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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
Yeah, for a pinkie I’d only pay $20. Maybe $25.
Terry
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
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!
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
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!
Hi All,
Here’s an update on the BLACK TOE (evil laughter)
Went to a podiatrist where I spent an hour listening to blood curdling screams from the next room “AHHH Don’t do that! PLEASE!!! AHHHHHHH!!” As I contemplated what was in store for my poor toe I tried to make my escape. Just then Dr. Shine (first name) walked in and what a jolly fellow he was after inflicting so much pain on the other unfortunate patient. When I mentioned it he replied that he wasn’t even present for the torture but could inflict pain from a remote location. As Seinfeld said, are podiatrists real doctors? I don’t know but this one has a great sense of humor. I guess you’d have to. But I digress.
Dr. Shine examined my toe and pronounced that he’d have to remove the toenail whereupon I promptly replied just try it and you’ll end up across the room. He could see that I was going to be “difficult” and the tricks he learned in patient management were to no avail. At that point he discussed my other options which are zero. After he assured me that my toe was not infected I fled with toenail intact and bad memories. More later cause this damn message box won’t let me start new paragraph.
Lois, my God, woman, I feel for you and your feet. What you describe sounds terribly painful. And in the hospital for a month+. I can only send you healing thoughts. Please keep us updated. I’m so sorry.
You’ve made me very mindful about possible complications. According to the doctor I have a hematoma (just a pool of blood) under the nail causing pain and nail separation from the bed. The cause is playing softball in tight shoes which I was aware of but I’d just spent $80 and couldn’t return them. Duh. Anybody heard of the Aggies? I’m one of them. Apparently feet swell an extra size during running/walking.
So for now I’ll just watch it for signs of infection because I can’t face removal by the heinous Dr. Shine.
Thanks to you all – Cynthia D.
Cu
Haha. Good for you for refusing the surgery! (Then he can’t bill for more than just a consultation/office visit!) Ice it if it hurts, and leave it be, and get larger shoes. =)
Watch closely. Better to lose the nail rather than the whole toe! My younger sister had to lose her big toe. And losing your big toe takes more of your foot with it than you would think! If there’s anything that makes me want to get my blood sugar under control it’s looking at my sisters foot!
Take care. Watch that toe!!
Thanks, Suzanne. Your poor sister. Did she have difficulty managing her BG? I know I am!I imagine it’s hard to even walk without your big toe. Please tell me her story. So sad.
I’ll watch it carefully. I’ve been taking notes from youtube on how to pierce the nail and drain the blood. Only one problem – I’m a wuss.
How does one say thing politely and without fear ---- GO SEE THE DOC!
Yes our feet are very fragile, and messing around with them, even though we think we know what the problem is, could be dangerous. I have “foot care” not a pedicure every other month ---- and then every month if I have problems…get thee to a doc, lady!
Cynthia, you really should think about going back and letting him take the nail off. If there is seperation between the nail and the bed then there is a nice warm,moist, dark environment for bacteria to grow. It may not be infected now but the longer there is a pocket there, the more chance of something happening is also there.