running/problem with toenails falling off!
hummus40
Posts: 72
ok, this is weird i know but before i go to the doctors over this i thought i would shout out to the boards...
i have been a long distant runner most all of my life but took 2 years off starting back again nov 2011 and am currently in training for race in oct 2012
since April of this year my two toes nails (next to my big toe, and only on the left side) keep coming off...like falling off...
its not INSTANT or anything...but i can tell that when i start to increase my mileage/pace (as I am now) that these particular toes start hurting and the toenails will fall off! (this will be the second time since April!
the first time it happened i went and got fitted for shoes (which was in April ) and that seemed to help although they had just fallen off at that time so who really knows if it helped but my feet felt better LOL
I almost feel like maybe i am putting too my pressure with regard to my run on those two toes but that doesnt make sense or does it??? i am in a quandry and thought i would ask you all...
has anyone else had this happen?
i have been a long distant runner most all of my life but took 2 years off starting back again nov 2011 and am currently in training for race in oct 2012
since April of this year my two toes nails (next to my big toe, and only on the left side) keep coming off...like falling off...
its not INSTANT or anything...but i can tell that when i start to increase my mileage/pace (as I am now) that these particular toes start hurting and the toenails will fall off! (this will be the second time since April!
the first time it happened i went and got fitted for shoes (which was in April ) and that seemed to help although they had just fallen off at that time so who really knows if it helped but my feet felt better LOL
I almost feel like maybe i am putting too my pressure with regard to my run on those two toes but that doesnt make sense or does it??? i am in a quandry and thought i would ask you all...
has anyone else had this happen?
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Replies
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has anyone else had this dilemma?
I haven't. That sounds terrible.
Do you have any idea what is causing it? Do you wear socks? Are you trimming your toenails so they aren't getting friction when you run?0 -
Can't help you with your question, but I have to say that it doesn't sound good....
Go see a doctor about this!0 -
Mine haven't fallen off but they have got really bruised and the nail has separated from the bed in the past.
Since I have new shoes I've had a bit of bruising in really long runs (ie. half marathon) but the mnils haven't gone weierd again. I think the difference is that these shoes are longer so there is more toe room.0 -
My understanding is that this is typically caused by shoes being a little snug in the toe box. I'd suggest going back to your running shop, an talking the problem over with them, to see if there's something specific about the shoes that might be causing the issue. I haven't had the problem myself - but I wear shoes with a roomy toebox!0
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This happened to me a couple years ago with cycling. It's from your toenail pounding into your shoe repeatedly. My doctor told me to get a size larger shoe and to wear cushy socks. The nail will grow back. :-)0
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I am assuming you are getting black nail before you lose them. Someone earlier posted checking show size...understand that shoe sizes are almost a meaningless number between brands, and sometimes, even between models of the same brand. I wear anything from an 11 to a 13 depending on brand and model. With your shoes on and laced, standing up with your weight evenly distributed, you should have an inch between the end of your big toe and the end of your toe box. Additionally, check your nail length. A slightly long nail catching on the end of the toebox during a 20 miler can easily give you balc nail.
Good luck!0 -
Go up a half size in your shoe size, cause your feet swell during runs and put on two pairs of socks. Works for me, I have the same problem playing tennis. I've lost sooo many toenails =(0
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I've been training for a marathon the for the last six weeks. My middle toes are bruised on both feet. This happened several years ago when I attempted to train for a marathon. My nails even fell off like yours. I have several different brand of running shoes with at least an inch of room left. I just think it is typical for long distance runners. When I stopped running the last time, the bruising went away and the nails grew back. No easy solution... you either choose to have the nails or continue your love for running. I'm going to complete my first marathon next month no matter what.0
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One of my nails is in the process of falling off as we speak! I don't think it's my running trainers tho as its oly happened once before? I think it's just other shoes I wear sometimes or occasionally x0
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THANKS FOR ALL OF THE AWESOME RESPONSES!! and yes, i wear "grade a " socks (no COTTON) and its weird with regard to the fact that as soon as they fell off the first time they started growing back and didnt even make it past the end of my TOE when it started happening again...i am guessing what others have stated that its from the constant POUNDING on that foot/toe(s)....the last fitting i had actually took me up an entire SIZE shoe so now i am up to a 9 and 1/2 but i am due for a new set of digs...mileage has made that so!
