Persistent fungal nail infection.

[BalladOfBarryAndFreda]

I’m at the end of my tether with this bloody thing. It is on a single toe (big toe) but I’ve had it for a good 3 or 4 years. It developed as a result of running, I’ve changed my habits around running to reduce the chance of spread or worsening and the infection hasn’t got any worse but no improvement either. I’ve been treating it consistently with paint on treatments, initially the scholl one but it’s been Curanail for the last year or so.

I’ve tried Vicks and it did nothing. Has anyone got a marvellous cure?

Terbinafine tablets from the GP is what shifted dh's. You do need blood tests as it can affect your liver. He's been ok so far

Tea tree oil worked for one of my fungal nails but hasn't worked at all for the other. Like you I've tried all the other remedies to no avail:-(.

I have now given up and started putting nail varnish on so at least I can't see it!

Are you sure it’s a fungal infection? You could have just damaged the nail when you were running so now it’s growing thicker/discoloured?

Was going to post the same as PP. my husbands only shifted with tablets which he took for 6 months. All but one little toe cleared up. But about 4-5 others were clear.

Terbinafine gives me the fear, tbh.

@Konga

Are you sure it’s a fungal infection? You could have just damaged the nail when you were running so now it’s growing thicker/discoloured?

Pretty sure. Though it hasn’t spread, so maybe not.

My dh has had no issues with taking it. He had to submit a toenail sample to confirm it was fungal nail before he started them

The tablets did nothing for me - took them for 6 months without a shred of effect then decided the risks were too great for no results. Surprisingly, something called Excilor worked for me. You have to be consistent, and it took about 7 months or so, but this was about eight years ago and I have had no trouble since.

Sorry, pressed post too soon. It does look like the ‘moderate’ infection pics in the toe paint leaflet and online though

I have the same issue, OP, also from running. Had it about 3 years now.

I eventually removed my toenail myself in despair, and now it's growing back and it's still fucking infected.

I am pissed off.

@Wearywithteens

I could’ve written your post OP - nearly 4 years now - but I understand GPs just won’t even prescribe Terbinafine now. I just keep painting on the chemicals on (£25 a pop) - doesn’t matter which one - they’re all crap. It burns my skin, is expensive and doesn’t work but I feel like I’ve got to do something!

It’s shite, isn’t it

@Wearywithteens

I could’ve written your post OP - nearly 4 years now - but I understand GPs just won’t even prescribe Terbinafine now. I just keep painting on the chemicals on (£25 a pop) - doesn’t matter which one - they’re all crap. It burns my skin, is expensive and doesn’t work but I feel like I’ve got to do something!

My dh has a current prescription for it so some GPs must prescribe it

They are definitely tighter on it, @dementedpixie

I have a cure, or one that worked with my daughter who had a fungal nail for 2+ years that didn't seem to respond to anything. Doctor confirmed diagnosis and said we were in it for the longhaul.
You'll either laugh or cry at the cure:
Obviously when travel is more reliable, book yourself to somewhere reliably hot for 2 weeks. Go in the pool every day, go in the sea and be outside in the sun.
After a 2 weeks spanish holiday, my daughter's nail started growing out. Ie. healthy uninfected nail started growing up. Over a few months the infected part grew up the nail bed and eventually we could cut it off. No problems since.
I swear it was the combination of chemicals in the pool and the healing effect of the sun that helped the recovery.
Alas no guaranteed longterm sun in the UK to rely on.

I was prescribed a course of the oral antifungal and needed to stop early due to the impact it was having on my liver. Unfortunately, I wasn’t on them long enough and it has now spread to one of my other toes on the same foot. I’m gutted. I also have mocasin athletes foot which cases red inflamed skin on the soles of my feet and yet again I can’t treat it properly since creams have minimal impact and I’m not allowed to try the tablets again

I took 12 (!) months of Terbinafine and the infection eventually went away

Terbinafine was the only thing that worked for me, although I was reluctant to use it. Had tried all of the 'off the shelf' remedies, Vicks, teatree oil etc. - no benefit at all.

Took about 9 months.

I've heard coconut oil can be helpful, no idea if it actually works though.

I bought this after reading about it on another thread earlier this year and I'm very impressed with it so far

I've just googled it, and apparently laser treatment is more effective that oral medication. Never even knew it was a thing! I can't imagine it would covered on the nhs though.

Worth a shot, mummabear. Will try it.

@PearPickingPorky that's what I thought when I ordered it too!