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What Causes Numbness And Pain In The Left Foot Toe After An Injury?

Posted on Wed, 11 Oct 2017

Question: Hi! Last spring i suffered a small injury to my left foot toe. Nothing broken but my toenail got black. I went to see a doctor back then, she said to leave it like that until it grows of. And it dis started to grow, initialy the black area was close to the base of the nail. No problems for a few months. In the past few days i started getting this strange felling in the area where the nail is dead. It's like a light numbness mixed with a slight sensation of vibration. It's starting to worry me. I have attached 2 pictures(if you need different angle let me know). Can you please advice what is going on or what do to?

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Looks to be Paronychia

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history, seen the photos and understood the concerns.
The toe nails take about a year for full growth hence it is progressing the way as seen in the photos and as per the history you have provided.
The sensation of numbness and slight vibration looks to be due to the following reasons as per the photos you have provided.
There seems to be mild paronychia that is inflammation of the toe near the sides of the nail.
I would advise you the following in such a situation:
Clean with Hydrogen Peroxide so that the dirt and dead tissues is cleaned off.
Apply liquid Povidone Iodine locally.
Consult your Doctor to get a prescription for an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medicines to get well soon.
I hope this answer helps you, please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (10 minutes later)

Hello doctor! Thank you so much for the answers. I did see a dermatologist about the small inflammation on the side of the toe. I have applied various creams she gave me. It's already been 1 month since i started treading that inflammation. I am now using a hand made cream with erythromycin, nystatin and another element i can't recall. The sensation i am having is actually recent, like since i started using this cream. I leave in a small town where not to many doctors, so no where else to go. She said it doesn't look like an ingrown toenail on that side, but i am again worried about the sensation i have in the toenail. I am also a little anxious so not sure if some of the feeling is because i overthink it.

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
As discussed in details below.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your appreciation.
With the deep seated infection or inflammation, something applied locally may not help at all. Hence the need for oral medication for at least 5 days and I hope this will solve your problem.
Rest of the treatment as discussed above will help you.
Anxiety plays its role, but does not look serious as from your history and the photos.
Please post photos after a few days of starting oral antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medication.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (51 minutes later)

Thank you for your time and patience. I will go see my dermatology doctor tomorrow and see what antibiotics i should take. Until then i have one last questions. I guess what i have at my toe is not something that can go to my blood or surrounding area? I think this is the anxiety talking?

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It will not

Detailed Answer:
I can understand the anxiety you have.
No, nothing will go to the blood or surrounding area as per the present history and photos.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar