Toe Problems - PMR or Steroids??

[Alchemy8]

As I have dropped down my steroids (now on 10mg for the last 6 months) have had various foot issues from athletes foot to an impressively large wart (now gone) on the little toe, eruptions of eczema on the side of the foot or possibly psoriasis, dealt with by topical creams.

My last visitant has been what I have diagnosed now as psoriasis circling around the left big toe. I had been treating it as a fungal infection, painting the nail with one of those fungal "cures" that seem to take months. It took a visit to the doctor (actually for my husband's hives but thought I would try and get two diagnoses for the price of one!) who pointed out that the nail was coming off! Has anyone had similar problems and any solutions or thoughts?? interestingly most of my issues seem to happen on the left foot. I have booked a private podiatrist in a couple of weeks (NHS impossible). All these fun little side effects....😃

[SheffieldJane]

I had what I thought was psoriasis on my feet and tried vainly to keep it at bay with base cream and low dose cortisol cream. I saw a very good Podiatrist who took a scraping there and then and told me that it was Athletes foot affecting my whole foot and nails. She recommended Lamisil Once for the Athletes foot - one application. I can still hardly believe that the whole thing cleared up. I now have rather dry and normal looking feet which I moisturise. My big toenails are still a bit affected and thickened but I can see healthy nail growing in. This went on for a couple of years and I was almost sent down the route of Psoriatic Arthritis. I am eternally grateful to this keen Podiatrist.

[Alchemy8 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks for this SheffieldJane. Sounds like a miracle! Unlike you I wasdoing the reverse in putting on a topical colourless varnish for Athletes Foot/fungal infection which I don't think was helping. Interestingly this flared up during a very stressful time. It is a bit calmer now but I have a kind of brown surround now round the nails. I am seeing a Podiatrist next week so will find out what is going on. Apparently Psoriasis has no cure.

[ladygigger in reply to Alchemy8]

How did you get on at the podiatrist? I'm thinking I might have to ask my GP for a referral.

I've been on prednisolone since November 22 (current dose 12.5mg) and I've had one fungal big toenail for years. I've tried various things on it, but nothing's ever worked. However I have noticed since being on pred that things have got worse and all the toe nails on that foot are now thicker although only the big toe nail is discoloured.

I had an operation last month (unconnected) and on the day I was going into hospital I knocked my toe - although I didn't feel it - and didn't notice for around 20 minutes that I had bled all over the house. I put a dressing on and kept it on for a week whilst I was in holiday, but have now noticed that the nail seems to be lifting from the nailbed.

Time for an appointment, methinks

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Pred will make you susceptible to fungal infections.