Messed-up Toenail

[Ijustwannateach]

I had a toenail with a really bad fungal infection for a couple of years. The infection is finally gone, but it has left the toenail ravaged- it grows strangely, too thick in some places and not wide enough. It still looks pretty bad, and it doesn't seem to be returning to "normal" on its own. I asked my local clinic doc, and he just said that's the way things are. Any better ideas out there? Is there such a thing as nail cosmetic surgery or nail repair?

[Guest #1man]

Go to Big C and get some "Liquid Nails"

You can use it to build up the areas that are too thin.

After 6 months it should grow back to normal.

[PeaceBlondie]

I would find a specialist who does toe surgery, like a podiatrist (not a pedicurist). My ingrown toenail could not be fixed by regular medical doctors, until they sent me to a doctor of podiatry. Hurt like the dickens - he had to cut out the nail at the root, on that edge, and give me a double shot of novocaine. The root now grows weird, but has never ingrown in 40 years.

Some of my other toenails have gotten noticeably thicker over the years, but I suggest you see a specialist in toe surgery.

[llortami]

sounds similar to when my brother had a cheesy toe on his right foot for about 6 months and in the end went to hospital and they ripped the whole nail off it did grow back

but just doesnt look the same anymore looks narrower then than the left foot i think it damages the skin under the nail good luck with you big toe

[britmaveric]

Antifungal usually works, but always just have them remove the toenail - then treat. Nail will grow back so...

[FBN]

Antifungal usually works, but always just have them remove the toenail - then treat. Nail will grow back so...

Removal of the nail now with a "cleanup" of the nailbed and near the growthplate of the nail may result in a new, nail without deformity but if the nail growthplate was damaged in the fungal infection, it may never be normal again; in this case, it may be better to remove the nail permanently. It is important to be sure that the fungal infection is cured. Sometimes a year or longer treatment is necessary (on oral medication).

[kingwilly]

in this case, it may be better to remove the nail permanently. It is important to be sure that the fungal infection is cured.

yuck, thats even worse.

[PeaceBlondie]

Stupid, trollish comments by new posters and old will continue to be culled (deleted), and newbies could be banned.

[wpcoe]

I would find a specialist who does toe surgery, like a podiatrist (not a pedicurist). My ingrown toenail could not be fixed by regular medical doctors, until they sent me to a doctor of podiatry. Hurt like the dickens - he had to cut out the nail at the root, on that edge, and give me a double shot of novocaine. The root now grows weird, but has never ingrown in 40 years.

Some of my other toenails have gotten noticeably thicker over the years, but I suggest you see a specialist in toe surgery.

PB: Was that in Thailand? I came to the conclusion, reinforced by a doctor at Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital, that there are no podiatrists in Thailand. If you know of one in Thailand, please post name and details.

[PeaceBlondie]

I would find a specialist who does toe surgery, like a podiatrist (not a pedicurist). My ingrown toenail could not be fixed by regular medical doctors, until they sent me to a doctor of podiatry. Hurt like the dickens - he had to cut out the nail at the root, on that edge, and give me a double shot of novocaine. The root now grows weird, but has never ingrown in 40 years.

Some of my other toenails have gotten noticeably thicker over the years, but I suggest you see a specialist in toe surgery.

PB: Was that in Thailand? I came to the conclusion, reinforced by a doctor at Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital, that there are no podiatrists in Thailand. If you know of one in Thailand, please post name and details.

No, it was in the USAF, in Texas I have no idea who the skilled toe surgeons are in Thailand, but there must be a few in Bangkok. However, it does resemble rocket surgery.

[Ijustwannateach]

Thanks to all who gave me real advice here!

[h90]

I know from almost endless fights with funghi, no nail removed, but they need to take care of 2-3 times a day for month.

Or if you can...sunlight beach, salt water, all the time open and as less shoes as possible. Funghi hate that.

If the nail complete brake down, it is normal that it needs a lot of time to recover to normal shape 2-3 length till it is 80 % right.

(joke: be happy I got funghi on my testicle, even without having any sex)

[oldoldgit!!]

Have had my deformed toe nail for ten years, guess its forever now, not knowing your gender you could always disguise with nail varnish, hope that helps.

[ChangMaiSausage]

From what you have said it would be easier and more cost effective to have it removed. I had both my big toe nails removed twice the last time they burned the nail bed with some kind of acid this prevents the nail growing back but....................... nail came back! and only bits so I now officially have the ugliest toes anyone has seen.

[FBN]

From what you have said it would be easier and more cost effective to have it removed. I had both my big toe nails removed twice the last time they burned the nail bed with some kind of acid this prevents the nail growing back but....................... nail came back! and only bits so I now officially have the ugliest toes anyone has seen.

Sounds like a botched attempt! The nail bed has nothing to do the the actual growth of the nail; the growth plate must be removed properly. This is situated approximately 1cm above the nail fold flush to the bone itself. Complete removal best done with a bloodless field where the structure are more easily identified.

Cosmetic results are usually not bad. Much better than a deformed nail.

[ChangMaiSausage]

From what you have said it would be easier and more cost effective to have it removed. I had both my big toe nails removed twice the last time they burned the nail bed with some kind of acid this prevents the nail growing back but....................... nail came back! and only bits so I now officially have the ugliest toes anyone has seen.

Sounds like a botched attempt! The nail bed has nothing to do the the actual growth of the nail; the growth plate must be removed properly. This is situated approximately 1cm above the nail fold flush to the bone itself. Complete removal best done with a bloodless field where the structure are more easily identified.

Cosmetic results are usually not bad. Much better than a deformed nail.

