Help, what do I do with this nail injury? (WARNING, PHOTO OF BENT & BLOODY NAIL)

[Owlish]

I've put this in chat for traffic.

I've just done this to my nail by catching it on a piece of loose trim in the kitchen while cleaning. It hurt like hell at first but it's settled down to a stinging.

Do I try and bend the nail back to where it should be or leave it and try and trim it off when it stops stinging. I assume it doesn't need medical treatment? It's my right hand and I'm right-handed.

Advice welcome

Personally I'd bend it back of possible then clean and wrap it.
Or cut it and clean and wrap it.
Big emphasis on keeping it clean and wrapped so it doesn't get infected!
Big ouch though! You're being braver than I would be!!

Fuck me.. 🤢

Sorry.. I would try and bend it back to keep the bed covered to minimise risk of infection, keep it clean and covered..

You're a trooper 💪🏻

I'm not usually one for rushing to the doctors, but I would find an out of hours / walk in centre to get it looked at. That's a pretty nasty injury.

I would try to straighten that back down. If you have any wound spray for example like this you could use that first if there's any possibility that there is any dirt in it. Alternatively cooled, boiled water would work. Then put a plaster over to protect it, it will be really sore for a few days. I did this once - the nail didn't reattach but the damage just sort of grew out with the nail.

Oh and cut the nail really short, to reduce the risk of catching it again.

To clarify - when I say cut the nail short, I only mean cut it to where it would normally end, so you can reduce the risk of catching the nail again. Don't cut it so the wound is exposed. Keep trimming it until all the damage has grown out.

Thanks for the responses so far. I've tried bending it back but it hurts too much. It's not bleeding, but there's a small piece of flesh gouged out. AwdBovril, I keep my nails short any way, I think it's just the angle I caught it at.

Just as well I'm not squeamish, eh?

I would probably get that looked at

If you can't bend it back down, I'd go to an OOH centre if possible, or be prepared for a long wait at A&E, & get it sorted properly. Take a drink & something to do/read if going to A&E, as you will probably not be a priority as it's obviously an accident, but not an emergency. I wouldn't recommend just cutting the bent nail off as you'll leave the nail bed exposed, you would need correct cleaning & dressing for that. Definitely go now, don't wait until this evening when all the drunks etc turn up!

It will be fine, trim off all the excess and wrap up well with plaster or dressing, it will hurt for a few days.

Ouch. I'd possibly think about getting it looked at if I couldn't bend the nail back in place. Looks nasty.

AwdBovril, oops, too late, I've trimmed some of the nail down, so I could get a dressing on it DH is taking me to minor injuries when he finishes work in about an hour. No doubt it'll be full of rugby and football players at this time of day.

Ooh nasty!
I'd have had to go through the pain barrier and try to bend it back. I've currently got a way calmer cut than that on my nail and that hurts like crazy so I feel your pain

You definitely don't need to get medical attention. All they will do is clean it and dress it which you can easily do. I would trim the nail as best you can, clean it with antiseptic and dress it with a padded dressing and bandage. It's going to hurt like hell while the nail bed is raw but it will dry out and your nail should grow back eventually!

Looks bloody sore though

Rainbowstardrops, my first instinct was to try and bend it back as soon as it happened and I really wish I had, it wouldn't have hurt any more than it did at the time!

Did you sort it?

Yes, we didn't go to minor injuries in the end. I bought some medical lint and used a plaster to keep in place. When I came to change it, the cut down nail had flattened itself out and I can now get away with just using a finger end plaster. I've cut a finger off a disposable glove and will use waterproof strapping tape to keep it in place it during the day so I can shower and wash up etc.

Thank you for your help and sympathy, everyone

Jeeze Louise op ("awwwwww shhhhit" seemed a bit much). That looked awful. Your repair job looks good. Hope it stops hurting soon.

You just made my bum hole pucker!

Ooof I bet that hurt. You must be much braver than I am because I would have made a right drama out of that.

I think the way you've cleaned it up looks pretty sensible. Just need to keep it clean and dry until it heals.

QOD

Can I ask how this healed? My son did a similar injury on his toe nail last night, I have bent it back and covered it but am wondering if I should do something else?
There seems to be no advice on the nhs website.

If the nail bed is intact, there is nothing else needing done. Keep it down with paper stitches if required, and if any nail remains up, file it down. Replacing the nail is all we would do in a hospital 👍

Thank you Rosere.
I wish I'd have looked for damage underneath but my first instinct was to bend it back. Have just changed his plaster again and the damaged end of his nail is turning purple now but he is not in much pain. Will be keeping a close eye on it.

@Demogorgmum his nail bed will be absolutely fine 👍👍

Oh Jesus. That’s made my knees go wobbly. I used to be a sister in A&E and could deal with brains coming out of ears and down noses, stabbings, limbs hanging on by a thread, but show me a nail injury and I used to have to pass it on to someone else. 😂