Foot problem - Don't read if your eating.
- Thread starter dlsc
- Start date
fit_fairy
Cathlete
are they brittle (break easily) and thick. it could be a fungal infection. medication can help. but it also can be just discoloration from trauma. my big toes occasionally discolor esp when I do alot of high impact aerobics or running. it's from the friction of the toe rubbing in the shoe.
catherine
catherine
webbgirl
Cathlete
You may have something called Onychomycosis. It is a toenail fungus. I got mine after getting pedicure, and didn't really know until about 6 months later when my big toes turned yellow and they started looking scaly. I don't think that is the only way to get it.
I went to the Dr.and he gave me a prescription for a special nail polish designed to treat this fungus. In general, it doesn't have a good cure rate (the Dr. told me less than 10% are cured with this). It did work for me however, because I caught the infection early and I was diligent in applying the nailpolish.
This nailpolish is expensive. With my HMO, it still cost $30.00 for a tiny bottle, but it takes a while to use it all up. It has taken a year to get rid of fungus, but I didn't have to take the oral medication, which may have the side effect of liver damage. I wasn't willing to risk that!
This may or may not be your problem, but I would definitely go see a podiatrist. I did check in with the podiatrist recently to check on the status of the infection (mind you, it's been a year now since I have been diagnosed with it & been using the nailpolish) and he gave my nails the all clear.
Here is a link that may be helpful...definitly consult a doctor! Good Luck!
http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/onychomycosis.jsp
Webbgirl
I went to the Dr.and he gave me a prescription for a special nail polish designed to treat this fungus. In general, it doesn't have a good cure rate (the Dr. told me less than 10% are cured with this). It did work for me however, because I caught the infection early and I was diligent in applying the nailpolish.
This nailpolish is expensive. With my HMO, it still cost $30.00 for a tiny bottle, but it takes a while to use it all up. It has taken a year to get rid of fungus, but I didn't have to take the oral medication, which may have the side effect of liver damage. I wasn't willing to risk that!
This may or may not be your problem, but I would definitely go see a podiatrist. I did check in with the podiatrist recently to check on the status of the infection (mind you, it's been a year now since I have been diagnosed with it & been using the nailpolish) and he gave my nails the all clear.
Here is a link that may be helpful...definitly consult a doctor! Good Luck!
http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/onychomycosis.jsp
Webbgirl
amyg
Cathlete
Webbgirl got it right! I worked for a podiatrist for about 10 years and I cannot tell you how many baggies of toenails (to be sent to the lab as some insurance companies require) I've had sitting on my desk!!! x( 
Onychomychosis (on-ee-ko-my-cosis) is a very common thing and can be easily communicated to others. Make sure you wear clean socks and see a podiatrist soon!!! (You won't need a specialist or anything- it's probably the most common reason anyone sees a podiatrist!)
If it does end up that you need to start on antifungal drugs, you'll need to get regular labwork to check on your liver functioning and limit your alcohol intake while you're on it. I think you're on the drug for 2-6 months but I'm not sure I'm remembering correctly.
Your nails will NOT get better if you do have onychomycosis and you don't deal with it. Don't mean to be a downer, just sharing the info! (Kinda makes those bags of toenails worth it... LOL!!!)
Onychomychosis (on-ee-ko-my-cosis) is a very common thing and can be easily communicated to others. Make sure you wear clean socks and see a podiatrist soon!!! (You won't need a specialist or anything- it's probably the most common reason anyone sees a podiatrist!)
If it does end up that you need to start on antifungal drugs, you'll need to get regular labwork to check on your liver functioning and limit your alcohol intake while you're on it. I think you're on the drug for 2-6 months but I'm not sure I'm remembering correctly.
Your nails will NOT get better if you do have onychomycosis and you don't deal with it. Don't mean to be a downer, just sharing the info! (Kinda makes those bags of toenails worth it... LOL!!!)
acatalina
Cathlete
You can buy fungi off. It is a liquid . I has a dropper. Usually 1 drop on top of nail and one under the plate twice a day. If it gets bad the nail will fall off and really hurt. Don't let it go. The nail can turn black(bad sign)Healing starts to look yellowish green.
It is like a fungus from acrylic nails when you get moisture under them and they are lifting or have been overfiled and the nail bed is too thin, or you have waited too long for a fill.
You can sometimes find it at a drug store or a hair and nail salon.
Anne
It is like a fungus from acrylic nails when you get moisture under them and they are lifting or have been overfiled and the nail bed is too thin, or you have waited too long for a fill.
You can sometimes find it at a drug store or a hair and nail salon.
Anne
rjroubi
Cathlete
>Webbgirl got it right! I worked for a podiatrist for about
>10 years and I cannot tell you how many baggies of toenails
>(to be sent to the lab as some insurance companies require)
>I've had sitting on my desk!!! x(
>
>Onychomychosis (on-ee-ko-my-cosis) is a very common thing and
>can be easily communicated to others. Make sure you wear
>clean socks and see a podiatrist soon!!! (You won't need a
>specialist or anything- it's probably the most common reason
>anyone sees a podiatrist!)
>
>If it does end up that you need to start on antifungal drugs,
>you'll need to get regular labwork to check on your liver
>functioning and limit your alcohol intake while you're on it.
>I think you're on the drug for 2-6 months but I'm not sure I'm
>remembering correctly.
>
>Your nails will NOT get better if you do have onychomycosis
>and you don't deal with it. Don't mean to be a downer, just
>sharing the info! (Kinda makes those bags of toenails worth
>it... LOL!!!)
Amy is 100% on target in every way! I could not have said it any better......oh, FYI....Doctor of Pharmacy Degree if wondering about my credentials.
Robin ;-)
>10 years and I cannot tell you how many baggies of toenails
>(to be sent to the lab as some insurance companies require)
>I've had sitting on my desk!!! x(
>
>Onychomychosis (on-ee-ko-my-cosis) is a very common thing and
>can be easily communicated to others. Make sure you wear
>clean socks and see a podiatrist soon!!! (You won't need a
>specialist or anything- it's probably the most common reason
>anyone sees a podiatrist!)
>
>If it does end up that you need to start on antifungal drugs,
>you'll need to get regular labwork to check on your liver
>functioning and limit your alcohol intake while you're on it.
>I think you're on the drug for 2-6 months but I'm not sure I'm
>remembering correctly.
>
>Your nails will NOT get better if you do have onychomycosis
>and you don't deal with it. Don't mean to be a downer, just
>sharing the info! (Kinda makes those bags of toenails worth
>it... LOL!!!)
Amy is 100% on target in every way! I could not have said it any better......oh, FYI....Doctor of Pharmacy Degree if wondering about my credentials.
Robin ;-)
meredith
Cathlete
The Vicks takes many months to work but it does work. Sorry to tell you this, but fungal infections are very difficult to cure, you may have this the rest of your life. A friend of mine has this and she every time she stops taking the drugs, it comes back.
Do NOT get pedicures anywhere. Do your nails at home. (really) There are other horrible things you can get at these nail places. Even those that look nice, you never know what the cutomer before you brought in. And it's pretty easy to just miss a few germs.
Do NOT get pedicures anywhere. Do your nails at home. (really) There are other horrible things you can get at these nail places. Even those that look nice, you never know what the cutomer before you brought in. And it's pretty easy to just miss a few germs.