Hello everyone. I hope all is well with you! I’m back with another Slice of Life Post, and today I’m talking about Paronychia. I’ve never heard of this condition until last week, but let me tell you it is not fun.
I’ve been trying to get back into shape this summer, so I’ve been running. I started out running three miles and then adding more each week. I was up to five miles when Paronychia struck.

I had just completed an awesome five mile run. I had that runner’s high that you get when you’re done. I could have run another five miles that’s how good I felt. But I didn’t because I didn’t want to overdo it. This summer has been very hot and humid, and it’d be real easy for me to give myself heat stroke or something.

After my run, I came home and cleaned up. When I finally sat down, I noticed the nail on my big toe seemed bent at a weird angle. I got out the clippers and prepared to cut it.That’s when I noticed that it was a little swollen and tender. Something wasn’t right.
I continued clipping my nail and when I was done, I sat back and examined my toe. That’s when I noticed a clear liquid oozing out from under my nail. This threw me for a loop. I kept pressing on the nail until the clear liquid stopped flowing out. Then I went to bed. I figured a good night sleep would cure it.
It didn’t. I woke up with a swollen toe and more oozing. That’s when my hubby got involved. He took a look at it and claimed I had Paronychia, and my toe had to be amputated. When he left the bathroom to get the meat cleaver, I took the opportunity to jump in the shower.
Photo credit: Ryan Christopher VanWilliams – NYC via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-ND
He returned with the cleaver in hand, I told him I had to get to work so the amputation would have to wait until later that night. He bought that excuse, put the cleaver down, and went to work. I know he was getting the cleaver out of love…but maybe he didn’t need to love me so much… you know. 🙂
On a side note: I did ask my hubby if Misery was his favorite movie. He’s always saying he’s my Number One Fan. (Bites nails) But it isn’t, so we’re all good. 🙂 He is a Stephen King fan, though…. (chews nails and paces).
Photo credit: AZRainman via Visual Hunt / CC BY
After my shower, I got dressed for work and quickly hid the meat cleaver. There was going to be no amputation because of a little toe infection, and that’s what it was. An infection of the cuticle around my toe.
I’ve never had this before, and my toe swelled up so I couldn’t wear shoes. I had to drain it each day.(I also soaked my toe in hydrogen peroxide) That clear fluid never turned to pus like the hubs said it would, though. This is important because he thinks he’s right about everything. And he usually is, which is an annoying idiosyncrasy. But hey, we’ve all got them, right. 🙂
It took about a week, but the swelling has finally gone down and the oozing has stopped. The nail looks a little bruised, but for the most part it’s fine.
Why am I sharing this with all of you? To let you know if your hubby says you have Paronychia and wants to perform an amputation. It is NOT necessary. You can save your toe. You just have to wait it out, or go to the doctor and get some antibiotics. This has been a PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT. 🙂
So, has your husband ever wanted to perform emergency surgery for you? Leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you!
Having toe issues are the worst! But maybe having unnecessary surgery is even worse. 🙂
LOL! You are so right! I should count my blessings!
That looks really painful! On a funny note, my mother had both sec on toes amputated because she had such terrible hammertoe. It still freaks me out to see her bare feet. I’m glad your husband didn’t have to amputate yours!
I am, too, Adrienne! I’m rather clumsy as it is, can you imagine how clumsy I’d be if I had my big toe amputated? I shudder to think of it! I’m sorry to hear about your Mom’s toes, but I bet she’s happier now that she doesn’t have to deal with the hammertoe.
LOL! Great post, Lisa! Seems the Universe wanted you to slow down a bit. Your hubby meant well, but just in case hide anything sharp… Feel better! At least it’s not your fingers and you can still write! Wink.
That’s exactly what I was thinking, Sharon! I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t write! 🙂
I admire that you made this funny, but imagine it was not “very”. I have no toe stories, but my daughter-in-law who runs is challenged by Plantar Fasciitis, a tough thing to fix. Hope this toe problem goes away never to return!
Thanks, Linda! I appreciate your kind words. I feel so sorry for your daughter in law, that Plantar Fasciitis is very painful. I hope she’s on the mend soon!
Very funny blog. You sure do know how to make lemonade out of lemons.😀
LOL! Thanks Bernadette! Life’s too short to do anything else!
I have never heard of that condition, but I’m glad I now know what to do if it ever happens to me!
There you go! It has taken about a week to recover from this condition. 🙂
You made me gasp with horror and then laugh out loud. Glad your story has a happy ending.
Awww…thanks, Tara! I’m glad I made you laugh! That was my goal! 🙂
OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes! It was painful, but the swelling has gone down and I’m on the mend. 🙂
That’s such a bummer, but at least it’s getting better!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Yes. It’s much better, but what a strange thing to have happen. I’ve never had this before.
What a helpful husband you have? LOL
LOL! I know! Sometimes a little too helpful.
I really enjoyed your fun take on a painful toe. Well done.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by!
Made me laugh, Lisa. My husband tends to “extreme answers” as well. When I got Plantar Fascitis, from speed walking (inflammation of the tendon in the arch of your foot and the heel, sometimes with an overnight Achilles tendon), I’m lucky I still have a foot! It was a long slow healing process and I’m sure he considered amputation…or gagging me to stop my complaints! Then there was the time I tore my meniscus tripping over our daughter’s dog….but he has restrained his natural impulses just like your husband! Gotta love these guys! Jo
LOL! You sure do, Jo! They certainly keep life interesting don’t they?
I guess we realize we have arrived in the age group that get these kind of injuries, but as long as our funny bones remain intact we’ll get through anything!
So true!
I love your post! You and your husband are both very funny. (I’m a Stephen King fan too so I understand. Misery is one scary movies.) I have never heard of Paronychia either, and hope to never meet it. I’m glad you didn’t need the axe.
Thanks for stopping by, Karuna! I’m glad I didn’t need the axe as well.. Misery was definitely one scary movie and Kathy Bates did such an awesome job. Whenever I think of the words “I’m you’re Number One Fan,” I think of her and kind of shudder. 😉
That movie is really old now, and the fact that it can still make us shutter is remarkable. I feel the same about The Shining.
Oh, I know! That was such a scary movie! Jack Nickolson did an incredible job in that movie. I remember a scene where he’s breaking down a door with an axe and he pokes his head through the hole he just created and says, “Here’s Johnny!” Boy. We are going way back! We’re showing our age! LOL!
Yes we are, although my children were Stephen King fans also, as was their dad. Now they are 39 and 42, or at least close to it.
I was reading The Shining at the time my husband and I separated. I would only read it during the day since it was only my kids and me in the house but then I got to a point in the story where I couldn’t put it down so I read it at night. I really scared myself that night.
I’m presently reading The Stand which was one of our favorite books. It is really interesting to reading it when the world is in the state it is in. It seems a lot more real than it probably did then.
“The Stand” is one of my all time favorite books. There are so many parrallels that you can draw from that story and the way the world is today. 🙂
Other Stephen King books I absolutely loved were “Firestarter,” and “Christine.” Both of them were awesome stories!
The Stand feels very real now even though it was very meaningful even back when I read it.
I read them both Firestarter and Christine and watched the movies. Maybe some day I will read them again. And of course there was Carrie!
Oh my gosh! How could I forget “Carrie?” That one was very scary, too. All that pig’s blood!