Question
I am a dancer and had a very active weekend this weekend at a competition.  In several of my routines I have to perform a toe stand.  This involves exactly what it says...I'm standing on the tips of my toes.  Well, after practicing this over and over I developed a lot of pain in both big toenails.  They were red and swollen and tender when I touched the toenail.  I wrapped them in padding to protect them and continued dancing.  When I got home on Sunday I tried to clip the nail and a lot of watery pus came out.  Yesterday, I was just standing at a dinner party and pus started coming out of both nail beds.  They are still very tender today, Monday.  It hurts when I walk and it really hurts when anything touches them.  They are throbbing.  I've read that sometimes the nail will fall off if a blister and bruise has formed underneath it, but I haven't seen a bruise at all.  Is there anything I can do for pain or should I go in to a doctor?

Answer
Hi Kassi,

Dancers often get blisters beneath the toenails after alot of activity.  You will get a watery blister but may not see any bruising.  The throbbing is caused by pressure from the fluid being unable to escape.  This should resolve when the fluid is released.  However, the damage may cause loss of the toenail.  If this worsens I would see a Podiatrist.  Keep antibiotic and bandaid on the area.

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
www.thetampapodiatrist.com
www.tampacryosurgery.com


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