Why does my toenail keep falling off? (Photos)

[BygToe]

Sorry in advance for the ick.

I’ve been having loads of problems with my big toe nail. It’s not fungal, not gout, not an infection, not arthritis.

It’s been discoloured for over a decade, but in the last couple of years or so it’s got much worse and very painful at times. As it grows, it doesn’t seem to be connected on the right hand side and eventually “flaps” like a barn door, very painfully! It’s still connected on the left, so I have to cut the nail off. I have had to do this 4 times now. After the first time, I had hoped it would grow back normally, but no!

I know I need to see a podiatrist/chiropodist (what’s the difference?) but for various reasons I haven’t been able to.

Has anyone had similar or knows the likely treatment? Thanks in advance.

I can't see the photo but just make an appointment as you know you need to

Sorry - before and after photos now attached

Photos not showing yet but do you hike or run? My big toenail is the same and according to the chiropodist this is what causes it.

No, don’t do either @helpfulperson

I did wonder if there was an injury to the nail bed which keeps playing havoc with the nail as it grows but I can’t remember an incident which could have caused it.

Is there no treatment for your nail?

Why do you think it’s not fungal? I commented to my partner that I couldn’t understand why my big toenail broke at the mid point all the time and that my shoes must be too tight and he laughed and said I had a fungal infection and I googled a lot of pictures and I’m afraid he was right and my toenail looked a lot healthier than yours…
but the break line was v v similar.

That’s a fungal toenail. You need to see a podiatrist.

That’s fungal. Have you tried treating it?

It’s been tested twice at the GP and both times came back clear for a fungal infection

It certainly looks fungal. I would go to a podiatrist, they will know and they're great.