In-grown finger / thumb nails

Subject: In-grown finger / thumb nails
From: Betsy
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 06:57 PM

My guitar-plucking thumbnail has recently become badly in-grown and I am going to need medical attention.
I could perhaps blame a thumb pick which partly fits under the thumbnail ,I don't know if you know the type.
Of course I must say (at the risk of libelling myself) in could well be "just one of those things" and the picks have had no influence my problem.
I / we must be very careful about blaming these picks - but has anyone had a similar painful experience, I would be interested to discount any theories which I may have.
Cheers

Subject: RE: In-grown finger / thumb nails
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 02:13 AM

What brand of picks?

Subject: RE: In-grown finger / thumb nails
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 03:06 AM

While there is a good chance that the picks, or the way you've worn them, may be the cause of the problem, for significant changes in nail growth it is a good idea to get a medical opinion.

One of the medical conditions that can cause changes in the nails is known by the technical name of "old age." The problem isn't so much that age changes the nails, but any tendency toward decreased blood circulation inhibits the ability of body defenses to suppress common "infections," and "bugs in the nail bed" (most often fungi) can cause changes in how the nails grow.

While this is most often seen first in the feet (since they're closer to the common dirt?) such changes, even when minor, may be a hint that you need to start living like a mature** person and check up on your internal plumbing so that you can begin preventive maintenance while it still can do some good.

** In this case "mature person" may mean "over 20."

IFF you have used tapes or "sticky stuff" to help hold the picks in place, your doc may want to consider whether you've developed an allergic reaction to one of them. Nearly all "adhesive tapes" contain mercury in the "sticky," which is not usually in sufficient amount to cause a reaction unless you become "sensitised" to it from repeated exposure.

It's also possible that you've developed a sensitivity to the metal/material your picks are made from. "Metal allergies" are well known among those who sell and install earrings and other "body art." Good stainless steel is safe for nearly anyone, but even nickel or chrome plated objects sometimes can cause a reaction, for many. Some plastics are very prone to irritating some people.

Of course you need to consider how you use the picks you're used to, and perhaps look at some other kinds you might use. A check with your doc is still a good idea.

John

Subject: RE: In-grown finger / thumb nails
From: GUEST,highlandman at work
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 10:46 AM

If it's acute you need to see a doc, at least to make sure there's no underlying problem or infection. For the long term, I would recommend a visit to a good manicurist who could show you how grooming practice can help avoid the problem coming back. I come from a long line of ingrown toenail sufferers, and I can tell you that good nail care techniques make a huge difference. BTW so can diet -- have you made any major changes on that front lately?
Good luck
-Glenn

Subject: RE: In-grown finger / thumb nails
From: gnu
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 12:32 PM

Great adivce!

Subject: RE: In-grown finger / thumb nails
From: Barb'ry
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 01:10 PM

This piece of advice was given to me years ago by a retired chiropodist: get a very small piece of cotton wool and roll it to a thin sausage shape. Very gently push it under the nail, particularly where the nail is turning inwards. As the nail grows, it moves over the cotton wool and hey presto, no more ingrowing nail! it seems to work quite quickly and has cured lots of ingrowing nails in this household.

Of course, as everyone has said, do check for infection first. Oh, and don't break the skin when you stick the cotton wool behind the nail

Good luck, anyway.

Subject: RE: In-grown finger / thumb nails
From: Betsy
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 06:00 PM

Thanks to all for suggestions and advice and I DO qualify for being over 20 years old by more than another 40 years !! - unfortunately , but I didn't see this coming.
Basically no one else seems to be able to blame the picks so THAT's virtually one line of investigation ended.
To the Doc's it is than, and as a builder friend told me - he hit his thumb nail and made a mess but it was a relatively simple matter of local anaesthetheic , small op. and good as new in no time.
I shall report back but in the meantime thanks again.
Cheers Betsy

Subject: RE: In-grown finger / thumb nails
From: Betsy
Date: 05 Feb 14 - 06:23 PM

I always intended to seek medical advice - but the original intent of my message was to establish whether "any one" had suffered the same problem using the picks as I looselty thought may be the problem.
Seems no one has - good - and I went to the Doc today and he reckons it is a case of nail dystrophy , a particular fungal condition which attacks the nail but seems to cover many subdivisions.
(For the UK readers)While I was waiting for the prescription to be made up, and being a bit bored - I looked around the Pharmasist shelves and noticed that there are a few creams to address this condition - but costing around £ 20 and more!!!
Jeez - why not talk to the Doc and the max we need to pay for the proper prescripted cream is £ 7.85 . Crazy or what.?
Keep your fingers crossed for me ( no distant pun intended)'cos most of you know that when playing and singing a song finger style, it can be difficult to reproduce by simply playing with a flat pick .
Cheers

Betsy

Subject: RE: In-grown finger / thumb nails
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 10:09 AM

Why not switch to the kind of thumbpick which wraps around the thumb and doesn't touch the nail? That's the kind I use, and I like them very much. I only use them for the bass strings of a chord, and I use fingertips (or tips plus nails) for the high notes.

Flat picks are not a good idea. Simulate holding one. Do you feel the tension in your hand? Nobody should use a flat pick for very long.

Subject: RE: In-grown finger / thumb nails
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 11:26 AM

" Nobody should use a flat pick for very long."

Right! Doc Watson did for 70 years, and he's dead! ☺

Subject: RE: In-grown finger / thumb nails
From: GUEST,highlandman at work
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 04:44 PM

If you feel tension in your hand holding a flat pick you're not holding it properly. You should be able to keep it up for hours with no ill effects (other than from the beers which is a different issue...)
I think of the old fencing master's advice: it's like a little bird. Hold it too tightly and it dies, hold it too loosely and it flies away. -Glenn
PS Betsy, glad you've made some progress with the condition.

Subject: RE: In-grown finger / thumb nails
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 05:26 PM

'" Nobody should use a flat pick for very long."

Right! Doc Watson did for 70 years, and he's dead! ☺'

Best laugh I've had in weeks. Thank you.

Subject: RE: In-grown finger / thumb nails
From: GUEST,Betsy forget to log in
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 07:34 PM

No problem holding the Flat pick - I was just trying to say that a song you normally play finger style can be difficult to play with a flat pick due to general tempo and general feel of the whole thing.
Leeneia - how I wish I had started and persisted with one of those wrap around thumb picks - but I didn't.
That would have meant I would (and many wonderful players)with my thumb being parallel to the strings.
Unfortunatly I relied on my thumb nail in my younger years and pointed it 90 Degrees to the stings , which , in my mature years is a technique almost impossible to change .
Thanks for all you concerns and interest - and I promise will overcome this shit situation.
Cheers

Betsy

Subject: RE: In-grown finger / thumb nails
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 12:21 AM

There are all sorts of new innovative picks on the market, especially from the USA!