One nail was removed in the local hospital in an operating theatre the other one was whilst I was in RAF by their surgeons (you are probably correct what exactly does a bloodless field and structure mean?)

[FBN]

Bloodless field: Using a tourniquet to cut blood supply to the area where you do surgery. Prevents bleeding during the procedure and allows for much better identification of anatomical structures.

Structure: In this case, the nail growth plate itself.

[ChangMaiSausage]

I imagine they di dgo throught the right procedure but......... I'm stuck with ugly big toes (part nail)

[Cuban]

I had an infection that resulted in a nail coming off, it took about 9 months to a year for the nail to look normal - then about 3 months carefull cutting to reshape the new growth. Give it some time - use anti fungal creams - take care with tight fitting shoes. HTH

[blakegeee]

Has anyone had an ingrown toe nail taken care of in Thailand?

I am in Canada right now and it is not covered under health care. Who knows why, it is not just a cosmetic thing, it hurts like hel_l if i just tap it on something. I was figuring it would be cheaper and better to take care of it in Thailand but somebody just mentioned that these doctors might not be available???

[aughie]

I dropped a heavy box on my big toe once. The toenail turned black and eventually fell off. It took months to grow back but it grew back as perfect as if it were drawn by Titian or Rapheal. If you got it in you you could go this route; I'd say it wouldn't help to think about it too long, just go for it.

-a

[thaipod]

Onychomycosis caused by yeasts is quite common in tropical regions causing prolonged moisture to the feet or poor fitting shoes turning the nail woody and in a lot of cases nail reduction that is difficult to control.

If there is nail loss either by by falling off or surgical the recovery of the full nail plate recovery is often unsucessful even then it can take up to 12 months due to damage to the matrix cells.

You can try surgical nail removal to see if the nail recovers but needs to be monitored and use topical cream during regrowth

By the way Thailand does not have any registered podiatrists or chiropidists and quite ofted the general GP does not knw how to treat the nail other than removing it.

[blakegeee]

Onychomycosis caused by yeasts is quite common in tropical regions causing prolonged moisture to the feet or poor fitting shoes turning the nail woody and in a lot of cases nail reduction that is difficult to control.

If there is nail loss either by by falling off or surgical the recovery of the full nail plate recovery is often unsucessful even then it can take up to 12 months due to damage to the matrix cells.

You can try surgical nail removal to see if the nail recovers but needs to be monitored and use topical cream during regrowth

By the way Thailand does not have any registered podiatrists or chiropidists and quite ofted the general GP does not knw how to treat the nail other than removing it.

Hmmm, maybe I should look into getting taken care of here before I come back then...not excited to get a quote though...a thai brick would probably be much more reasonably priced.

[aughie]

Go for it.

[bruceboy]

Personally, I am surprised there are not more fungal infections in Thailand during the rainy season.

[jyckowitz]

What anti-fungal cream? Does it need prescription?

I had an infection that resulted in a nail coming off, it took about 9 months to a year for the nail to look normal - then about 3 months carefull cutting to reshape the new growth. Give it some time - use anti fungal creams - take care with tight fitting shoes. HTH

[blakegeee]

Personally, I am surprised there are not more fungal infections in Thailand during the rainy season.

I just asked my doctor hear in Canada about the surgery and he said that they do not just make the nail fall off and re-grow. He said that they have to kill the nail bed at the sides where it is ingrown, so it will only regrow in the middle. But at this point, all I can do is look in to it in Thailand because I ran out of time here and I am sure it would be cheaper in Thailand anyways. The Chiang Mai Ram hospital has a good rep so I will see what they say.

[mommysboy]

I had a toenail with a really bad fungal infection for a couple of years. The infection is finally gone, but it has left the toenail ravaged- it grows strangely, too thick in some places and not wide enough. It still looks pretty bad, and it doesn't seem to be returning to "normal" on its own. I asked my local clinic doc, and he just said that's the way things are. Any better ideas out there? Is there such a thing as nail cosmetic surgery or nail repair?

I'm giving anti fungal a crack, and regular shaping/pairing of the nail courtesy of my chick.

As a resut of earlier neglect I got an ingrowing nail, very painful, so make sure you keep it wel trimmed.

[h1lander]

Thanks to all who gave me real advice here!

I am a UK podiatrist (with a Thai wife!). Fungal infection of the toenails usually occurs after a bout of Athlete's foot of the skin. I think the most effective way to treat a fungal nail is by taking Terbinafin in tablet form - that's 'Lamisil' tablets - provided you do not have bother with your kidneys or liver. Treating with fungicidal paints can take a long time and their success is far from guaranteed. Removal of the nail does nothing to cure the infection if it is affecting the matrix of the nail. If the nail is bugging you, why not get it removed for good - a simple easy and effective procedure where the root of the nail is destroyed using phenol and takes about 8 weeks to heal. My success rate, like most UK podiatrists, is about 97%.

[Deeral]

If there is no longer a fungal infection you should look to other causes.

THe skin at the base of the toenail is programed to grow your nail, if this "programming" is damaged it can lead to irregularities in the nail - an "ingrowing" toenail is the most obvious.

THere are also some forms of malignant cancer that can be mistaken for ingrowing toe-nails.

In short - get it checked by a suitably qualified doctor - many misdiagnose.

In the end the solution may be to remove the flesh that "programs" the nail to grow in the hope that it either regrows with a straight nail or doesn't grow anything at all.

BTW - removal of the nail may well involve a "comedy" style shock absorber bandage. Don't expect to walk about of use the offending foot for a few days.

Edited February 23, 2011 by Deeral