Infected Toebed

I've got a minor infection in the nailbed of my big toe. Its not a huge deal, but it's painful and makes climbing unpleasant.

I've got a sweet trip coming up with 4 days of multipitch climbing. Trip is this weekend. I'm trying to speed the recovery along so I'll be set for the trip.

So far main course of care has been antibaterial ointment and letting my toe breath.

Anyone have tips on how to speed things up?

Thanks,

Liquid skin won't help it heal, but might help manage discomfort if you need to climb before it's fully healed.

I don't know the details of your toe, but I've used it to help with mine.

Andre Dahlman wrote:I've got a minor infection in the nailbed of my big toe. Its not a huge deal, but it's painful and makes climbing unpleasant. I've got a sweet trip coming up with 4 days multipitch climbing. Trip is this weekend. I'm trying to speed the recovery along so I'll be set for the trip. So far main course of care has been antibaterial ointment and letting my toe breath. Anyone have a tips on how to speed the recovery along? Thanks,

It's pretty much impossible to get to the infected areas of the nailbed with a topical ointment. I had the same problem. In my case the cure was surgical removal of the toenail. It was 3 weeks before the pain subsided enough to get the foot in a ski boot. Even regular fitting footwear was out of the question for over a week. Climbing shoes took about a month before they were bearable.

Assuming you need the nail removed, and, depending on your pain tolerance, you may or may not be able to put on a climbing shoe this weekend. If the trip is very important to you, you might consider waiting to have something done till afterwards, but you also might risk a more severe infection. YMMV.

In any case, have a foot doctor look at it today.

Epsom salt or sea salt soaks w/ warm water. Soak your feet for as long and as often as you can.

Epson salt soaks are good.

Try an Aloe Vera poultice. Fold a piece of gauze into a square and use sports tape to tape it on. Put a very liberal amount of Aloe gel on the pad...it might squeeze out a little. Keep it on for up to 24 hours and off 12-24 hours before putting another one on.

Use a good quality brand with a minimum of additives. Natures Life 'Aloe Vera Gel Herbal Blend' with Chamomile and Comfrey is really good.

A month? That sounds rough. Hopefully things aren't that far along and I"ll be able to resolve the issue in the next few days with proper care. I'll get on the Epsom salts and Aloe Vera poultice.

Thanks for the advice. Keep em' coming.

Andre

I'm not Dr. but i've had several such cases healed with the following process:

Apply Bactroban/Mupirocin on top of nail; enough to pool slightly in corners and wrap with something at least semi-non-absorbant on top to not soak up all the ointment. Reapply and change bandages once or twice a day until healed.

Again.. not a doctor, just someone that has dealt with many cuts and minor infections.

You should see a podiatrist. They can do a partial toenail ablation so that only the part of your toenail that is giving you problems doesn't come back. This is just an outpatient procedure done under a local and the recovery process is fairly swift. The longer you wait, the worse your symptoms will be.

Andre Dahlman wrote:A month? That sounds rough. Hopefully things aren't that far along and I"ll be able to resolve the issue in the next few days with proper care.

It wasn't that the infection was that far along - it was just the pain and resultant sensitivity of having the nail removed.

The big question that hasn't been answered: is it a bacterial or fungal infection? If it's fungal, none of the suggested remedies here will work.

Also, if the infection is in the nailbed where the nail is still attached, again, none of the remedies here will work because they cannot get at the site of infection.

Really, only a doctor can make these assessments.
And please don't post a pic of your rotting toenail! :-)

Hey Andre!

Like most people here, I'm not a doctor (which you know -- see you at ET sometime soon?), but my advice is... go ask a real one! Our gym is crawling with them.

If the infection isn't deep under the nail, you may be able to have it lanced or have the nail partially removed. Most of all, it will be done in a sterile manner and disinfected properly afterwards.

If the infection is deep, soaks won't do much. It might be OK for a near-surface infection, like on your nail fold, but it probably won't help if the infection is well out of reach.

Regarding another person's advice about aloe, there may be antibiotic/microbial properties from purified and isolated compounds, but simply going to Whole Foods and dipping your infected toes in potentially non-sterile liquid isn't going to do squat for your infection. It isn't a magic homeopathic alternative to broad-spectrum antibiotics, but it is nice on sunburn.

See a doctor, man!

Hello Andre Dahlman! There are many cures but they all take a while to work. Powders and creams can help stop a repeat of the infection. You can try supplements. This supplement will help your nails get stronger. These are easily avaliable in market and also you can View Online. Don't let anyone buff or sand down the nail surface, as this weakens the nail bed. And don't let anyone cut or push back the cuticles, as this allows organisms like fungi or bacteria an entry into the body.

Hope this could help you!

Remove the toenail I considered having mine permanently removed after hitting and losing my big toenail onetime. My feet while climbing have never felt better without having a big toenail... ever since it grew back I have considered getting it removed forever.

Donald Yates wrote:

Hello Andre Dahlman! There are many cures ....

Hope this could help you!

You're responding to a 2 yr old question.

Although mine wasn't climbing related, I had to have a toenail removed BC of infections due to endurance running. If you can, and your situation is bad, I would recommend it. You don't want the infection to get bad and the toenail will grow back eventually. I'd see a doctor of course. Good luck and I hope the best for you 

Kyle Taylor wrote:

You don't want the infection to get bad and the toenail will grow back eventually.

There is a way to remove it such that it won't grow back. If the reason for removal is toe fungus and you do allow it to grow back, there is a highly likely chance it will grow back with the same problem.

Good luck and I hope the best for you 

Again, the OP posted the question 2 years ago. It either worked out or it didn't