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Runner's Forum: Toenail falling off!

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    • CommentAuthorFree Memberabnana25
    • CommentTimeSep 15th 2007
     
    abnana25

    So I went for my first long run (12 mi) on Wednesday, and now my toenail is starting to fall off. It hurts like hell and I don't know what to do. But of course, I continue to run :) Has anyone lost a toenail before? Any advice? Thanks!

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberCrazymuter
    • CommentTimeSep 16th 2007
     
    Crazymuter

     

     

    My dad, a runner, mentioned to me some time ago that every now and then he loses toenails to running. They grow back, but it sucks for a bit.  I think he changed his shoes and it doesn't happen so often.  BUt I'm not sure.  I'll see if I can get more info from him.

    CM 

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberericleejoe
    • CommentTimeSep 16th 2007
     
    ericleejoe
    abnana25:

    So I went for my first long run (12 mi) on Wednesday, and now my toenail is starting to fall off. It hurts like hell and I don't know what to do. But of course, I continue to run :) Has anyone lost a toenail before? Any advice? Thanks!

     I think its pretty common. I am losing 3 toenails.  It will feel better in a couple days.

     

     

    Eric

     

     

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberTrotters
    • CommentTimeSep 16th 2007
     
    Trotters

    If you run regularly, particularly if you do trail runs, you will stub your toes on occasion, your toe-nails will go black, your toe-nails will drop off (big toes usually, because the big toe is at the forefront & dosen't have the flexibility of the smaller toes)  It dosen't matter how well fitting or roomy your running shoes are (and by nature of the job they're designed for, they need to be tight fitting, else you'd go over on your ankles all the time) if your shoe impacts with anything head-on whilst you're runnning, your big toe will move forward in the shoe and take the impact - wear fabric plasters (I think you Yanks call them 'Band-Aids') on the ends of your big toes to soften the blow.

    I'm without both big toe-nails at the moment and it's surprisingly comfortable!

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberktomkie
    • CommentTimeSep 17th 2007
     
    ktomkie
    I lose mine! With some, its a point of pride...a gross one, but its true. That's how you separate the real runners from the pack! :)
    • CommentAuthorFree Memberkzuutracy
    • CommentTimeSep 21st 2007
     
    kzuutracy
    I was just wondering about this!  I just lost both of mine on my second toes and was wondering if it was normal, because it hurts.  My only fear is when I run my first marathon in November the pain will bother me.  I'll try the band aids and see if it helps.
    • CommentAuthorFree MemberAprilP
    • CommentTimeSep 26th 2007
     
    AprilP
    I too lose my toenails from time to time...I guess you get used to it.  HOWEVER - that being said...I recently ran in a local 5 mile race, and at the end, booths set up with vendors, etc., there was a foot dr. there...I asked her to look at my toes...one of them..toe wasn't "black" ... but it appeared maybe to be infected..blister after blister under the nail..and the toe nail was not falling off....she very calmly said "you'll have to come into my office, and I'll remove that for you"...augh!! what?  remove it?  won't it just fall off? no..had to be removed...so numb up the toe with a needle or two..and off she yanks the nail...and wow....it feels so much better...why the long story?  just to say..."yes...toenails do fall off for runners...no matter what size shoe you wear...and they may even have to be removed surgically...just a benefit of running I guess"....
    • CommentAuthorFree Memberaveryjd
    • CommentTimeSep 27th 2007
     
    averyjd
    Hi there, my first post and it's about toenails! I tend to lose the nails from my second toe on both feet. They didn't go black and it didn't hurt too much as far as I rememeber, just makes you cringe a bit!  Feels heaps better once they're gone though!!
    • CommentAuthorFree Memberspoonlamp
    • CommentTimeSep 27th 2007 edited
     
    spoonlamp

    I lost the toenails from both my big toes doing a 9 mile run in boots and carrying a little weight (I'm in the forces). My boots fit comfortably when I initially put them on, but I hadn't taken into account how much your feet swell when running. I reckon losing the toenails was from my toes gently banging against the front of my boots - not enough to cause pain, but over time that's got to mount up, and I know others who have had the same thing wearing trainers. Whenever I buy trainers now I always think about a little more room in the front and REMEMBER THAT MY FEET SWELL!

      Incidentally, my toes went black, fell off without pain and grew back in the same fashion (i.e. without pain!).

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberMargorita
    • CommentTimeSep 27th 2007
     
    Margorita

    I also lose the nail on the 2nd toe. Right foot only. I've switched shoes, socks, band-aided, Vaselined, trimmed and everything else. Nothing seems to help. If it hurts a little, wait till it grows out a bit and it will be easier to remove. I've never had them turn black, fortunately. In the meantime I just try to keep it short and stay grateful that I can run. I'm planning for a marathon in April and will cut them all as short as possible for that, just in case.  Thanks Ktomkie for the positive spin!

    Happy Running!!!

    Here's to the hot summer being over  with Laughing! 

  11.  
    rememberwhentallahassee

    I lost 3 or 5 toenails on my right foot more than once.  My big toe gets a blister under it and then it falls off.  I always find that when it's gone I don't have any problems besides how ugly it looks.  So, except for not being able to wear sandals - I never got too upset. 

    I have found that when my shoes are new and have low mileage it happens less often.  So maybe it is the shoes. 

    I also lost my big toenail on my left foot when I was mountain biking without clips and smashed my foot in to a log that I was trying to go over.  That one was pretty painful until the nail finally came all the way off. 

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberTrotters
    • CommentTimeSep 30th 2007
     
    Trotters

    ' Here's to the HOT SUMMER being over with'

    YOU WHAT?

    I'm all for shifting the Earths axis a few degrees south! - having had a cold wet summer, I'm about to go out on an urban seven miler with hooded top and jogging bottoms on- ROLL ON April 08!

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberdcooper1
    • CommentTimeOct 7th 2007
     
    dcooper1

    I also lose toenails...usually the second toe on each foot as well as the third toenail on the right foot. A podiatrist I saw recommended using coban tape to "splint" the toes straight.  Turns out I was running on the ends of the toes and damaging the nail bed rather than running on the bottom of the toes. This has really helped.  Just pull your toe straight and then tape it around and around to splint it straight. Running is comfortable and I don't have sore toes nearly so much.  Good luck.

     

  14.  
    steve.howard

    I've lost a few nail along the way.  Currently three blackened and right big toe nail is getting rerady to go. 

    I get my shoes at Pacers in Arlington Va, following loss of the first two nails the store manage (I assume) moved me up 1/2 a shoe size.  I was a sceptic.  The explanation was the foot swelling during longer runs and needing a larger "toe box".  I am a believer.  While I still get an occsional black toe nail, there is seldom any pain associated.

  15.  
    • CommentAuthorFree Membergogoodygo
    • CommentTimeNov 19th 2007
     
    gogoodygo

    i got some nasty turf toe almost a year ago from a thanksgiving day football extravaganza on field turf.  they two big toes got quite painful and nasty, causing me to stumble around for the holiday.  pus and infection followed, but i am not the medical care-seeking type, so i soaked the feet in epsom & sea salt with a big bucket of warm water until I had pruny feet.  then punctured the toe bed to get the fluid out and pulled the bad boys off with needlenose pliers.  saved a copay (if i had insurance) and as soon as they were gone the pain left with them.  then i mailed one of the toe nails to my old cross country coach for a gag.

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