My toenail is black and purple after a day at basketball camp. What should I do?

Question

This happened to me last year, but to both big toes, at a different basketball camp - I just bought new shoes and it was all better. This time it's only my right big toe. It is swollen from the knuckle up, and pretty badly bruised from just below the cuticle and up. I was running/pounding/jumping etc at basketball camp when my toe started aching really badly...it hurt to even move really...so I took off my shoes/socks and it was all bruised. Now, about 10 hours later, it's even more bruised and hurts more, whether I move or not. I've been icing and elevating it, took some advil, and I bought new basketball shoes and cushioning socks to use for the rest of camp.

I was just wondering if anybody could give me advice about what else to do to treat it, or what is going to happen...how long to recover, will it hurt even more, is it maybe something worse than just a bruise, etc. All advice is appreciated! Thank you!

Answer 1

You know the RICE solution, right?
rest, ice, compression, elevation

So the only thing you're not doing is compressing. Just don't compress too tightly. Use athletic tape or a tiny ace bandage and wrap it overnight. A light wrap around the nail might help the pain a little bit (keeping the nail as close to the nail bed as possible) tomorrow during practice. Advil 4 tablets every 6 hours. If that doesn't do it all, take 2 Extra Strength Tylenol every 6 hours in between the Advil doses.

Are you sure it's not broken? Dislocated? I'd be much more comfortable with an x-ray. Is there a dr. on board? Take every opportunity to get the shoe off and elevate the foot. Ice 20m on 20m off when possible.

Take care,

TX Mom
Not a medical practitioner

Answer 2

it sounds like either you broke your toe (in which case you can't really do anything about it, but still go to see a dr. and they may have you wear a soft shoe and take it easy for a couple days) or you just irritated your toenail to the point where it has become dead. It may actually fall off in the future, as gross as that sounds. But alot of athletes, runners, etc. get this when they are training hard because their feet rub up against their shoes. The point is is that if it continues to hurt you, you should see a dr. just to be sure.

Answer 3

First thing to do is to clip your toenails very short. By doing this they won't suffer blunt force trauma anymore. You will most likely lose the toenails, but if not just remember to keep them cut short.

Answer 4

you need to keep your toenails cut shorter.

This happens to runners all the time - we call it "black toe"

It is caused by the toenail being jammed against the inside of the shoe repeatedly and the nail bed bruising.

It will recover, but if you don't keep your toenails short, it will just keep happening

Answer 5

did you play basketball with an in grown toenail?? if so, ouch. It happened to me before and i had to go to the doctor he had to take out the dead nail then bandage it for couple of weeks till the nail grows back.

Answer 6

1

Answer 7

always seek medical help when you are unsure of the symptoms, statistics show that 73% of those that seek help are correct in assuming that it is a larger problem. sounds like you cracked the bone and/or ruptured a main capillary.good luck....

Answer 8

go to the doctor and let them check it out. That's what's best

Answer 9

probally bleeding under the toe nail. but it will heal. get over it

Answer 10

SOAK IT IN ICE WATER AND ADD SALT TO THE WATER