I have had ps on my feet for about a year now and my toenails have become really thick and close to my toes, I can no longer cut them with clippers. Does anyone know if it is possible to get help from a nhs ( uk) chiropodist referred by my derm consultant? Has this happened to anyone else?
I've live with Psoriasis for 40 yrs and in the last 5 yrs my toe nails are getting thick and discolored. I purchased a Dremel to get rid of calluses on my feet and to reduce the thickness of the nails. My podiatrist uses a similar instrument made especially for feet but it costs me $70.00 each time I go to her for a treatment. So I bought one at a hardware store that looks similar to hers for 120.00 on sale. Now I do my own treatments. After 2 treatments, the Dremel is paid for.
Unfortunately according to my doctor, if you have psoriasis under your fingernails or toe nails you will be more prone to getting a fungus. She did a nail clipping and yes it came back as a fungus also but treating the fungus is very expensive topically. My private insurance or gov't insurance does not cover the topicals. You can take oral anti fungals but it may damage your liver but may be covered by insurance; however, if what the doctor says is true then although we get rid of the fungus because of the psoriasis chances are that it may return again and again. Sad to say but big pharma is profiteering from our misery and pain. I have found that filing my nails with a heavy duty file or a dremel tool ( drill with a grinding bit on the end)keeps the nails a bit thinner and the topicals absorb better. It is getting a bit harder as I get older to reach the toes easily but for now still manage.
You will be lucky if you can get a regular podiatry appointment with the nhs. (Im a foot health practitioner ) All podiatrists, chiropodists and fhps are qualified to treat psoriatic nails and can thin then down with a nail drill to keep them under control. Hope that helps😀
Ignore doctor that says it's fungus,over time my doctor sent 3 separate clippings off and all came back as not fungal,it's psoriasis as I have it in finger nails and toes, I've psa too and was in agony for over 2 years and my doctor said it was my weight, I gave up until a friend kept dragging me back,they then referred me to a consultant at the hospital, 5 minutes later she said I had psoriatic arthritis, 2 years I was in total agony that's why I've got no faith in my doctor anymore
I’m sorry if this sounds insensitive but it helps to not feel alone. Mine look exactly like this. What I do to help them a little is to get the thing that has like sandpaper that spins. You use it on your heels to get the dead skin off (I can’t think of the name right now) but I basically use it to get the nails semi level. I live in Florida and I can’t wear open toe shoes and it stinks!!! I sometimes will go to the place I trust and sometimes they can get it halfway decent with a pedicure but honestly I am mortified to do this. Kind of sucks the life out of me to do this. ( I know drama queen!!) but after a few days I get over it and enjoy my nails for a week. Yes a week. My nails grow so fast that’s all I get.
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