A member asked:

Hi, so i went on hikes with backpacks that weigh about 60 pounds or heavier. my toenails are now black. or there is just dried blood under them.

3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Edward Hellman answered

Specializes in Orthopedic Surgery

Subungual hematoma: It is probably a hematoma (bleeding) under the toe nail. Will resolve on its own or you can "drain" them. To drain them you can either heat up a paper clip or use a sterile needle and pierce through the nail to the spot and usually will the get a small amount of dark blood. Draining them does usually pretty dramatically improve the pain from them.

Answered 3/9/2015

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Trauma: with added weight especially hiking more pressure is forced to the toes for added push off and also ground force pushing against bottom of toes into shoes causing trauma

Answered 7/6/2015

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