Need a medical Diagnosis

[Edgedancer]

I just got back from the doctors about my toenail. Despite being determined there is a fungal infection previously, the tests came back negative and they have no idea what is going on. This has been going on for 3 years now and although it does not hurt or anything, it makes me dread summer. I know that most of you will probably have no idea but this is just a shot. I have nothing to lose.

So without any further adeu, the picture.

 

[Advi]

you have cancer.














nah but really, maybe you have a weird preoblem with athletes foot or something

 

[chuckstudios]

Looks like AIDS to me.

 

[Canonbeat234]

Don't worry about it! Since I'm not an Orthopedist, I can't diagnose the ailment. I mean it doesn't hurt when you walk on it right?

 

[Edgedancer]

No pain at all. It is just really bad looking.

 

[mcp2]

eat it.

 

[Scorpei]

Background: I study veterinary medicine, almost the same right ^^.

Looks like a fungal infection to me. Classic gol/yellow discolouration of the nail. The fact that you say it isn't painfull together with how it looks rules out things like inflammation (that should be painful, red & swollen) --> bacterial infection. Also the fact that, for three years, only one nail seems to be having the problem pretty much rules out any systemic problem. It could be the test results aren't a 100% accurate. You could try taking meds to cure a fungal infection regardles of the test but I would advice against it, they can have bad side effects (last time I checked), unless the doc feels like you should take them. You could re-request the test too (which I would do).

Aside from that, dreading summer about this is silly (though I totally get where you're coming from, I too have my share of dreadings without any proper cause about summer). It's not like you're not looking into it, and most probably it's not like you're highly infectious.

I looked up a bit in Merck's for you

.

 

[Edgedancer]

Thanks for the reply Scorpei.

I highly doubt it is an infection now as I was on medication for the last six weeks with no improvement. We are going to see another doctor as the one sounded so sure that it was fungal but now that she is wrong, she just dismissed me.
Also, there are 2 reasons why I dread summer and it has nothing to do with infecting people. Considering that I live in Australia, I got to the beach when it is warm so I end up wearing thongs and i hate my toe being expossed like that and also that where is infected, it has lifted of the nail bed. This means that if it get caught on something, it generally gets pulled off. It has happened may times.

Also, I feel I should add that both of my large toes have been operated on beforehand for ingrown toenails. It seems to run in the family with my dad and his mother both needing operations.

 

[Scorpei]

Getting a second opinion isn't a bad idea, especially once you start having doubts about the one treating you. 6 Weeks isn't really the greatest time to see any results mind you, especially if the problem has been so on going, also the test might not be a 100% accurate (and the sample taking itself also has the off chance of being done wrong).

You should check out the link I posted from Merck's, a few keywords I picked up from it (aside from fungal infection, onychomycosis

): Onycholysis (separation of the nail from the bed), psoriasis (though if that is the case here it is HIGHLY localised, VERY highly localised so it's not high in the diagnosis list but a possibility non-the-less).

 

[Cermage]

my dad has the same thing. its nothing series. he's had it for 20 years now.

 

[OSW]

Maybe if you rip it off, it will heal back cleanly?

 

[Edgedancer]

Tried that before. Just grew back. There is a part that grows normally but once it gets to a certain point, it just dies.

 

[xcalibur]

Quit dancing on the edge! This is what happens!

 

[Dratini The Clar]

Curanail!

 

[Edgedancer]

Quit dancing on the edge! This is what happens!

I was wondering when someone would make that comment. I am going to the doctor next week I believe so it should be diagnosed then.