My toe nail is falling off

I know it sounds gross, but it's true. I'm horrified. My big toe nails got bruised from climbing down Mt. Fuji in Japan on August 19th. Yes, I know that was 2.5 months ago, but one internet reference claimed that it can take up to 10 months for the nail to fall off. Yes, I said "fall off". First, a bruise occurs. Second, the nail may fall off. In my case, half the stupid nail has become unattached. I can't cut it, because will look unappealing. I don't have a foot fetish, but decent looking feet are important to me. Anyhow, I put some darker nail polish on, so it's not obvious.

So why did this happen to me? One of my friends exclaimed, "That's why I keep my toe nails short." What is that supposed to mean? I cut my nails so short that the lady at the salon has nothing to cut during the pedicure. To dispel any myths or presumptions, I searched high and low for some website resources. It took a bit of surfing since there were many discussion forums of runners complaining about the same problem (if you don't believe me, click here). Read more fasicinating information about black toe nail at:
1) The Walking Site
2) Super Feet

As listed on the Walking Site, "Friction can be caused by any of the following:

• Shoes that are too short or too tight
• A toe box that does not fit your foot shape
• Tight socks
• Downhill walking or running
• Swollen feet
• Overpronation causing the foot to elongate within the shoe."

I'm 99% sure the root cause was hiking downhill of the steep Mt. Fuji in my New Balance running shoes. Yes, I should have used hiking shoes for hiking. I kept taking breaks while going downhill since my knees and toes were in pain. It was one of the most painful (and longest) times of my life. I noticed the bruises on my toe nails shortly after the hike, but I didn't know that the nails fall off until the lady at the nail salon told me during my pedicure. My heart sank then, but now I am horrified when I noticed it happened this weekend. Hopefully, I won't get an infection.

I know some friends whose toe nails did fall off after running a marathon. When I saw it, the nail had already fallen off, but it didn't look bad. I'm not sure if it grew back normally. My problem is that the whole nail won't fall off (at least not yet). I don't want to cut it in a weird shape. The purpose of this post is not to gross you out, but rather to spread awareness. Even though I knew about my friends' condition, I didn't think it would happen to me. It didn't happen to my other friends who climbed Mt. Fuji with me, but these guys were smart when they wore proper hiking shoes. I didn't feel like carrying it in my luggage, but now I will think twice next time (if there ever is a next time, that is). Anyhow, I need to buy new running shoes, because I'm sure they are worn out by now. Lastly, I will now have a reminder of climbing Mt. Fuji for the next couple months until I have a full normal big toe nail. :(

[Tags: black, toe, nail, downhill, bruised, running]