A Split Toenail
By Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99367)
Atlanta, Georgia
July 11, 2016 6:59pm CST
My better half went to urgent care yesterday with a toenail split right down the middle. They wouldn't touch it and suggested he go to a podiatrist instead.
He went there today, but all the doctor did was unbandage the toe and told my better half to do nothing to the toenail, not even a bandage.
I was sure they would take the toenail off. I don't see how it can grow back together, it's split from the base of the nail to the tip of his toe. I'm afraid it will get infected, but we'll see.
15 people like this
15 responses
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
12 Jul 16
Yikes that sounds so painful. Seems a bit weird they didn't do anything
3 people like this
@OreoBrownie (3755)
• Commerce, Georgia
12 Jul 16
It's entirely possible that the nail will detach from the bed on its own. I have heard many doctors say that the best course of treatment is to do nothing. If you see no improvement in 3 months I would go back and ask for removal to be done. Once the anesthesia block is done on the toe he won't feel anything.
2 people like this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
12 Jul 16
Ouch! How did he do that? I would have thought if urgent care thought it was serious enough for it to be handled by a specialist, the specialist would say to do more for it. I assume he just has to wait for the new nail to come in?
1 person likes this
Really? Oh my gosh, that must have hurt! I thought maybe he stubbed his toe on something or that something fell on it! Well I hope it's better now or at least well into the healing process!
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
12 Jul 16
I had a big toe nail do that - incredibly painful and about a year to fully grow back from the small stub left when I cut the rest away
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
16 Jul 16
@RubyHawk I snagged it in a metal rut on the ladder to a top bunk bed I was using at a hostel during a weekend in London as I came down the ladder barefoot - incredible pain
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
17 Jul 16
@arthurchappell Yikes, I can imagine. My toes are tender.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
12 Jul 16
ouch! most painful ordeal. i sure feel fer him! keepin' such bandaged can actually encourage infection - best to keep't dry. true, 't mightn't heal together, but new nail'll grow out underneath't. sendin' healin' hugs!
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
16 Jul 16
@RubyHawk i aint quite certain how that works?? but hopefully all'll work out, jest takes time.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
17 Jul 16
@crazyhorseladycx I'm surprised that it's looking good.
1 person likes this
@Wordly1 (470)
• Kingston, New Hampshire
12 Jul 16
I've noticed that, as we get older, the nails on fingers and toes become brittle and more susceptible to breaking and splitting. If the nail had broken in the corners, you might have to worry about ingrown toenail,but, because it broke in the middle, more than likely nothing will happen. What I would do, however, is take a nail file(or emery board) and 'scrape' the nail in the broken area to 'thin' it down. That would soften it up so that, when the new nail grows out, pushing the old nail forward, that will, hopefully, put a stop to the splitting process. Just a thought... :-)
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Jul 16
I'm surprised too, I would have though for sure they would have pulled the toenail out. Should he seek a second opinion?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Jul 16
@RubyHawk Hmmm....maybe the doctor did actually know what he was talking about! Well, I hope it heals and grows back without any major infections or other medical issues!
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
17 Jul 16
@moffittjc Actually he did know what he was doing, the toe is looking well and peeling off in layers.
1 person likes this
@Macarrosel (7498)
• Philippines
12 Jul 16
Why he had that injury? What happen? That's really painful. I hope your husband is fine despite his injured toe nail.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22199)
• United States
12 Jul 16
That sounds painful. Hopefully it will grow back together.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
12 Jul 16
That must be painful.
They must have given him some sort of ointment or disinfecting powder.
1 person likes this
