Toenail black and toe turning red - should go see doctor?
Hello,
I wore ill fitting shoes while playing softball and now my big toenail is painful and turning black. What worries me is there's also redness under my toenail and on the top of the toe.
I've never had this problem before and will chalk it up to being diabetic I suppose. I keep reading that diabetic feet are particularly vulnerable. Should I go to the doctor? I'm afraid he'll touch it and worse :) Any horror storeis that will spur me on? Thanks!
Cynthia D.
I wore ill fitting shoes while playing softball and now my big toenail is painful and turning black. What worries me is there's also redness under my toenail and on the top of the toe.
I've never had this problem before and will chalk it up to being diabetic I suppose. I keep reading that diabetic feet are particularly vulnerable. Should I go to the doctor? I'm afraid he'll touch it and worse :) Any horror storeis that will spur me on? Thanks!
Cynthia D.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kristy on -
If you are asking yourself and others if you should go see a doctor then yeah..you should go see a doctor. Only you can assess the situation. I would assume that the blackness signifies that circulation was impaired to your toe for quite some time and the redness could be an infection similar to that of an ingrown toe nail but I'm not a doctor. In my opinion, because you are diabetic, you should take the things more seriously than non diabetics. And yes , diabetic feet are very vulnerable. I'm sure you'd rather have it looked at by a doctor ASAP and have her/him say it's nothing to worry about instead of having it removed next week because it got infected.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah on -
I'd go to the ER now. Black can be a sign of tissue death.. the longer you wait, the more damage is done.
I would advise this even if you weren't diabetic... at the very least you need to be seen TOMORROW - don't wait for an appointment next week.
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Permalink Reply by Terry Keelan on -
As Kristy says, if you have to ask then, yeah, go see the doctor.
What's the worst that could happen if you see the doctor and it turns out to be nothing?
Compare that to
What's the worst that could happen if you don't see the doctor and it turns out to be something?
Good luck,
Terry
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Permalink Reply by Teena on -
I agree with all the replies Cynthia. See a doctor now, or tomorrow. Not any later. Our feet (even our skin) is very vulnerable (to pressure, stress, weather, footwear, etc). Hopefully, all will be well.
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Permalink Reply by Tom Goffe on -
If you want to keep your toe/foot, then go immediately. One thing about diabetes is that things don't get better with time by themselves. The longer you wait, the harder it is for a doctor to help you.
Waiting is not an option.
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Permalink Reply by Emily S on -
Go to the dr now!!! The longer you wait the more painful it is going to be. It sounds like you are building up pressure under the nail and that pressure needs to be alleviated NOW before you end up with a much worse infection that could lead to amputation!
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Permalink Reply by Cynthia D on -
Okay, you talked me into it. One reason for hesitation is lack of insurance but a big toe is worth at least $100 doctor visit. If it was the pinkie I'd think twice :)
Thanks to all for your advice and concern.
Cynthia D.
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Permalink Reply by Terry Keelan on
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Yeah, for a pinkie I'd only pay $20. Maybe $25. :)
Terry
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Permalink Reply by Lois on -
GET THEE TO THE ER ... NOW!!!!!! I am currently in the hospital for wounds on the feet. The DR had to threaten me with amputation!!!!! I have been sitting here since 7/28! It is my third hospitalization for this problem since 4/29. I had to have surgery to debride the wounds. I am having surgery on Friday for a skin graft.
The left foot started with a cracked callous, the right foot started with a mysterious blister near my little toe and bloomed into a hole 1.5 centimeters deep! The left foot had a hole 1 inch deep and was 8" long. PAIN!
GET THEE TO THE ER!!!!!!!
Lois La Rose
Milwaukee, WI
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Permalink Reply by Jessica C on -
Isn't this just bleeding under the toenail? (I forget what it is called.) Look up sports injuries. Try burning a safetypin with a lighter, then poking a whole in the nail, it will probably just ooze blood!
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Permalink Reply by Lois on
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Jessica:
I'm sorry. I couldn't disagree with you more!! A diabetic shouldn't poke, prod or otherwise dig around ... especially on the feet!!! Black may mean more. Besides, if it is blood, it should be done under more sterile conditions with medical follow-up care. She could lose her toenail. Take it from me ... it could lead to more severe problems. This is the voice of experience!!!!!!
Lois La Rose
Milwaukee, WI
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Permalink Reply by Jess on -
How ill fitting where your shoes? Sometimes if you have a long toenail and small shoes you can cause your toenail to fall off. It's happening to my mom from leaving her toenails too long during a hiking trip. And I had a friend who's tonail just fell off this week from the same thing. Neither are diabetic though so you should definitly seek a doctor to look it over. Their nails turned black and the friend's whose fell off is doctoring and keeping her nailess toe very clean. I had a horse step on one of my big toes and turned it black. I thought it was going to fall off but instead it just grew out bent till I could cut off the last of the weird bit of nail. Hope all goes well with the doctor visit! Keep us up to date!
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