EEE GADS! A black toenail!!

[Running Mommy]

After my 100/3 brick Saturday I noticed that my left big toenail and the little guy next to it had turned bright purple. It looks like it's getting darker..

It had to have come from my cycling shoes. I've been wearing the same style running shoe since 1999 and have run 4 marathons w/out a lost toenail.

I wear Sidi T1's with Speedplay pedals for reference. They are a bit loose as I have wide feet, so I sized up. My guess is my feet are sliding forward in the shoe and I'm mashing my toes into the front of my shoe?? Or could it be something about my pedaling technique?? They didn't hurt when I was riding, and THANK GOODNESS, but they don't hurt when I run either...

Any experience here?/ Do you think I'm going to lose the toenails? I sure hope they can hang on until after April 9th! The last thing I need is tender toes. The race is going to be hard enough!!

[btchance]

I completely blackened my big toenail last May, it didn't fall off until last week (well, the little bit at the end that hadn't grown out). Still looks really weird though. After it happened, it was tender for a few days, but I just left it alone and had no problems, but beware, as it keeps growing out, it will still probably keep coming out black as you probably damaged the nail bed.

As for what caused it, no idea. Mine was from using slightly too loose shoes playing indoor soccer, and stopping to quickly and jamming it into the end of the shoe. Never doing that one again.

Good luck with it though.

[Trek420]

Lost a toenail in an Aikido (martial art) injury, the toe nail went black imediately and then just hung in there for months, till one day it just fell off

But the toenail didn't hurt. Even without a nail it gradualy grew back in. The new nail is thicker than the old one and I may have jammed the joint or even have a hairline fracture.

I can't run on it...but then i couldn't run before so that's no different.

[Grog]

Had a black toenail in September, I kind of helped it fall in January, the baby nail was already underneath it so no problem, never felt tender not even for a minute. I had the same shoes before and after, didn't have another black toenail at other moments. I have no idea what specific configuration of events led to the initial thing.

So don't sweat it.

I just hate getting pedicures, I'm afraid of scaring the poor girl. My feet still could use a little love though.

[Nanci]

I agree, you're gonna lose it. If it turns black, purple, green, anything, it's coming off. Takes at least a month. Meanwhile, the new nail is growing under it. I trim off the dead parts as it grows. It takes six months to a year for the brand new nail to be completely in place. You go through a phase of really weird, rippley thin new nail until it grows normally again.

I've lost both big toenails the last two springs, both times from running events lasting >10 hours. This last time it took almost eight months to be back to normal. It isn't painful, and you can put nail polish on the bare nail bed if you don't want it to look weird! (Not the first day after the nail comes off, though.)

Another thing that can happen, that I didn't know, that is also a sign the nail's coming off, is blistering under the nail. VERY painful until you lance it. Blister juice even comes out from the base of the nail. I think it is brought on by downhills, when the toenail can contact the _top_ of the shoe, not necessarily the end.

This guy is widely known in ultrarunning as the foot expert.

John Vonhof at
mailto:johnvonhof@comcast.net with any questions related to this E-
zine or the book Fixing Your Feet. Snail mail is welcome at 352
Fragrance Court, Manteca, CA 95337.

He has the BEST book about all sorts of foot issues and how to prevent and fix them.

Nanci

[sarahk]

This is kinda gross, but my boyfriend used to get black toenails all the time from playing soccer. He drills a hole in the toenail to drain the blood. He doesn't use an actual drill, but rather some sharp object. I can't remember the exact tool. You have to be careful not to drill more than just the nail though

I'm not recommending it as I would probably never do that, but it's a possibility!

Sarah

[Grog]

That's what I've always read too (piercing the nail to drain the blood).

Maybe a sterilized, hot needle would do the job? I think I have seen my dad doing this as a kid.

[Running Mommy]

OY VEY! I think I'll just leave it alone and let it "do it's thing". It's not bugging me at this point. I just didn't want it to fall off and have an open nail bed. Hopefully it hangs in there until the new nail grows in.
Thanks everyone. Sure sounds like there is some "experience" out there.. And Nanci- you ran ultras too?? You should get into adventure racing! Sounds like long efforts are your thing! SUPER WOMAN that you are!!

[maryellen]

I'm prone to toenail bruises, etc. my podiatrist suggested that i keep my toe nails short. it does seem to help.