Question
about a week ago i fell off of a push bike on a bitumen road. when i looked at my toenail it was attached but it had a crease in it near the base that looked like the nail had bent up and come back down. the whole toenail was a dull light blue colour the day after until today (7 days later) now the end third of the nail has become regular colour. it has had a tiny amount of discharge from the base of the nail everyday which is a clear slightly reddish colour and it feels a little loose and has been tingly every day. will it fall off? and should i see a doctor? so far i have been keeping a bandaid on it and changing and washing daily.

Answer
Dear Helen,

This Orthopedic Chicago Podiatrist located in West Loop 60661,Roscoe Village 60618, Elmhurst 60126 & Bartlett 60103 says...
For the loose toenail. There is a good chance it may fall off. Nothing you can do except protect the area under the toenail If It is long-gently trim it so it does not hit any shoegear. Use clingy gauze & just a little antibiotic ointment. A bandaid will trap moisture-stop using. Avoid a lot of tapping-let the site breath-it will take several months to get a new toenail. Even if it is going to fall off-you want it pushed off by the new toenail. If it seems infected---red, warm, painful, swollen,continued discharge. If the tingling does not stop within a few days-go see a Podiatrist. For those who are not sure-bitumen is an English word for asphalt.

Hope this helps
Good Luck!
The podiatrists of AnkleNFootCenters.com are specialists in orthopedics and sports medicine.
We are located in Chicago & Elmhurst

Dr George Tsatsos & Svetlana Zats
Podiatrist Chicago 60618 & Elmhurst 60126 Podiatrists
Board Certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery & Orthopedics
New South Loop Location-Chicago 60661


DISCLAIMER:
This information is offered as free advice and as general information. It may not be applicable to the specific questioner and his/her problem.  It is not based on actual knowledge of the questioner or his/her medical history and it cannot and should not be relied upon as definitive medical opinion or advice.  Reliable medical opinion and advice can only be obtained through hands-on physical contact and exam of the patient to establish an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.  No doctor/patient relationship is created or established here and may not be inferred through answers on this site.  The questioner and other readers must consult his/her own doctor before proceeding or implementing any suggestions contained within this document and answers on this site.  The questioner is only to act upon his/her own doctor抯 orders and recommendations. By reading this posting which follows, the reader fully understands and confirms that he/she holds harmless this writer. If this is not fully agreeable to you, the reader, and/or you have not attained the age of 18 years, you hereby are advised to read no further.