Lost Toe Nail

[Ann]

Hi everyone, could anyone advise me please. Hubby hit his big toe on a brick in the garden yesterday and his entire nail came flying off! (ARGGH!) It didn't bleed much at all, it was a toe which for many years had a bit of a fungal infection under the nail bed.

I put a dressing (think it was one coated in iodine, one in my first aid kit) and bandaged it to his adjoining toe. He had no soreness in it and even wore his shoes last night with no problem. It After showering this morning it looks a bit raw, should I still cover it or let it dry now. There appears to be no infection. He has done this before when on holiday abroad, with another toe and the nail grew back eventually. Should I perhaps get it checked at Minor Treatment Unit at our local GP surgery, which mans waiting for hours? Advice please especially from Sqad if you have the time please? Many thanks.

[bookbinder]

I once had an ingrowing big toenail removed, and the advice was to leave it uncovered as much as possible, but maybe put a dressing on it when in bed (so it doesn't rub on the bedclothes). During the day, I wore old slipons with a hole cut for the big bandage, and in the evenings I left it uncovered. After about a month a new nail started to grow and I could wear ordinary shoes. I went back the to GP just once, after about a week, to have the original dressing changed. After that, I was on my own, and it worked out OK.

[Sqad]

I think that your treatment is expert and i agree with the comments of bookbinder.

I think that you can get Tullegras dressings form the chemist and i think that would be a good idea and change them daily for about a week.

No need to bother the GP.

[black_cat51]

i would like to help, but can't get past your second sentence

[Ann]

Thanks everyone. Sqad, can you get Tullegras dressings from chemists like Boots please? Are they the ones coated in iodine?

[Sqad]

Ann...yes you can and no they do not contain iodine as they are a mesh covered with "grease"....sort of.

[Ann]

Many thanks Sqad, much appreciated x

[RATTER15]

The iodine dressings are called inodine and available from boots, like sqad says, they are a mesh covered with iodine that will require a dressing to hold it in place.

[B00]

Noooooo!!!

Not again!

What is it with people's toenails pinging off?

*bleurghhhh!*

[RATTER15]

I recently did a two day course on podiatry, I seem to remember that a lost toe nail can cause problems growing back as the grove either side of the toe where the nail slots in can begin to grow over and the new toenail will then become an ingrown toe nail. It may be worth a phone call to your GP or ask your local chemist.