Toenail Loss

[tenacious1]

Please tell me how to prevent.

[Richard21142]

If this is due to running, either keep the nails very short or buy training shoes a half size larger.

[Belgian Lace]

For me, it was a half size larger shoes and better socks.

[tenacious1]

What features do you buy in the way of socks.

I've lost a couple of toenails before but it was while training for half marathons. This came out of no where this morning. I ran 5 miles, didn't feel any problems while I was running but when I took my shoes and socks off the toenail was purple from the middle to the bottom edge (the nail bed) and might even be a little loose. It was in the upper 20s out. I was in old shoes because I left my newer ones at work. I'll go check the size.

I've just never had this pop up from one run.

[Ice Cream]

I lost toe nails when I trained for ultras. I think the twisting and turning on the trails caused it.  I did buy shoes that were larger than my daily-wear shoes.

About nail length: Back then I kept the nails short and often had blisters, caused by the toenails.  Now I keep the big toe nail short and all the others are longer.  I haven't had any blisters since.

[tenacious1]

It was the shoe length. The old pair I grabbed is 1/2 a size smaller than my current pair. Dang it.

The toenail is looking less purple and more pink today. Maybe I won't lose it.

[diablita]

 

[Ice Cream]

My experience is that it's easier if you lose it altogether, as that makes it easier for the new one to grow back.

[tenacious1]

But I thought that would be worse. The other two I lost took a while to fall off. By the time they did there was a new nail underneath. It may have been a little thinner than the original but it was enough to protect the nail bed. What's under there if the nail just goes ahead and falls off?

BTW -- so far so good. The nail is hurting less and less. 

[Richard21142]

You are probably going to lose the toenail; but it won't be for awhile.

[Ice Cream]

But I thought that would be worse. The other two I lost took a while to fall off. By the time they did there was a new nail underneath. It may have been a little thinner than the original but it was enough to protect the nail bed. What's under there if the nail just goes ahead and falls off?

BTW -- so far so good. The nail is hurting less and less. 

It sounds painful, but it isn't.  I never had any problems. I suspect I wore socks and closed shoes to protect.

[merigayle]

Shoes are too small. Two things will cause it-- shoes too small or stubbing it on a trail.

[Arrojo]

I always cut my toenails short right before every long run >=14 miles.

[tenacious1]

Well two days ago the nail came off. There is a new one underneath so I guess it takes me a little over three months to grow a replacement nail. Good to know. 

[Rochey]

I lost the toenail on my second toe after my last marathon.  I know it wasn't my shoe length, so it must have been my sock rubbing weird. 

[tenacious1]

Did yours take three months to lose? Mine is still hanging on to the left side of the nail bed and I'm too chicken to pull it off.

[diablita]

Mine took longer than that.  I'm pretty certain the one that just came off (and had an almost completely formed nail growing underneath) is a casualty of the Marine Corps Marathon last fall.

[tenacious1]

Was it your big toe?

(Just trying to figure out why your toenail grows more slowly than mine. This has been bugging me for a week so I thought I might as well ask.)

[diablita]

Nope, the one to the right of it on my right foot.  My hair and nails grow unbelievably fast.  Giving this some thought, I think it took a long time before my toenail decided it was going to go and the process of falling out/being replaced hasn't taken long.  There was no actual trauma during the race and my shoes fit fine.

[tenacious1]

You're sure it was from the marathon?

Luckily a little nail polish camouflages the discoloration and funny looking regrowth.