I have psoriatic artritis & my two big toe nails have gone completely black.. They are thicker in appearance than the rest of my nails and are very sensitive to pain..
Has anyone else had nail problems. And what can I do as my rheum said it's a fungal infection and I know it's not!!
Thanks
I have seen pictures of bad toenails due to the psoriatic part of the RA. Maybe go to your gp for a second opinion or even pay to see a private chiropodist ? Also there will be a podiatrist as part of the RA team possibly , you could ask your Rheumy helpline for a referral to them?
Good luck and I hope they get sorted for you x
Hello Debshe241
Go see a podiatrist. A fungal infection would surprise me, but it can happen. The most common cause I'm sorry to say is inappropriate footwear or high impact activity. Runners and walkers are commonly affected, the impact of the foot pushing into the toe box area can create shearing stress causing the nail to disrupt the nail bed and let blood vessels leak under the nail which eventually turn black. Horses treading on peoples toes or other sorts of trauma can achieve the same result. There are other causes, but for your peace of mind get them checked. They can be improved, slowly. Good luck with them.
I too have PsA and it effects both nails on hands and toes however they have never turned black. What happens to mine are along with the thickening they lift from the bed of finger/toe and have a 'funny' look where they have lifted underneath, they also crumble easily more so when trying to cut or file, in addition they are very sensitive. I have to take painkillers before they are cut or filed!
With my toenails I no longer cut these but a podiatrist does, I spoke to my gp about it and he sent a request to the NHS one. Only problem with this is that at the start it was every eight weeks they now only do them every 16 weeks due to patient demand.
If I was you I would visit your GP explain you have PsA, show your nails and ask if there was a way you could see a podiatrist. Good Luck.
The only way you can really confirm if its a fungal infection or not would be to get a scraping sent away to the lab. Ask your GP to do that for you. Might be well worth your GP having a look at them anyway.
Hi Angel
I was advised to use a drop of neat tea tree oil on each nail morning and night. My nails didn't go black, but were thick and lifting.
Kills any fungal infection and has natural painkilling properties. You will see a difference in a few weeks but will feel a difference in a few days.
Hope it helps, take care and angel blessings xx
All good chemists sell many treatments for fungal infection BUT they dont come cheap. I have used teatree on my nails 3/4 nights letting dry before bed on the 4/5th night file with an emery board. Its a long process but mine has all cleared on my left foot !
I think you need a second opinion with this. I'd ask your GP or a chiropodist to have a look. Although I don't have a problem with my toenails I do use neat tea tree oil, as mitzymoo & kazp have suggested, when I get a cut or diluted in warm water to gargle for a sore throat. It has great natural antibacterial properties & works like no cream I've ever tried.
i got fungal nail infections when ra strted i use a cocoction of listerine and whie wine vieger in a dish soak foot for about half an hour beutiful all hard skin falls off and one nail has been cured other well on way .listerine anteseptic and vineger acid i suppose x good luck
Nails
Vertical lines on finger nails
Vertical ridges on nails
Nails splitting
Nail ridges and thinning hair, is methotrexate the cause 
