The cold winter months provide us with the opportunity to pursue some fun seasonal activities, with one of the more popular selections being downhill skiing. Skiing can be a great way to enjoy the season and get some exercise, but the act of skiing can also be hard on your feet and toes. One injury that is somewhat common among skiers is known as skier’s toe.
In today’s blog, we take a closer look at skier’s toe and explain what you should do if you have developed the condition.
What Is Skier’s Toe?
Skier’s toe is a medical condition classified by bleeding underneath the bed of the a toe, oftentimes the big toe. Bleeding under the toenail is typically caused by trauma to the area. This can happen if we drop something heavy on our toes or stub them on the kitchen table, but it can also develop if your toe is subjected to stress and pressure while in a ski boot. We twist and push with our toes to help control our skis, and all this regular pressure against the ski boot can actually cause bleeding to develop under the nail.
While it may be classified as skier’s toe if it develops because you recently went skiing, the medical term for bleeding under a toenail is a subungual hematoma. When they develop, you’ll obviously notice discoloration underneath the nail bed, but other symptoms include:
- Pain
- Sensitivity
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Redness
- Discomfort when putting your foot in a closed toe shoe
How To Treat Skier’s Toe
Mild cases of skier’s toe can typically be treated with some simply conservative treatments. You’ll want to protect the toe from additional trauma, so setting some activity restrictions tends to be helpful. Avoid skiing, running or jumping on the injured foot for a few days to see how the area responds. Many people find that resting, elevating and icing their toe provides relief. You may also want to avoid closed-toe shoes if at all possible. If you need to wear shoes, go with a roomier option that limits pressure on the toe box.
For more severe cases, you may benefit from connecting with a foot specialist. If the pressure underneath the nail is causing a great deal of discomfort, your orthopedic specialist may carefully remove some blood from the area to decrease the pressure. You should not try to perform this procedure on your own, as this can greatly increase your likelihood of an infection if you’re not careful. Instead, let a specialist depressurize the area so that pain subsides and healing can continue to run its course.