Black Toe what next -- Warning Contains ugly image...

scottreynolds

Okay,
So a friend of a friend (okay me) has a problem which according to the internet is called back toe where the toe of my foot is hitting either the box of the shoe, the end of the shoe, or something else. Its the 3rd toe...

My foot is a fair way from the end of my shoes (they are half a size to big) but my foot could be slipping so tomorrow I'll try out the lace lock way of doing up my laces -- http://walking.about.com/od/shoes/ss/shoelacingtofit.htm -- and see if that helps.

I'm going to try and get some next size up shoes tomorrow -- I'm going into Bray Amph. King to get them to look.


There's no pain in my toe yet.....

Can someone recommend me where to go to get this looked at properly in Dublin. I'm not sure if a physio, podiatrist, gp is the way to go. What should I do next ?

Here's a photo its weird its my third toe (although its creeping into my 2nd toe now as the mileage goes up... Mileage is nothing to high 70km last week.

Sorry for the gross picture...

tracto

Nice! Did a marathon 2 months ago and 3 of my toes went like that. Thought they'd clear up after a few weeks but they are still nice and black. I experience no pain at all and I'd be surprised if you do but obviously from an aestethic point of view it would be preferable not to have it. The Anphibian King boys should defo be able to give you some advice alright, make sure you post back here afterwards and help a fellow black toe sufferer out!

RacoonQueen

I like to burst the blood blisters underneath/pull off the dead toenail. I'm a bit weird though so ignore me.

scottreynolds

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I like to burst the blood blisters underneath/pull off the dead toenail. I'm a bit weird though so ignore me.

Yeah the general recommendation is too drive a hot sterile pin through the nail..... but I'm trying to avoid that for now.

jeffontour

Occupational hazard for runners. Can't remember when I last had a full set of 10 toe nails. HTFU

scottreynolds

jeffontour wrote: »

Occupational hazard for runners. Can't remember when I last had a full set of 10 toe nails. HTFU

--- I would but i read on some website about a guy who lost his toe with that advice.... now he's not the full quid.

MrCreosote

Wouldn't worry about the sterile needle if it's not sore. You'll probably lose the nail, but a new one grows slowly underneath.

Usually gets my big toes. They take an age to grow back- 6 months or so. Smaller ones are faster.

estariol

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I like to burst the blood blisters underneath/pull off the dead toenail. I'm a bit weird though so ignore me.

eeeuuuuwwwhhh! manky, but in all honesty the only thing to do, cant remember the last time I had a full compliment of toe nails!

christeb

No advice, I have all of my toenailss and plan on keeping them. I am, however, nicely grossed out for the day!

Zell

I agree with MrCreosote. No need to see physio, doc or podiatrist imo. This happened me after last year's Dublin marathon. Nail eventually fell off when new nail had grown underneath. Took about 6 months.

estariol

I think it's fairly normal! but might be worth looking at your runners, toe box maybe too small

Aimman

estariol wrote: »

I think it's fairly normal! but might be worth looking at your runners, toe box maybe too small

I had this too before Christmas, but it was from playing basketball in court shoes that were a size too small. takes ages to clear up, and then have the joy of the nail falling off. Doesn't hurt though.

I often get a toenail sawing into the toe beside it and cutting through the skin on long runs. I dont realise until I take off the shoe and see a bloody sock. I have to remember to keep the nails well trimmed more often.:o

RunToFart

Amputate the toe. Do it. Do it.

jinka

Whats even worse is a fungal black nail. Now they take forever to go

uglyjohn

It happens, I pin the bloody blister under the nail and then it stops hurting. I can't remember what its like to have 10 toe nails.

Rusty Cogs 08

Both my middle toes are now black. Both toes are slightly longer than my '2nd' toes so they get all the punishment when out running (against the end of my trainers). It's usually a tempo run that does the initial damage. I've read different threads about bursting blood blisters and pulling nails off but generally the consensus is to do nothing and let the new nail grow underneath and push the old one out. If there's no pain (which there shouldn't be) that's what I do.

With regards prevention of re-occurance, all I could recommend is you keep your middle toes nail cut as short as possible. Maybe try the double skin socks and run in the knowledge that your now a paid up member of the black toe club.

scottreynolds

Reporting Back....

So I went out to Amphibian King and discussed the problem. The first thing they said was to get a bigger shoe (yes I know they sell shoes) so I got some Mizuno runners slightly bigger than my Asicis runners. These new shoes fell better on but so far I've only done one 14km run in them but there was no noticable rubbing etc on my toes. I've a real run this weekend 25km (I think) so I'll know then if there'a much difference really. So far so good.

As much as black toes are perceived to be normal I'd like to think I didn't have to have them

henryporter

Have a look at http://www.best-running-tips.com/black-toenail.html

How Strange

OMG, I think I'm going to be sick :eek:

I'm just glad I didn't read about the lancing while I was eating my lunch

I'm not queasy because I've never had a black toe nail, I'm currently on my fourth in a year, but dear jesus I NEVER want to see other people's black toe nails and read things about lancing them to release the blood.

the underdog

hey guys, i got my black toe just after conemeara this year, its about half way grown out now. just keep it cliped short...i think i got it from running down hill, were my toes were hitting the front of my runner? ....anybody doing longford on the 30th?