toenails

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/8/02 12:40:19 AM Central Daylight Time,

magicman99@... writes:

> after being on lamisil for three months and both my docs thinking it

> was fungal, i think it is p thet hurt have a hump in the middle

> length wise and are thick. what is the treatment for this,or is there

> one. my meds have cleared my skin but my toes have flaired. i better

> find a mate before i am all crusty and crooked! whishing you all

> well..kyle

>

>

If the meds you are on are improving your skin they should also improve the

condition of nails. The skin will show the improvement faster that the

nails. The nail on the big toe might take 6-9 months to be completely

replaced by new growth so this might be why they dont seem to be responding.

Orin

[Guest guest]

At 02:45 AM 4/8/02 +0000, you wrote:

>after being on lamisil for three months and both my docs thinking it

>was fungal, i think it is p thet hurt have a hump in the middle

>length wise and are thick. what is the treatment for this,or is there

>one. my meds have cleared my skin but my toes have flaired. i better

>find a mate before i am all crusty and crooked! whishing you all

>well..kyle

and All,

I've had psoriasis on my hands and feet for many years, but was

only diagnosed correctly about a year ago. Working with a dermatologist

(for the P) and a rheumatologist (for the PA), I'm on MTX and folic acid

for both the P and PA. I also take Mobic each day (this is one of the

newer non steriod anit inflammatory drugs). I also use a steriod cream

called Psorcon-E on my hands and feet for the psoriasis

Even after using all these medications, my fingernails and

toenails have never returned to normal, healthy nails. Two years ago, my

fingers were so bad that I actually lost 6 of the nails. They have grown

back, but now my nails are very thin and have ridges in them. It's called

'pitting' of the nails. Some months they begin to grow and will actually

have a good growth on them, but I've noticed when they do grow out, they

become hard and brittle and break very easily. I keep them trimmed because

they feel better. It may sound odd, but they actually hurt if they get any

length to them because of getting thicker.

I've asked both the dermatologist and the rheumatologist if I can

ever have normal, pretty nails. They both have said it is very

doubtful. The dermatologist said to be sure and keep both the fingernails

and the toenails cut straight across; not too short and not too long. I

also don't wear polish of any kind because it seems to aggravate the psoriasis.

I know none of this sounds hopeful, but sometimes it's best to

look at the picture with open eyes :-) Your situation may be different

than mine. If anyone else has experienced nail difficulties and found a

way of getting the nails back to healthy nails, please do share this with

us :-)

Regards,

P

[Guest guest]

My experience with the pitting is similar but even a little

different.

My finger nails have a weird appearance and are partially detached

from the nail bed. They can flake underneath. They also hurt when I

let them grow past the actual finger. They also hurt if I put any pressure on

them. Opening pop-tops requires another device. It's too much pressure on the

area that is barely attached I guess. Also, my nails are prone to tearing. In

addition, my toe nails sometimes break apart when I cut them. Both my toe and

finger nails can be cut VERY short cuz of the partial detachment.

On my toe nails it is similar, except one of my big toes has a callus-

type area there that was weird and discolored. The doctor said it was

my shoe causing it, but now I know that's not it. However, it doesn't

look like any of my other P patches. So basically, I'm just ignoring

it.

I was told there's not a lot they can do to treat the nails. However,

I was painting my nails and they did seem to get better. But then

later, it didn't seem to work. Just take your vitamins and eat your

Omega-3s, take your meds, get some sun. hehe

I've had at least 3 doctors (1 rheumy and 2 dermies) tell me that

with both P and PA, the disease is able to adapt to treatments and

sometimes those treatments will not work after a while.

So anyway, hope people are having a decent and even good day!

-Meghan

> >after being on lamisil for three months and both my docs thinking

it

> >was fungal, i think it is p thet hurt have a hump in the middle

> >length wise and are thick. what is the treatment for this,or is

there

> >one. my meds have cleared my skin but my toes have flaired. i

better

> >find a mate before i am all crusty and crooked! whishing you all

> >well..kyle

>

> and All,

> I've had psoriasis on my hands and feet for many years,

but was

> only diagnosed correctly about a year ago. Working with a

dermatologist

> (for the P) and a rheumatologist (for the PA), I'm on MTX and folic

acid

> for both the P and PA. I also take Mobic each day (this is one of

the

> newer non steriod anit inflammatory drugs). I also use a steriod

cream

> called Psorcon-E on my hands and feet for the psoriasis

> Even after using all these medications, my fingernails and

> toenails have never returned to normal, healthy nails. Two years

ago, my

> fingers were so bad that I actually lost 6 of the nails. They have

grown

> back, but now my nails are very thin and have ridges in them. It's

called

> 'pitting' of the nails. Some months they begin to grow and will

actually

> have a good growth on them, but I've noticed when they do grow out,

they

> become hard and brittle and break very easily. I keep them trimmed

because

> they feel better. It may sound odd, but they actually hurt if they

get any

> length to them because of getting thicker.

