I had nail problems for years, purple nails, purple streaked nails,
dented, pitted, grooved, striated, split deformed nails, nails with
active bleeds under the nails, swollen nails, ones that look and
FEEL like they were hit by a hammer. Weird nail pains at random
times, even when they look OK.
The best treatments for me were systemic,,, steroids, enbrel,
sunlight, methotrexate, all work some on my nails,,but locally I
would scrape away the dead debris, (if you draw blood that is too
much), keep affected nails very short, and used betamethasone
ointment (shoved in with toothpick) or lotion immediately after
trim/debridement(the clear liquid).
Basically I treated the under nail lesions like skin lesions, and
used skin meds to reduce inflammation. WARNING Tar ointment is good
for skin and scalp lesions, but turns nails brown and reeealy ugly.
I used the clear nail strengthening varnish/glue to keep nail
fragments intact and waterproof. I'm a guy and often wear gloves at
work.
Right now my fingernails are nearly normal, my toes not too bad.
I haven't talked on forum for about a year. Dec 9 2005 I fell due to
sore, unreliable knee, had concussion, memory loss, and it took a
few weeks before I could understand writing or spoken english. Still
not 100% back, total recovery unlikely now, but headaches mostly
gone.., and I can usually function after a half hours warmup, and
work full days with naps before work and at midday. Steroids to help
brain swelling really helped psoriasis, the BRAIN FOG from
methotrexate hard to distinguish from blunt trauma. Paycheck stubs
say I worked alot of hours, don't remember most of the year.
Had bad cold in Dec 2006 which turned into autoimmune asthma,
illness was infection hitting weak immune system followed by
autoimmune revenge/rebound when usual meds stopped, then restarted,
still recovering with help on a few hundred mgs of steroids again.
(to help breathing) Sick enough so now the doctors call me, WEIRD to
get unsolicited Doctor calls during your favorite show. yes doctors
plural, dermatologists, pneumonologists, rheumatologists, even some
radiologist who wants followup,, more tests....guess this means I
won't be singing on American Idol.
I have noticed that brain damage makes TV more enjoyable, even if
you can't follow the plot.
My wife recovering from hip replacement and multiple fractures after
trying to teach my daughter to drive. Insurance replaced car in
weeks, wife rehab taking about a year.
We all take a licking and keep on ticking!! And my nails are OK.
pete from Baltimore