I'm having thumb issues as well. It got caught in my car door last November. Hurt like heck, then turned totally black underneath. Doc said there was nothing to do but wait. After about 3 months it started lifting from the bed on one side. Still attached on the other. I had to cut it off sortof in half if that makes sense. Then little by little the rest of it lifted off. But the nail was growing underneath. It's currently about halfway grown. I don't put color on my nails normally, just keep them clipped and buffed.

Now that you mention it, it does look like a big toe. Now I can't unsee that!

Im glad to hear yours is growing back. Gives me hope. Catching your thumb in the car door sounds very painful! I may have to forego a manicure although the other nine nails are looking pretty ragged.

Oh, yikes! It hurts just to read about y’all’s nails. I think I’d have to go to a doctor. A neighbor didn’t take care of a damaged nail (can’t remember what happened to damage it) and had all sort of serious issues.

Ugh, ded, sorry that happened.

Back in ’13, I reached into a box we’d just gotten out of the attic. I felt a sharp and painful jab on my pinkie finger and saw what did it: a Brown Recluse spider. It got me almost on my cuticle.

After a few weeks, my nail started deteriorating. It looked awful. It eventually all came off and I kept a bandage on it until it didn’t hurt. For the next few years, it would try to grow back, but then would get wonky and start deteriorating again. It was so frustrating! I just accepted it would never be normal again … but finally, it started growing back and stayed that way. It looks totally normal now.

I was on FB back then and my friends were all invested in my nail saga. :D I got married the next year and told the photographer not to do close-ups of my hand holding the bouquet.

Have you seen a doctor about yours? Did the thorn come out completely? It sounds like such a similar experience to mine. Hopefully yours will grow back much sooner, and be normal again. I usually didn’t have enough nail to polish, if you do, I’d just have it done like your other nails. Good luck! 🤍

I crushed mine in a car door last summer. The nail bed was disgusting colors and the actual nail was lifted and dented and I lost about the same amount as you. As it grew I cut it down as low as I could so the lifted part wouldn't catch on anything. I finally cut off the last of the bent nail part a few weeks ago.

My advice is patience, patience, patience. I would keep polish away from it and take the bandaid off at night so it is dry. Damaged nails tend to attract fungus which is also fun!

Sending healing vibes your way.

I have no words of wisdom to share but I am so sorry you are dealing with this. I think I would see what your doctor advises. And if I wanted a manicure, I would probably go the very neutral route. Is it painful to have the nailbed exposed?

oh my gosh, our nails have been taking a beating! I thought aboutseeing my doctor about it but figured her advice would to just wait it out.

It doesnt hurt, but my thumb kind of feels exposed if that makes any sense. The hardest thing to do is button a shirt. I never realized how i use my thumbnail to maneuver buttons!

Thanks for the sympathy. I hope nothing worse ever happens to me.

Like czarina and dee, I too had a finger (and nailbed) smashed in a car door in my 20s. Apart from the pain, the nail turned purple and then black. Then it lifted slowly and eventually fell, under which there was a new nail growing. It took for the new one to fully grow and cover the area we associate with a finger nail.

Nine tenths prettier, good point!

All I can say to all of these injuries is "OUCH!"

I've been fortunate enough that my car or house door incidenets, thorns, cuts and even a sewing needle have not resulted in long term problems. DH has had fungus tat threatened his nails not growing, and our youngest had a door blow shut and smash the tip of his finger. We had it checked to see if there was a fracture and the pediatrician referred us to a plastic surgeon to check whether there was damage to the nail bed that could causepermanent problems. There wasn't - but I would never have thought of that before then. Now, I say go get it checked and make sure you don't need an antibiotic, avoid any further issues and see if that nail bed is damaged. Best case, it's just reassurance and a little guidance on what to expect and how to avoid complications.

If you are used to haveing manicures, I would just do the 9 of 10. Maybe go with a light shade so the one bare one is less noticeable. I'm using Londontown right now -- they have bold colors, but the light and sheer ones are what drew me to try them. Wearing Invisible Crown right now. Hope all you need is time -- and maybe some neutral or light polish shades.