Lost little toenail 😞

[Kjbobo]

I'm a recent C25k graduate running 2/3 times a week and absolutely loving it but two days ago my little toenail came off! It bled for hours and is still sore when I'm walking on it. Has this happened to anyone else? Would it be foolish of me to go running on it when it's still sore? Any advice gratefully received, I'm itching to get back out there!!

[MrNiceGuy]

Having lost your little toe nail, I'd refrain from running until the discomfort and inflammation has subsided sufficiently, since the skin beneath the nail will initially be incredibly sensitive to the touching fabric of socks and rubbing of shoes against it.

Once the discomfort has eased, which also usually heralds signs of new nail growth, running can re-commence.

In the meantime, however, take some time to consider the overall condition of your feet. Since they seek to provide us with foundation, as runners, our feet ought to be shown the same level of care and attention that we afford other areas of the body.

As such, in addition to strengthening the soft tissue of your feet, invest in a jar of coconut oil (£2.39 in Aldi), proceeding to apply it the skin and nails on a daily basis, to nourish and condition, in addition to keeping your other toe nails trimmed short and neatly filed.

Ideally, toe nails ought to fall short of the toe tip, thus, reducing the risk of damage or trauma to the nail bed, allowing toe nails to be retained.

[heavyhorse Graduate]

Run again as soon as it feels comfortable, you might want to check your shoes fit properly,especially as it's an end toe! however I am prone to getting black toenails and found that for me, ininji toe socks do the trick.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Ouch... this does happen with runners..falling off nails or black toe-nails....poor you. Are your shoes till okay?

Make sure to trim your toenails regularly. Moisturise your feet regularly, including your toenails... mail varnish.. a hard one, is what I think is useful too! Make sure that your shoes are still a good fit, too small and your feet will touch the end, too big and you could slide around hitting the top of the shoe as you run. Wearing proper cushioned running socks, is so useful too, adding an extra layer of protection between your feet and your shoes/the pavement.

If it is too sore, then don't run..but a protective padding and buddying it up with the next toe should be okay... I, like many if us, have run with a broken little toe... taped next to the big buddy toe next to it.. it was fine...

You know how important your feet are, and you will know when it feels okay to run...just keep it really clean until the nail bad hardens off...

[Kjbobo in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you Oldfloss!! My shoes are really comfortable but I'm more than happy to buy another pair haha, building up a collection will make me feel like a real runner! Hearing that you have run with a broken toe has really cheered me up cos I just want to get back out there! I will pad it up 😄

[Kjbobo]

Thank you both 😊 I was actually cutting my toenails when it happened, perhaps too enthusiastically after a long day at work! Was all ready in my gear to go for a run with my husband so very frustrating that I then could barely walk. I will buy some coconut oil and ensure I'm taking better care of them. Thanks!

[Theziggy Graduate]

Hasn't happened me.

Though - my big toenails have not grown for nearly 2 years!

Plus my claw toe is probably getting worse - have to strap it to the 'toes next door' in order to be able to run.

Do you think your toes were sliding forwards in your trainers? I was getting blackened (bruised) toes once especially when running downhill, and discovered that my toes were sliding forwards in my trainers and discovered how to cure it just by tying my laces differently - sun-gazing.com/extra-shoela... or youtube.com/watch?v=y0BSXa8...(Not working as expected?)

[Kjbobo in reply to Theziggy]

Thank you, I will try this!

[Rignold]

While losing toenails is an occupational hazard for runners, it tends to be serious mileage that does it. Months of marathon on ultra training. The constant pounding causes brushing beneath the nail bed and a t some point the toe jettisons the old nail and starts growing a new one beneath. I don't think I have ever heard of anyone losing a nail to 30 minute runs thrice weekly. There wouldn't typically be blood as the blood vessels have usually detached by the time the nail gets anywhere near coming off. I would suspect the loss of your nail is coincidental to your running.

But onwards and upwards. Stick a plaster over it, get some Injinji socks and get back out there.

Oh and next time, it is the custom to post photos of toe injuries, the more gruesome the better. Blood gets bonus points.

[Kjbobo in reply to Rignold]

I've just been out and done 5k at a new PB time of 36:45- not bad with a bloody toe! Just couldn't bear to stay on the couch. Most I've done so far is an hour of running which was about 7.5k so not really serious mileage!! Thanks for the advice, I may post a photo since you asked for it!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Kjbobo]

Noooooo!

[Kjbobo in reply to Oldfloss]

Haha don't worry Oldfloss I couldn't work out how to do it without just starting a new thread so I gave up!

[Michael_W Graduate in reply to Rignold]

Ha! I lost a big toenail a couple of years ago through playing squash. I think my shoe was a bit loose and with a big lunge I felt my foot slide forward inside the shoe and crunch! Terribly painful for days but thought I'd got away with it till the nail starting turning black about a week later. A month after that it started to feel loose and one day I pulled a sock off with a bit too much gusto and squelch, the nail came with it! Naturally, I took the opportunity to thoroughly gross out the wife and kids. Should have taken a photo of the thing; still got the nail somewhere. Took 12 months to grow back!!!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Rignold]

I posted about my broken toe, with a pikkie last year.... no blood though

[Rignold in reply to Oldfloss]

I almost lost both big toenails last year, while doing very little running at all. It was from constant high volume burpees every day. Dropping down to the prone position your toe box hits ground first and unless you have steel toe capped Nanos, you get repeated impact on the corner of the toe.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Rignold]

Okay... you win! I just fell over a chair, in France last year.... !

[Rignold]

Lol. I did not actually lose them though. The IC intervened and saved them.

However I did have another toe disaster a few months ago: I went to a spray tan place before a photoshoot, and, well, got a spray tan. It looked pretty good actually, to my surprise. It faded within a week or so though and was completely gone in 2....

... Except on my toenails. Which were indelibly stained yellow. No amount of scrubbing or harsh chemical had any effect. My fingernails were fine. But I had toes that looked like an octogenarians for months and months until they fully grew out.

For a narcissist like me you can imagine the horror...

[Gillma Graduate]

I suddenly developed an infection on a middle toe a couple of weeks ago. Soreness and swelling under the nail, round the cuticle , on the toe top and half way down the toe. I couldn't wear anything but flip flops. I administered lavender and tea tree and apart from a blue nail, am cured. I am now using these opaque toe protector tubes which work a treat: lloydspharmacy.com/en/lloyd...

[Kjbobo in reply to Gillma]

Thanks Gillma, I'll give them a try!

[Gillma Graduate in reply to Kjbobo]

Hope it works Kjbobo - we runners need our lovely toes!