so, maybe i do need to get it checked out with Dr to make certain there isnt anything else i can do...or maybe i could tape them together when i run? hmmmm0 -
I've been training for a marathon the for the last six weeks. My middle toes are bruised on both feet. This happened several years ago when I attempted to train for a marathon. My nails even fell off like yours. I have several different brand of running shoes with at least an inch of room left. I just think it is typical for long distance runners. When I stopped running the last time, the bruising went away and the nails grew back. No easy solution... you either choose to have the nails or continue your love for running. I'm going to complete my first marathon next month no matter what.
first marathon! sweet!!! when is it? mine is oct 20th in indy...
and i thinking i would rather have "no nail" and keep on truckin!! lol0 -
thanks for the info...and yes they turn black prior to poppin off, lolI am assuming you are getting black nail before you lose them. Someone earlier posted checking show size...understand that shoe sizes are almost a meaningless number between brands, and sometimes, even between models of the same brand. I wear anything from an 11 to a 13 depending on brand and model. With your shoes on and laced, standing up with your weight evenly distributed, you should have an inch between the end of your big toe and the end of your toe box. Additionally, check your nail length. A slightly long nail catching on the end of the toebox during a 20 miler can easily give you balc nail.
Good luck!
when they grow back they dont even make it to any real "length" before a "new nail" grows and makes the older one pop back off...but its only started happening since increase in running so yeah....guessing i do need to see a doc, ugh0 -
I am assuming you are getting black nail before you lose them. Someone earlier posted checking show size...understand that shoe sizes are almost a meaningless number between brands, and sometimes, even between models of the same brand. I wear anything from an 11 to a 13 depending on brand and model. With your shoes on and laced, standing up with your weight evenly distributed, you should have an inch between the end of your big toe and the end of your toe box. Additionally, check your nail length. A slightly long nail catching on the end of the toebox during a 20 miler can easily give you balc nail.
Good luck!
This^^
If you get pedicures, just clip your own nails before you go to the salon. They will simply refuse to cut them as short as you need (probably because they are afraid of hurting you), but you need those nails really short.
And yes, you want a full inch between the end of your longest toe (which in many people is the second toe, not the big toe) and the end of the shoe.0 -
I had this problem. I was horrified the first time it happened and a friend told me it was common! I wear Saucony because they have a roomier toe box. Solved the problem for me.0
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Mine do this with or without running... I think it is probably a friction problem, and maybe the shoe suggestions given will help. I also think some people are just sensitive. I bruise easily in general, and have a lot of skin sensitivity, so it doesn't really surprise me that I'm prone to it. : /0
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Sounds like a nutrition problem0
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you need to go to the dr and get this checked out. my mom was having the same problem and hers turned out to be some sort of fungus and she has to be on antis for the next 12 weeks! I had been telling her forever it wasn't right and she finally listened! LOL!0
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I've heard of it...I think it's quite common. That said, people will probably tell you to get new shoes, but it sounds like you already did that. Not sure what else to tell you, but chances are your doctor can't really do anything for you. I would maybe go by the running store and see if they can take a look at your gait and see if that might be causing the toenail issues and how you can correct it. Also spend some time Googling the condition and look for things that worked for other people!0
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I've been training for a marathon the for the last six weeks. My middle toes are bruised on both feet. This happened several years ago when I attempted to train for a marathon. My nails even fell off like yours. I have several different brand of running shoes with at least an inch of room left. I just think it is typical for long distance runners. When I stopped running the last time, the bruising went away and the nails grew back. No easy solution... you either choose to have the nails or continue your love for running. I'm going to complete my first marathon next month no matter what.
