Hi - sorry to be graphic - seeing a rheumatologist in two weeks for results. He already said I have osteoarthritis. I have discoloured toe nails, thickening and now recently one nail turned black and the nail lifted from the bed. I had been walking a lot ( in a camp with kids for a week and walked a lot in walking boots).
I was wondering if these symptoms are familiar with RA?
It sounds like you have fungal infection your nails. It may well relate to weakened immune system/?immunosuppresant meds. See your GP for best Treatment. You can buy paint on treatment but if more than 2/3 toenails not suitable.
Maybe damp wet boots and feet helped the problem to worsen!
It takes months for new nails to grow back.
Toe nails lifting off the bed is a symptom of Psoriatic Arthritis, research it. Prayers that you get some answers soon and relief.
Get your feet checked for a fungal infection. Gp or nurse, will take a clipping & send off for analysis, then give you appropriate treatment. However, u can buy nail treatments
In your local pharmacy. It is quicker, but best to get a medical assessment from your
surgery or a good Chiropodist.
It sounds like a fungal thing. You might also be wearing footwear that doesn't fit properly. II have arthritis in my feet and I had the toenail thing too, they weren't related in anyway.
Hi passionatepurple.
I hope you are well.
I also have too big toe nails that went dark, I think normally referred to as black.
Each such toe nail was a different case/issue.
Each toenail suffered trauma maybe 20 years ago.
One was when I was moving heavy machinery and my toenail got caught underneath and it bled I think.
The second was maybe a couple of years later I slipped from a low ladder and it got caught between the rung of the ladder and the concrete ground.
So with time they both progressed similarly but probably at different paces.
Neither of them was particularly uncomfortable or at all.
Only last year one of them got loose and I encouraged it to loosen in soapy hot water or in a foot bath with epsom salts.
The heat helps it to come adrift.
And that's what happened.
Now after a full year that nail is just about halfway grown back and properly pinkish.
The other nail now appears to be ready for some inspiration to loosen so I may begin the foot bath for that one now soon.
I did try various so called remedies years ago but to no avail.
The toe where the nail did seperate is sometimes a little bit sore.
See, toes do not get much exercise as in they don't move very much even when we walk.
So with the toe that's a bit stiff/sore(not so much) I exercise it by holding the tip of the toe with one hand and with the other hand I lift and lower the half way joint in a quick movement sometimes a hundred times and sometimes two hundred times.
Only takes a couple of minutes. Put the leg up on the other knee so it is easy to reach the foot to do the exercise.
I agree with Emmerline3 about probably fungal infection. I am also wondering if you walked in boots that may have been a bit too tight. Something may have caused bleeding under the nails. If that's what it is, the darkening may go away after a couple of weeks.
If you don't know if you are diabetic then it might be a good idea to have that checked out.
As I say, it has been a 20 years experience for me!!!
And maybe it will resolve before I die.
It'd be nice to have nice toe nails when standing in line at the pearly gates.
Good luck, Proprietor.
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