> I've asked both the dermatologist and the rheumatologist

if I can

> ever have normal, pretty nails. They both have said it is very

> doubtful. The dermatologist said to be sure and keep both the

fingernails

> and the toenails cut straight across; not too short and not too

long. I

> also don't wear polish of any kind because it seems to aggravate

the psoriasis.

> I know none of this sounds hopeful, but sometimes it's

best to

> look at the picture with open eyes :-) Your situation may be

different

> than mine. If anyone else has experienced nail difficulties and

found a

> way of getting the nails back to healthy nails, please do share

this with

> us :-)

> Regards,

> P

[Guest guest]

>>> magicman99@... 04/08/02 00:36 AM >>>

after being on lamisil for three months and both my docs thinking it was

fungal>>>

,

ME TOO, ME TOO, ME TOO!!!! That is exactly how I was diagnosed. I had " nail

fungus " that wouldn't go away after several treatments with lamisil. A few

months later I developed a sausage digit. Turns out it wasn't fungus but

psoriasis. The only place I have psoriasis too. And that was all she

wrote.........

>>> magicman99@... 04/08/02 00:36 AM >>>

after being on lamisil for three months and both my docs thinking it

was fungal, i think it is p thet hurt have a hump in the middle

length wise and are thick. what is the treatment for this,or is there

one. my meds have cleared my skin but my toes have flaired. i better

find a mate before i am all crusty and crooked! whishing you all

well..kyle

[Guest guest]

Parr wrote:

>

> Even after using all these medications, my fingernails and

> toenails have never returned to normal, healthy nails. Two years ago, my

> fingers were so bad that I actually lost 6 of the nails. They have grown

> back, but now my nails are very thin and have ridges in them. It's called

> 'pitting' of the nails. Some months they begin to grow and will actually

> have a good growth on them,

<snip>

>I

> also don't wear polish of any kind because it seems to aggravate the

psoriasis.

> I know none of this sounds hopeful, but sometimes it's best to

> look at the picture with open eyes :-) Your situation may be different

You've had a really, really nasty bout with nails, sounds like -- I

haven't lost any nails, so might be my experience won't be real helpful.

However, I've had a fair amount of pitting and, I don't know the

technical name for it, a lot of " waviness " where the nail ends at the

fingertip that looks weird, plus some yellowing (especially toenails,

with thickening of those). If it weren't for nail polish I'd have gone

bananas; fortunately I don't have P on my hands (do you have psoriasis

on your hands; you'd said the polish irritates it?). I'm not on MTX or

other DMARDs either ... so why am I writing, you're thinking; will she

ever get to the point!! :-)

Yes. My main point is that over the years my nails _have_ gotten better.

The pitting is gone now; I just have some ridges (which I file away with

a special emery sponge you can find at beauty supply stores); still do

have some waviness but it's not too bad. The toenails -- ah well, I

don't wear sandals. I _have_ added 1000 mg. or more of evening primrose

oil to my diet over the past several years, which might have made the

difference, I don't know.

But don't give up hope! Things can change, and for the better. And maybe

some of the EPO -- or other oil, like borage? -- might be of benefit.

--Louise

[Guest guest]

HI-,

I must say I am glad to not be able to identify with the nail problems. I do,

however, understand the part about oter people just not getting it. My husband

and family are wonderfully supportive. It is other people who annoy me. Guess

I really shouldn't care what they think, huh? Hope your job situation changes.

Don't know if you are interested but there is such a thing as temporary

disability through SS so that you could go to school and retrain. It is long

and drawn out to get it. My husband was finished with his school before he was

approved but he got back pay (to pay off the debts we had racked up while he was

in school) You are not crazy and you know it! Hang in there! We all need each

other's strength.

Eva in Arkansas

txtwin2002 <magicman99@...> wrote:

hi all. this is kyle and i am having trouble with my toenails. one

doc thinks it is fungal the other said he though it was p. so while

waiting to go see a dermatologist i ask to be put on lamisil(like i

need another med) since they dont know. one doc that thinks it is

fungal suggested they yank off the nails to see if they will grow

back right. they are curved up in the middle from end to end (not

side to side) and they are thick and a just a little yellow. my toes

are of course swollen and have hurt for years and cant seem to fine a

shoe i like. i think i an going to have to switch jobs because i am

on my feet for 10 hours and can hardly move at the end of the day but

as we all know insurance is a factor. my doc just gave me three

months worth of meds in case i lose my job. i hope all of you are

doing well. i wish we could all meet sometime not knowing anyone with

this is tough and friends and family do not understand. i thank god

for this site. i have not posted alot latley but i have been lurking.

my attitude has been lowsey so i have kinda kept to myself. i feel

every bit of crazy.....wishing you al well..kyle

[Guest guest]

Hi -

Can definitely empathize with you. I've always had funny looking

toenails and over the last few years they thickened -- expecially the

big toe. Dermatologist finally said it was a fungus (this was before

PA diagnosis). My insurance wouldn't pay for lamisil so kept

treating them topically. Then 2 weeks ago, got the PA diagnosis.

I teach and used to be a " mover " -- gee has that changed in the last

year. Today I was on my feet most of the day (only a week left and

the students are getting a little nutsy -- and of course, so are

we). My big toe is almost twice its 'normal' size and it hurts. I'm

sitting with it up with ice on it!