This! Happens to my husband all the time with long distance runs and he has been properly fitted for shoes at a running store0 -
I've had this happen too. I keep those toenails clipped really short, but not so short that they'll become ingrown. I've also developed blisters UNDER those nails! That was at a heavier weight than I am now. I am going to go up half a size and look for a larger toe box in my next pair of running shoes, though. I still get that "bruised toenail" feeling and the buggers are darkening. I only run for 5K so far, too. I feel your pain. Best of luck with your marathon!!!0
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I'm a foot care nurse, so I think I know what I'm talking about. Save your money by not going to the doctor, and buy yourself a pair of shoes that has a large toe box, and make sure they're long enough. Your toenail is falling off because of the constant trauma, the pounding against the top of the shoe. Chances are, your second toe is a wee bit longer than the big toe. You should go to a shoe store that specializes in athletic shoes and get fitted by someone that knows what they're doing.0
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I've had this happen! My toe became infected and as a result I was out of action for a while and on antibiotics..and in a lot of pain! I'd suggest ya pop to your doctors to see if anything can be done to prevent it, but if not try to cushion the foot as much as possible, and when not running allow the air to get to your foot to let it 'breathe.' Hope it gets better (: (best of luck for the marathon!!) x0
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This happened to me once when I went on quite an intense hiking weekend. I was advised that I should have clipped my toenails beforehand. I do that now whenever I go on a long hike and it's never happened since. It's because if your toenail is a bit long, it pushes against the shoe, and longer you walk/run, the more repeatedly this will happen, so a blister forms under the toenail. When the skin of the blister falls off, the toenail falls off with it.0
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I had the same thing happen when I first started running again after having my second baby and I was still wearing the same shoes from before baby #1...they felt ok when walking but when I had been running for a few minutes it felt like it was going to bruise, which it did and then after a while fell off. I went in for a pedi with my sis in-law that had been planned for a month and a half, right before the first one came off and when I started to tell the nail tech that I had started running, she cut me off and said "Say no more, I deal with runner's toenail issues all the time." I would say that it must be fairly common. I got bigget shoes and have been pretty much ok after that.0
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I get this if my shoe is too short or too narrow or the toe box is too low. there should be at least a thumbs width between the tip of you big toe and the tip of the shoe for length. go up a size wider, and look at the height of the toe box as well. Also I find that womens shoes are cut narrow in the toe box and have had better luck moving to mens shoes - they tend to have wider and taller toe boxes, even in the smaller sizes.0
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Are you getting enough calcium?
Do you have a toenail fungus?0 -
Happens to me all the time! It is rather common for long distance runners. It is caused by blisters under toes and being some what snug in the toe area. However, no matter what shoe i wear my toe nails, both the ones next to my big toes fall off.ok, this is weird i know but before i go to the doctors over this i thought i would shout out to the boards...
i have been a long distant runner most all of my life but took 2 years off starting back again nov 2011 and am currently in training for race in oct 2012
since April of this year my two toes nails (next to my big toe, and only on the left side) keep coming off...like falling off...
its not INSTANT or anything...but i can tell that when i start to increase my mileage/pace (as I am now) that these particular toes start hurting and the toenails will fall off! (this will be the second time since April!
the first time it happened i went and got fitted for shoes (which was in April ) and that seemed to help although they had just fallen off at that time so who really knows if it helped but my feet felt better LOL
I almost feel like maybe i am putting too my pressure with regard to my run on those two toes but that doesnt make sense or does it??? i am in a quandry and thought i would ask you all...
has anyone else had this happen?0 -
Yep I always get my running shoes a full size larger than my regular shoes. Lots of space required especially if you run a lot of hills... on the way down your toes will take a pounding.0
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Bad shoes.
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I had a similar problem and went to a podiatrist. The doctor called it "bottle cap nail".He said it is common in runners, It is caused when the shoe puts pressure on the end of the nail and causes the nail to separate at the cuticle which causes the nail to fall off. Trimming the nail straight across and switching running shoes took care of the problem for me. I'd still have it checked out by a doctor.0
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