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General health

Big toe fallen off

19 replies

user1477381393 · 18/04/2017 09:05

I'm looking for some advice on my big toe. Basically my big toenail has fallen off, the toe nail has already started growing beneath it as the toenail has been loose for a while but I've hung on to it. However the nail beneath has a ridge on it, does anyone know how long this is going to take to come back and if there is anything I can do temporarily until it comes back? I can't wear sandals!!!

OP posts:

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BIWI · 18/04/2017 09:06

Thank goodness you meant your nail - your title suggests that maybe you have leprosy!!!

Sorry I can't advise on the nail, although I think you'll find it's pretty slow

originalbiglymavis · 18/04/2017 09:07

Firstly thank you for not including a photo.

It will come back by itself ok - I lost a few after a long hike. I don't think there's much you can do about the ridge - maybe go for a pedicure?

bluetongue · 18/04/2017 15:16

I suspect I'll be going through the same soon. Have a black toenail from a ski trip back in February that has just started to feel slightly loose.

How long did yours take to come off?

I'm still wearing sandals and flip flops and rocking my manky toenail

MOIST · 18/04/2017 15:19

I was going to diagnose leprosy.

You can get fake toenails. It'll take months to grow back.

user1477381393 · 18/04/2017 15:34

oops, I didn't notice I'd done that!

It took around 3/4 months to come off once it come loose, it became less attached after being in a Jacuzzi at the weekend and I've took it off, painless but it does not look nice!

Where can I get false toenails from?

OP posts:

AuldHeathen · 18/04/2017 18:53

I have very badly cracked up fungal toenails. The paint stuff didn't help and I can't use the oral antifungal med. For last couple of summers I've worn closed-toe sandals and I was painting my nails till this year when it's got even worse.

AmserGwin · 18/04/2017 18:58

My fingernail fell off recently. I googled it will take 4-6 weeks to grow back. Anyone want a pic?

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 18/04/2017 19:02

Put your toe in a plastic bag and drive to hospital ASAP!

Assuming your nail didn't fall off because of a nasty infection, it would be ok to glue a false nail on occasionally. You need to make sure you're only putting glue on the nail regrowth, not on your skin.

Sets of false fingernails come in different sizes, some ridiculously large. I'm sure you could use those. You can trim them with scissors before sticking on.

Comps83 · 19/04/2017 06:15

Well, less than a year, because a year ago mine fell off after walking 26 miles. I got a blister underneath and it took a while to come off. Then the new nail grew with a big ridge in it, then it got another ridge, all in all I think it took about 6 months for mine to look normal again.

BusterGonad · 20/04/2017 17:23

Apparently Vicks vapor rub works on fungal nails. Apply every day and they should improve.

AuldHeathen · 21/04/2017 15:34

Yep, tried the vick too. It didn't work on mine.

SpreadYourHappiness · 22/04/2017 20:45

For last couple of summers I've worn closed-toe sandals and I was painting my nails till this year when it's got even worse.

Absolutely NEVER paint your toenails if you have a fungal infection - it makes things a lot worse, as you have unfortunately found out.

AuldHeathen · 22/04/2017 21:12

No, it makes them look better. I had the problem for years before I varnished them. They are no different now. Just as bad. I just can't t get rid if it. Tried. Also discussed with a doctor. Reckoned nothing more could be done. It's annoying but not a big deal. My life grinds on regardless.

HardcoreLadyType · 22/04/2017 21:23

My toenails both came off last year, after skiing. They took about 6-8 months to grow back. I went to a chiropodist, who said to either use false nails, or just to paint the hard nail bed with nail varnish.

In the event, I just wore closed toe shoes and sandals all summer.

The chiropodist suggested I use silicone toe protectors for skiing, in future.

SpreadYourHappiness · 22/04/2017 21:35

AuldHeathen Oh, no doubt it makes them look better. But actually what you're doing is giving the fungus more of a way to thrive, and of course the fungus will live on in the nail polish brush and in the pot, so you'd keep reinfecting yourself.

I had fungal nails for years and years; had terbinafine and that was no good. I was lucky, really, ending up with an infected ingrown nail so I was able to have the entire nail removed.

No nail looks much better than a fungal one!

SoupDragon · 22/04/2017 21:36

Where can I get false toenails from?

Amazon!

AuldHeathen · 22/04/2017 21:40

Interesting. I asked about having the nail removed and was told it would make no difference. Both large nails also ingrown a bit. Doc cited another patient who is not immunocompromised, as I am, and she had her nail removed and it grew back fungal. I'm not sure I can even be bothered discussing it further with doctor. It really is the least of my problems.

SpreadYourHappiness · 22/04/2017 21:42

Yeah, it's very likely they'll grow back fungal. That's why you put the phenol on them to stop the nail growing back and therefore no fungal or ingrown nails anymore.

bluetongue · 02/05/2017 10:05

Updating this thread I can confirm that it took 3 months nearly to the day for my big toenail to fall off. What is left isn't pretty. A mostly naked big toe with a small amount of deformed looking toenail coming through at the bottom. Delightful

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