Is this REALLY right?! Yucky picture included

[IDontLikeTheadvice]

Long story short:
At Easter I damaged my big toe nail badly. It went black and half of it is unattached but a good half still is so the nail isn't going anywhere.

A month ago it's leaking fluid so I keep it clean. Two weeks ago the nail at the base split where it had been weakened. Cue infection (pus and smell). Have just finished antibiotics and religiously soaking in salt water. I'm a teacher, so off work, and wearing sandals as shoes are probably a hive of activity for germs.

So, this is my toe after antibiotics. It's still weeping fresh red blood daily and clear fluid so I'm happy the infection has gone but I obviously still have an open wound that is refusing to heal.

Went to the nurse to check what to do and how to care for it. Her response is it's a blood blister under there and so any pressure will keep re-bursting it (so walking is doing it). There's nothing to be done, it will simply grow out. I pointed out that it has taken 3months to grow 3mm so am I going to be looking after a wound open to infection for pretty much a year? Answer- yes and if it gets infected just come back for more antibiotics? Keep going back?!

Sorry...is this actually right?! My body will not heal this? How am I going to keep it clean in winter? Is this really what happens for this kind of injury? I thought they would probably suggest having the nail off so it could heal? Or better yet just tell me it will be fine in a week!

I'm not necessarily cross with her, more just in disbelief that this is what happens. And bloody cross that my body won't be able to heal it! It's really uncomfortable and I can't imagine it being ok when I'm back at work in normal shoes!

So a) is this right? B) any tips for keeping it covered? I'm currently having to sport a lovely plastic sock for swimming. C) has anyone had this and it healed? I'm having visions of a flesh eating bug

Shameless bump

I think you can get silver coated gauze that's wonderful for keeping things clean. As bad as it might sound, once you're back at work, shoes off in the classroom and pray none of your kids tread on your foot!

Would it be possible to fashion some sort of toe guard to keep socks/shoes off it? I think you can get something similar for broken fingers. Pharmacy might be able to help.

She might be right. But in your comfortable sandals, I’d be thinking about a little visit to a podiatrist ( I think you’d probably need to go private for this).

Might be worth seeing a chiropodist. Maybe the nail needs to come off.

I'd be looking at getting the nail removed to allow it to heal properly. Not sure if that would be the right thing to do.

Ok I've purchased some toe covers online to wear...but honestly can't imagine this for months on end! I've been really careful not to put weight on it today and it has leaked less...I'm faintly hopeful she is wrong... I think the nail needs to come off too sadly. I'm going to have to see how it goes for the summer aren't I and then make a decision

I'd get it done whilst you're off work, or at least make an appointment to seek advice.

I had a freak accident earlier this year and broke my big toe, also detaching the nail by about 3/4. You are going to have remove the nail or have it removed or it will continue getting infected under the detached area.

Grim as it sounds if you soak it in really salty water for a good hour and give it a wiggle it will probably come away if its already half detached ( grim i know but this is what my Doctor told me to do ) this was about 6 months ago and it has grown back about a centimetre already.

I agree you need to get the nail removed. It's so badly damaged and as it continues to grow you're going to risk ripping it which will be painful and will risk further infection if you tear the skin it's attached to.

Do it during the holidays and you have a month at least to let the skin harden and the nail start growing.

Definitely salt water soaks every night to clean any sock fuzz or dirt.

A good multi-vitamin and a biotin/collagen supplement will also give your nails the best chance of growing as quickly as possible.

Do you think I should go back and seek a second opinion then? Or is this standard practise for the NHS to refuse to do this?

You can pay to have it removed. If it’s not causing you undue stress or becoming a bigger problem the NHS will advise you to keep it clean until it heals. It’s not affecting your walking so it’s not an emergency. The NHS is on its knees. The money can be spent in much better areas! Find a local chiropodist/podiatrist and get their opinion.

Yes. Get a second opinion.

By the way I have been soaking in salt water twice daily and there is no way I can get that nail off myself! It is absolutely firmly attached for at least half the nail.

When I broke my finger (slammed it in a car door) I had a blood blister under the nail. The MIU nurse drilled through the nail (🙊) to allow it to release. I didn't lose the nail somehow, but it's permanently distorted.

I thought that was standard, as they said it would remove much of the pain as pressure wouldn't be allowed to build behind the nail. As grim as it was, it worked. I did, however, have to wear a finger bandage for a good 3 months while all the hideous bits grew out as I also split the tip of the finger open 😷. I had to soak it in a Dettol bath every day to clean it.

Gah, huge sympathies, but I agree with PP - get it checked again by someone else, and start covering it daily.

The NHS is on its knees. The money can be spent in much better areas!

Yes this line gets trotted out a lot but I imagine someone removing the nail may be better in the long term than it constantly being infected and antibiotics every couple of months for the next year.

The MIU nurse drilled through the nail (🙊) to allow it to release.

Bleugh! Well I guess my toe has already relieved the pressure for me! It is grim, fingers and toes are just bastards when hurt!

It'll grow out.

Removing a nail is a really painful procedure which is huge over kill for this and can make the nail grow back in a weird shape and risk infection while it's healing- Google the procedure on you tube ,you won't be so keen then! Just use some Melonin dressing and some microtape if it starts oozing to keep it dry.

I have damaged nails many times, they don't look pretty but just grow out.

so am I going to be looking after a wound open to infection for pretty much a year?

With the best will will in the world it's a bit of a manky toe nail not an open wound.

I have damaged nails many times, they don't look pretty but just grow out.

Yes, I feel perhaps this thread has evolved somewhat. I don't actually want my nail taken off as I have read that it is hugely painful. My concern is the wound being effectively open for months and how to keep infection at bay. I was bathing in salt water twice daily before and it became infected. What I really needed from the nurse was advice. I asked if I should continue to bathe it and her response was "if you like". I asked if I should cover it it and she said "if you need to". She said no to any creams. She also said the holiday seawater will do it good but I'm not following that piece of advice! Antibiotics make me feel really ill, I have absolutely no intention of going back on them.

It's fine (well it isn't), I will stick with bathing it twice a day and keeping it covered everyday as I don't see any other suggestions and nor was the nurse forthcoming either.

I am properly fucked off with myself and this stupid bloody toe!

With the best will will in the world it's a bit of a manky toe nail not an open wound.

But it isn't. The nail has come away and there is red blood all day. Now there is no nail to protect the area that is affected.

From the photo it doesn't look like it needs to be covered unless (it's actively weeping)

Instead of soaking it I would use some Savlon spray.

You might be preventing it from drying up by soaking .

What about the plasters like Compede that promote healing? You can get ones for fingers/ toes.

I suggest you start another thread but put chiropodist / podiatrist in the title. You really need some proper advice. What a mess.

Agree footle! I'm going to head to the pharmacy and ask their advice and buy what they suggest. I had the same thought about soaking it (that perhaps it needs to dry out) which is why I asked the nurse. She clearly didn't want to commit to giving any real advice though that day.