Remedies for ailing big toe nail?

[DeliaItaly]

My big toe (left foot) went disgustingly black and the nail fell off almost 2 months ago! It is now slowly regrowing but the flesh below the toenail is still black. Has anyone else had this problem? Common sense tells me that it is due to feet swelling as I run and that I should buy bigger shoes. Does anyone have a remedy?

[shelleymcb Graduate]

Im sorry to hear this. I had the same problem but not big toe, the toe next to my big toe. lost the same nail on both feet & then invested in trainers a size bigger than I had bought. had to get over the enormanity of my feet (yes I know that doesnt sound like a proper word) but havent lost a toenail since.

the nails that I lost werent painful in any way. one of them just sort of fell off & the other one had a big blood blister underneath so lifted because of that.

dont understand why the flesh is still black though. when I was about 12 I had a toenail removed due to ingrown toenail & that wasnt black at all, although thinking about it I never bashed this in my trainers perhaps a trip to the dr is in order??

[Frazzles Graduate]

If the actual toe is still black a long time after the nail fell off, is there a chance it might be infected? Ask your GP to have a look I reckon.

[boudicca Graduate]

Hate to say it but this happened to my dad decades ago - and it stayed black. He had no idea what he'd done to damage it. Nail varnish wasn't an option for him, but it is for you!

[runningwild Graduate]

Apparently big toenails falling off is more common in women! No idea why, I was told in the running shop today. Yes I agree with the above, Dr's visit just to be sure.

[completerunner]

Toe nails going black and dropping off is a common problem. DO NOT just buy a pair of trainers in the same shoe size as your every day shoes. Ideally get them fitted at a proper running shoe outlet.

If you can't find one local too you then ensure that when you are stood up you have just short of a thumbs with of space between your toe and the end of the shoe on your largest foot. Usually the left one is the longer.

[Deryn61 Graduate]

I developed a black toenail in about May (hadnt noticed the warning sign of my middle toe feeling bruised after a slightly longer run - I know now that if that happens again I need to ice my toes afterwards!). It has stayed on but sort of grown out as well as up so it is pretty ugly looking but ok. Friendly-local running shop-oracle-man says one day it will just come off but that as there is new nail under it it shouldnt be painful.

Looks like my sandal modelling career is over