Can you do something else where you work so you're not on your feet

so much? Can your employer accommodate you? Are people with PA

covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act?

Take care,

Debby

> hi all. this is kyle and i am having trouble with my toenails. one

> doc thinks it is fungal the other said he though it was p. so while

> waiting to go see a dermatologist i ask to be put on lamisil(like i

> need another med) since they dont know. one doc that thinks it is

> fungal suggested they yank off the nails to see if they will grow

> back right. they are curved up in the middle from end to end (not

> side to side) and they are thick and a just a little yellow. my

toes

> are of course swollen and have hurt for years and cant seem to fine

a

> shoe i like. i think i an going to have to switch jobs because i am

> on my feet for 10 hours and can hardly move at the end of the day

but

> as we all know insurance is a factor. my doc just gave me three

> months worth of meds in case i lose my job. i hope all of you are

> doing well. i wish we could all meet sometime not knowing anyone

with

> this is tough and friends and family do not understand. i thank god

> for this site. i have not posted alot latley but i have been

lurking.

> my attitude has been lowsey so i have kinda kept to myself. i feel

> every bit of crazy.....wishing you al well..kyle

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much. I am not offended. My hubby has several dremels and I am sure I

can get my hands on one of those. I was even thinking of using a dog toe nail

clippers. Not sure even that would work. Think if I use the dremel I will let

him do it the first time. Might grind the end of my toe off.

Penny <penny@...> wrote: I have a thought on the toenail problem.

Please don't be offended, I am

in NO way comparing you to a dog, but here's the story. Some years ago

I had a rottweiler whose toenails could not be clipped by dog nail

clippers. Our final solution was to use my hubby's dremel tool to sand

them down. Now I see on TV they make a tool exactly like a dremel but I

think it's pink, and they're marketing it as a way to sand down your

nails and buff them. Don't know the name of that product, but it might

be a solution for you, to sand them instead of cut them.

Penny

************************

From: gamsky verna

Subject: Help with ideas for clipping nails

My toenails are so thick and curled that even tin snips would not cut

them. I fight with a heavy duty clippers but have problems even getting

them open far enough to get the nails in. I know someday I will probably

have to have the nails pulled out but am putting that off for as long as

possible. Does anyone have any ideas on where I can get a good pair of

clippers? Something that might cut rocks? I have very stiff fingers and

cannot close my right hand so I need something I can handle easy. I hope

someone here has some ideas. Even soaking my feet in water for a long

time does not help.

Thanks

****************

____________________________________________

Moderator's note: Penny, here are a couple of paragraphs from my copy of the

book " Flake: Confessions of a Psoriatic " by S. Dewke. Mr. Dewke also has

a web site at http://www.flakehq.com/ and I highly recommend his book to anyone

with P or PA. :-)

-- Ron

" The night before the grand demo I went at my deformed nails with an emery

board - and much to my surprise (or maybe I was fooling myself) I seemed to

achieve some improvement in their appearance. I managed to level out some of the

ridges, straighten up some of the rough edges. Yeah, anybody who took a look

would know something was grossly wrong here, but the nails weren't as bad as

they had been prior to the emery board treatment.

" Later, I got real creative. I rigged a way to attach sandpaper to an

electric screwdriver. Talk about your high tech manicure! My fingertips were

literally smoking.

" Because I'm nuts or something, that year I concluded the family holiday

video to my parents with a macro-closeup of my nail psoriasis and a narrative

description of the way I was 'sanding off the rough spots.' My dad took this to

heart and bought me a high-speed handheld router for Christmas, complete with a

set of sanding tips.

" I've since cooled to this method of cosmetic dermatology for nail psoriasis

- especially after the pinky finger on my left hand caught fire. "

[Guest guest]

Hi: This is michael blanek in Texas.

Am I the only one who finds injuries I did not know I had or how I got them?

The bathroom I normally shower in is not real brightly lit so I do not notice

my feet very much. 3 days ago I used the other shower and noticed my left big

toe was red and swollen and the nail was purple. Last night the nail came

off, oh and the bottom of the toe was like hamburger. I called my GP and she

called me in Keflex and said I might need to see a Podiatrist.

In the last month I have paid or owe over $2000.00 in co-pays.

The toe was so swollen that it looked like it was going to pop so I lanced

my-self,(quite messey)..

I did not fell the injury nor when I sliced it open.

Do others have the same problem with their CMT/MD?

thanks: michael

[Guest guest]

No, , you aren't the only one suffering injuries that you don't even

realize you've gotten. I recently noticed a 3rd degree burn on the back of

my hand and have no idea when it happened.

Bob in Indy

[Guest guest]

:

have one of my children inspect my feet at least once a week for any cuts,

discoloration, etc. They use to think this was very strange but when I

explained why they were glad to help. Usually the only way I know that i have

seriously hurt my feet is when I see the blood on the floor/carpet. The reason

I have them check so often is that I love to go barefeeted even in the

winter(although only inside then).

Sharon