just gross. I’m a little stunned right now. I suppose some weight weenies may consider this solution:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/fashion/22FITNESS.html?ref=health
Ignore them (unless they get infected). They’ll grow back and you’ll lose them again. My massage therapist told me last week. “you toes finally look good, right on time to lose em huh?”
As in can you run. Hell yea! Why not?
ok that’s what i was hoping to hear!
Go up a half or full size in your running shoes.
x2
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I’ve heard of people drilling a small hole into their toenails to relieve pressure from a black toe. Eventually, it will fall off.
Easiest way to do this if needed, is to heat up a really small drill bit with a lighter, hot … almost red hot. This will not only sterlize the instrument, but will also help it burn through the nail as you slowly use a drilling motion with your fingers to puncture the nail to relieve the pressure. Hell of a lot easier than trying to drill through nail itself.
I would not recommend drilling a nail unless it was really killing you due to pressure from underneath. If stuff is oozing out from under the nail, that means you’re probably not building painful pressure. Even though you may be sterilizing a drill bit with heat, you will be creating a path for infection for later. The nail serves as its own sterile dressing, leave it alone until it falls off.
I’ve also shoved a push pin under the nail from the front of the nail, oh so tenderly, to relieve the blood/fluid. You pry up the nail with one hand, then slide a sterilized push pin under the nail until you reach the red/black part, and sometimes you can create a channel for the fluid to exit.
I’ve also drilled the nail with a hot needle, but find you can tap into the same area using the above method.
On a side note, I do have one particularly vivid memory of pushing a needle through a black toenail, and blood squirted out few feet rather dramatically onto the white carpet. Every since then I’ll do it on a tile floor.
I’ve heard of people drilling a small hole into their toenails to relieve pressure from a black toe. Eventually, it will fall off.
Easiest way to do this if needed, is to heat up a really small drill bit with a lighter, hot … almost red hot. This will not only sterlize the instrument, but will also help it burn through the nail as you slowly use a drilling motion with your fingers to puncture the nail to relieve the pressure. Hell of a lot easier than trying to drill through nail itself.
I would not recommend drilling a nail unless it was really killing you due to pressure from underneath. If stuff is oozing out from under the nail, that means you’re probably not building painful pressure. Even though you may be sterilizing a drill bit with heat, you will be creating a path for infection for later. The nail serves as its own sterile dressing, leave it alone until it falls off.
thanks, it has been draining on its own, so no need to drill. just wanted to make sure I wouldn’t cause any permanent damage to the cuticle by continually running on it. would you agree it’s probably ok to keep running? if so should i tape it down or just let it do whatever it wants?
Maybe get some anti fungal liquid to apply to the nail. If the new nail starts to grow underneath the old one and the old one doesn’t detach for a while, you can get liquid/ water trapped up there (especially if you swim).
X2
I lose toenails after every marathon. (not necessarily after an IM though…I back off my ferocious toe devouring
8:00 pace).
The nail will die and remain in place. A new one will grow underneath it and eventually dislodge the dead nail.
Unless you see signs of infection… just HTFU
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Dude, don’t go sticking hot needles in your toenail. You got a blister under your toenail, it popped, now your nail will fall off and a new one will grow back in about 5-6 months. I have lost many many toenails in my life and this is how it works. What I usually do, honestly, is man the fuck up and rip it off. If you leave it there it will be sensitive where it is still connected, just grab some pliers and rip the fucker out. Don’t listen to these guys about burning it and putting creams and powders on there…bullshit, it’s already lost it’s attachment point so it’s just dead weight, once again, rip it off. The nail bed will dry up in a couple of hours and you’ll never remember you even had a nail there. Now HTFU and pull the fucker off, end of story.
I used to do a lot of rock climbing, and due to the shoes crimping our toes, most of us lost our toe nails on a regular basis. My nails would turn black and within a week or two fall off. Usually really painful while they were in the process. I second the recommendation of putting a pin under the nail to relieve the blood but wouldn’t drill it myself. Best to go to a podiatrist before you do that. As far as what to do with the nail - tape it down and keep going! (don’t put the adhesive part on the nail itself or taking it off may not be fun). You can either use some gauze or just use paper/surgical tape and flip it over on the nail. If it’s painful you can try making a paste out of crushed up aspirin and water, nice and thick, and coating the nail with it for a bit. I always found that to help out. I stopped climbing when I moved to south florida 8 years ago (obviously not many mountains down here) but I still tend to loose the same toe nails on a regular basis, usually like clockwork. It never effected my running or biking, other than feeling a bit odd during the process. You’ll get used to it soon…
I just ran a marathon -3 toe nails which were lost during two previous marathons. I had no problems what-so-ever. You are way over thinking this. If it doesn’t hurt, run.
Mine stayed hanging on for 12 months after IMFL, I ran the whole time, kept them trimmed down and raced in Zoots. Keep them clean and go for some slightly larger shoes. As the other guy said, rest up for a while anyway!! congrats on IMTX!
You said you think it was from your cycling shoes?
like many others have said u can run; about 6 months you will have a new toenail. I would pay attention to fungus on the nail though and treat it early otherwise your toes could end up looking like mine which I will spare you all from having to look at. Asked about having them removed doctor told me it wouldnt be worth it cause it would likely grow back the same way (not so sure on that one).