Toe and Toenail Misery

7843 Views 31 Replies 11 Participants Last post by fatmantrying, Jan 1, 2008

sistergoldenhair

Discussion Starter · Dec 28, 2007

Warning: do not read any farther if you are squeamish, especially about feet. 
I am a little depressed about the condition of my toes. Of 10 toes, I am now missing 4 nails (3rd and 4th toe on each foot), 2 are black, 2 nails (my second toes) are abnormally thick, and two nails (big toes) are scuffed. 
I've always had occasional black nails and my second toe nails have gotten thick no matter what style and size shoes I run in. I file them down so it's not so obvious. (My second toes are not longer than the big toes, either.) 
During the marathon I ran 3 weeks ago and since, I've had more blistering than normal underneath and around the nail beds every time I run. Or, I guess, where nails used to be on some of the toes. 
We won't even get in to the blisters and callouses on my second toe tips and medial side of my big toes. 
I was just visiting my hometown and both my mom and best friend, you know, those unconditional love types, proclaimed my feet disgusting. <img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif"> I look at my feet and am repulsed. 
The cosmetic side does really bother me. Besides preferring to have cute feet, I teach yoga and pilates so am barefoot for part of my job. It does not make a good impression. Also, healthwise, I am starting to worry about infection developing, especially on the toes w/o nails. 
I buy running shoes 1 1/2 sizes too big and Body Glide my feet before long runs. My toes don't hurt while I run but after runs are just disfigured. <img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif"> Maybe I need to step that up and/or wear some different socks? I wear Thorlo socks. Or use a different product? Or convince my health insurance provider that weekly pedicures are medically necessary? <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> 
Has anyone had success with resolving issues like this? I am especially curious about preventing these problems and re-growing as normal as possible nails. Ugh.

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Durt

· #21 · Dec 29, 2007

SGH--do you ever take electrolyte supplements? you may find this article of interest-- <a href="http://www.succeedscaps.com/blisters.html" target="_blank">http://www.succeedscaps.com/blisters.html</a> 
May be time to start incorporating some more salt into your hydration regime.

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sistergoldenhair

Discussion Starter · #22 · Dec 29, 2007

Durt -- I don't take them because I keep forgetting to order them. I do not avoid salt/sodium in my daily diet, though.

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kcwoodhead

· #23 · Dec 30, 2007

Let me redeem myself...just slightly! <img alt="" src="http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1364/9725348/17641737/295485923.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
See what a quick trip to the salon can do? The right big one is totally fake and happens to be the prettiest one I have now!

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sistergoldenhair

Discussion Starter · #24 · Dec 30, 2007

OK, I am booking a pedicure first think Monday.

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Tithers

· #25 · Dec 30, 2007

We need to get dual pedi's the day AFTER GCT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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mmoonptdeux

· #26 · Dec 30, 2007

Well, this is a toe thread, though toenails seem to be the main focus, so let's give this query a shot 
I got word from the doctor that based on some x-rays I took a couple weeks back, I probably have a fractured sesamoid (long story short, I jammed my left big toe into a couch leg over three months ago and it never has fully recovered) 
So, has anyone had any experience with this injury? Any insight would be greatly appreciated

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APRR Chuck

· #27 · Dec 31, 2007

if worried about the post race infections can always do like me. 
soak the feet in a water, dish soap, peroxide and alcohol solution. i use a 3 gallon bucket and the big cleaning agent be the soap. the alcohol and perxoide are just addtional methods. do this for a few nights and the regrowth is great. however due to my skating i have permanently FUBAR'ed tonails too. 
the electrolyte trick is awesome. eversince i statred using an elctrolyte heavy mix my toenail loss rate is almost nil

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Durt

· #28 · Dec 31, 2007

Yikes! Order them! Try them this w/e at the slug event, and see how well you do. Everybody is different, but when you look at individual sweat rates over the duration of a long run, you'll surely blow through more electrolytes than your average daily intake.

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sistergoldenhair

Discussion Starter · #29 · Dec 31, 2007

I will definitely try after reading the article and hearing from you and Chuck. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if that's what does the trick. I was a salty salty girl after the marathon, and I know I get sodium issues on long runs (puffy fingers).

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sistergoldenhair

Discussion Starter · #30 · Dec 31, 2007

Ouch! Don't you hate when those furniture legs jump out into your path? 
What does the doc recommend? With a fracture it's usually rest to let the bone heal, maybe casting or otherwise immobilizing? Make sure you consume enough calcium, Vitamin D, protein to support bone building and healing.

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runningINnyc

· #31 · Dec 31, 2007

My toenails are also in a constant state of yuck ...just varying degrees. I'm not sure if there's anything more I can do. I don't get blisters (knock on wood) but I regularly lose toenail #2 on both feet (they are longer than the first guy) and the big toenails on both feet are nearly always in some degree of damage. <img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif"> I wear Asics which seem to be kind to my feet in general but am wondering if I need to try a different model (currently in Nimbus 7s and Nimbus 9s)

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fatmantrying

· #32 · Jan 1, 2008

Jumping in late, but I'd try one full size larger on the shoe before doing much else, yet. You can always play around a bit with sock thickness if it feels way to big. 
I've been lucky, no blisters and only one lost toenail. But, I'm not doing nearly as many long runs this year as you guys are.

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