Toenail Pain

There are many toenail problems that can trigger toenail pain. The pain may affect just one toe or it could be felt in a number of toes. The reason behind the pain can as simple as a bad injury to the toenail or it can be a serious form of infection. The severity of the pain depends on the underlying causes. Sometimes, the pain can be so bad that the entire area surrounding the toenail gets swollen and is tender to touch. In such cases, wearing shoes becomes difficult.

Causes

In minor cases, where the toenail was hurt due to some reason like crushing the toe against hard objects, the pain may be felt until the injury heals. The most commonly found cause of persistent pain in the toenail is an ingrown toenail. In this condition, the corner or the sides of the nail starts growing inwards, into the skin of the toe. It can be a genetic problem for some people. In others it may develop over a period of time due to repetitive damage to the cells of the underlying skin, which is also known as nail bed. In athletes, toenail pain from running is quite common and it occurs due to use of ill fitting shoes. The corners and sides of the nail get badly pressed against tight shoes which force it to curl downward into the skin. Improper trimming of nails can also be responsible for this problem. If there is a sharp,uneven edge at the corner of the nail after trimming, it would have a tendency to enter into the skin while growing.

Fungal infection in toenail can also give rise to such painful condition. Those people who wear shoes for long hours are more prone to such infection. The damp and dark environment inside the shoe gives the fungus ideal conditions for growth and survival. They then enter the toenail through the cuts and breaks on its surface and feed on the keratin protein of the nails. In the initial stage, an infection by toenail fungus is identified with spots on the tip of the toenail. As the infection turns severe, the nail becomes thick and discolored and may crumble into pieces.

Treatment

When the condition of toenail pain is mild, after an injury, it can be treated at home only. Soaking the affected foot into a tub of warm water for 15-20 minutes will have a soothing effect on the pain. When done regularly, the pain may subside within a few days. If it does not, then there is a possibility of fractured toe bones. You should check it out with your doctor and carry out the treatment accordingly. If the ingrown toenail is identified early, then the part of the nail poking inside the skin is small. In that case, ingrown toenail removal is possible at home. Soak the foot in warm water to which Epsom salt has been added, for around 20 minutes, to soften up the surrounding skin of the toe. Then slowly push the soft skin in the opposite direction, in order to separate the nail from the skin. After the treatment, apply antiseptic cream on the area and cover it up with medical tape.

When there is an infection, then doctor should be consulted who will prescribe antibiotics to cure it. They may also give some pain relieving medicines. For toenail fungus treatment, antifungal creams or antifungal lacquer is prescribed for topical application. It is accompanied by antifungal medicines for oral administration. Doctors may also file the nail regularly in order to minimize the size of the infected toenail. It is only in some rare cases that the surgical option is availed, for elimination of ingrown toenail or infected toenails.

These causes of toenail pain can be prevented to some extent by wearing properly fitted shoes. Both, tight fitting shoes as well as loosely fitted shoes, can cause damage to the toenail and lead to pain. It is also important to trim the toenails straight and not in round or "V" shape. Those who get toenail fungus quite often should use leather shoes and cotton socks which enable the feet to breathe properly and prevent fungal growth.