Clubbing Nails: If my nails are... - Lung Conditions C...

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Clubbing Nails

maxer profile image
26 Replies

If my nails are begining to show signs of clubing does that mean my condition is getting worse

maxer

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maxer
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26 Replies

Whats clubbing nails? is it having them done before you go to a night club? :)

James48 profile image
James48 in reply to

I know it's serious but I had to laugh at that a good way to start the day!!:)

limbobimbo profile image
limbobimbo in reply to

That tickled me, thanks for that.

Liz

Dorlock profile image
Dorlock in reply to limbobimbo

Had to smile :-)

Nails are what has happened in the past show history ridges and other bits are what was going on when nail grew. Asked why they looked at me hands when the lungs were the problem and nails are evidence for a CSI doctor seeing how it has gone.

Not sure but my consultant always checks my nails for signs of 'clubbing', I'm assuming it has some significance to our health. Also checks for swollen ankles too. You might want to ask your GP.

Marie x

maxer profile image
maxer

Sorry I didnt put my condition. I have bronchiectasis and Some pulmonary fibrosis. My nails curl over as well and theyare changing shape.

maxer

btype profile image
btype

When i first went to the doctors. He asked to see my nails then sent me for a chest xray. On the request form for the xray he put clubbing, i looked it up on wikipedia as soon as i got home, it says on there that it is often a sign of lung disease.

I had never noticed my nails before, they bad curled over, my doctor at the hospital asked me on my first visit if i had noticed my nails, i asked him what causes them to club he said that they do not know for sure but it is often a sign of lung disease, I have ipf & emphysema.

searching4answers profile image
searching4answers

My dad was diagnosed with IPF just a couple of weeks ago and his hands were checked, as I am currently a podiatry student I looked this up in one of my medical books and podiatrists are advised to check for signs of clubbing as this can be an indicator of lung disease, heart disease, thyroid disease, cirrhosis or ulcerative colitis. (Neale's Disorders of the Foot 2010). It doesn't mean you have all of these conditions it's just nails are a good indicator of what is happening with the rest of the body. Hope this reassures you.

jimmymumu profile image
jimmymumu

i went to the doctor for something totally unrelated, just before i came out he said he'd noticed a problem with my fingers, he said to go for an xray and that came back with fibrosis, then i had ct scan and lft. was diagnosed with emphysema

tanyamarie profile image
tanyamarie

Dad had clubbing of the nails and he had ipf. No medical professional spotted this for a long time when he was going back and for to the doctors with a constant cough. It was an eagle eyed nurse who happened to see dads fingers on a routine visit that started the ball rolling for dads diagnosis. He was diagnosed in 2008. However, a photo I have of dad 2 years before and before any symptoms started, you can clearly see it in his nails then. So from that, I would not say it is a worsening of the illness, and not everyone with a lung condition has it.

Ntombi profile image
Ntombi

I'm finding all this information really interesting. I've was diagnosed stage 4 emphysema in 2005 and this is the first time I've heard about clubbing - the nail kind, that is. :-) Anyway, the pulmo always checks my hands and feet because, as he explained, the moons indicate whether my blood gas is low or not - blue=low oxygen, pink=oxygenated.

As for nails growing curved, I haven't experienced those symptoms, other than to say that they grow like wild fire and it's near mission impossible to bend down to clip my toenails.

george68 profile image
george68

I would say that is a good thing if it is just started...It means I think you are at the early stages of this road we are all on .

Now I know what clubbing nails are I can say I don't have them. I have deep ridges going down my nails which split, I have severe stage copd and am wondering if this nail thing is part of it.

limbobimbo profile image
limbobimbo

Hi maxer, I have clubbing fingers and toes and although my consultant would glance at my hands, as usual, I got no explanation until a nurse told me it's to do with my sarcoidosis and bronchiectasis. It's not the end of the world but speaking as a woman who enjoyed a manicure and jazzy nail polishes it's a bit of a pain as I am now on oxygen 24/7 and need polish free nails to gauge my oxygen levels hey ho! What next, keep positive.

Liz

maxer profile image
maxer in reply to limbobimbo

I will limbobimbo and you look after yourself xx

Scars1 profile image
Scars1

Clubbing of the nails is caused by anything that restricts the blood flow into the extremities, i.e lung disease and others. I looked it up after my consultant spotted it. Amazing how often a doctor will say something with no explanation leaving us to look it up ourselves.

limbobimbo profile image
limbobimbo in reply to Scars1

How true Scars!

jandan profile image
jandan

I have clubbing nails one nail is curled so badly it is twisted and as I also have psoriasis in my nails I find this really upsetting as back in the day I used to do occasional hand modelling and have always taken care of hands and nails. My doctor told me there is nothing whatsoever they can do about it I do rub with Aloe Vera gel but heyho another bloody problem to live with BUT I am still breathing :D

maxer profile image
maxer in reply to jandan

That must be upsettng going from having models hands to having them destroyed by bloody lung desease. maxer xxxx

spicey profile image
spicey

My husband had clubbed fingers and his Consultant noticed them straightaway when he was diagnosed with IPF, he had these for well over 10 years.

maxer profile image
maxer

Mine have only started clubbing in the last 6 months just one finger to start with but now I can see signs on most of them

maxer xx

I have clubbed nails and I have IPF and IPPFE. My consultant told me it was a good indicator of IPF but I don't know if it is a symptom of other lung diseases I'm afraid.

I tend to keep my nails short these days, just beyond the end of my fingers so that they don't look too bad or dig into my own fingers! :-p

billyp profile image
billyp

Hello all ,

Clubbing is a possible sign of,

Lung, Heart, and thyroid trouble

Bill

anniediv profile image
anniediv

My dad's ipf was diagnosed by an eagle eyed dr who spotted his nails. it's a sign that circulation is impaired.

Claudine profile image
Claudine

It's pretty obvious now that I clubbed toes which result in subungual corns down the side of the nail. Do you think I may also develop clubbed fingers as well? The finger nails are ridged and flaky as it is. I'm pretty sure not many medics know about this indicator.

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