Nail Changes
 

I have another question.... regarding Nail changes. I was wondering how long it took everyone to notice nail changes?

I know shortly after my injury (a about 3-4 months) I noticed the my right hand (the hand with CRPS) finger nails were growing at a quicker rate then my left. This lasted a few months.

Then I noticed that the nails growth rate began to slow down. Now the finger nails grow a much slower rate then the left.

About a month and a half ago (about 8 months of having CRPS) I began noticing that my right hand finger nails are developing deeper grooves in them and are becoming brittle and almost feel thicker then the left.

I am guessing the finger nail changes are a slow progressive one. Can anyone suggest anything I can use to keep the nails healthy? or to help with the thickening/grooving? Also what are some of your experiences with the nail changes? (how long did it take/what other things you have noticed etc.)

Take care,
Karen

I had almost the same changes you have had except some of my nails fell off. I also had mirror changes with hair, first growing rapidly and then thinning.

My neurologist suggested a supplement called bioten. My nails and hair are much better. I don't know if it is the biotin or the tCDS treatment I had. My neurologist thinks the bioten is responsible for the improvement.

Hope this helps!!!!

Teri

Hi Karen,
Nail changes and hair changes are common with rsd. One of the "lovely" things about it. After six years I am finding soooo many changes within my body. I had premature wrinkling of my skin esp on my hands/arms/legs after ketamine this past year. And now I see it on my face too! The ketamine seems to have drained my body of all liquid and vitamins. Strange. I would not do that treatment again. It was brutal. I see a thickness in the nails in my right foot (initial trauma). I have had alot of hair fall out of my hair in clumps esp in the beginning. Now, the front of my head is thinning badly. I went to a dermatologist a few years ago and did a biopsy and he said it was from stress on the hair follicles. I have hardly any hair on my legs (Shaving hurts too bad anyway). I just noticed today that the entire back of my legs (and most of the front) have no hair at all and it is really thin on my shins.The dermatologist had me use Rogain for my hair and then said to put it on my legs to grow hair back. Duh. What woman would want to do that? That is probably the only good thing about having rsd haha.

My vision has become blurry too. I used to have 20/20 vision until rsd. I just got a pair of reading glasses last year and I think my eyes have changed for the worst again. Amazing. Well, good luck and take it one day at a time. I think most of the changes are gradual and happen over years. Hang in there.
kathy d

Changes in nails is one of the CLASSIC symptoms of CRPS. It can be different for everyone. Some grow faster, some slower, some thicker, some fall off.

Mine got thicker on the CRPS foot, but no dramatic differences.

I don't personally know of any treatments for nail changes due to CRPS.

For me the nail changes on my toes happened late. I would say 2 years into dx and this last year it really has become bad. Right now they are so gross and hard to cut. Its been about 4.5 years with the condition.
As for what helps heal. I am not sure but I think if the RSD pain and condition gets to a better place with treatments then the nail issue will also improve. Like for ex when people do ketamine and the sores start going away. It may not be ketamine but another treatment it was just an ex I was using.
I don't take biotin but do take supplements. I think vitamin c and also omega 3 also help in healing. I also thought I read that lack of calcium can impact nails etc. I have osetoporsis so I take calcium with d anyhow.

Hi Karen,

That was the first symtom I got when the RSD started to appear and it started very quickly after my fall and first surgery . They would grow like a weed and where hard as a rock. Had a problem clipping them with a nail clipper, I could drive them through a wall, I'm sure and they would not break. Since a had the ketamine treatments that has stopped. But what is strange when I have a flare if I over do it or it's very humid and that scenerio continues for a couple of days the nails will start growing abnormally again.
Very strange.

Good Luck,

Gabbycakes

Hello NT Nail changes
 

Hello everyone. I have been a member for a little while. Over the last year, I have developed nail problems. I am now taking vitamine B12 shots, and a number of suppliments. I do have PN, some burining in my left foot. Nails are cracked, brittle, length wise ridges, thin, bendable is how I would describe this. I was not always like this. Is there anything else the doctor should do to diagnos me? I have osteo arthritis, DDD, and DJD, does this account for these new changes? thanks all, ginnie

I've had the same changes with nails you've all mentioned. I've also had the hair changes. I have RSD on both of my legs so while I see the changes there, there has been no "normal" one to compare them too. But I have it in just one wrist and you can see a huge difference in the hair on my RSD arm. It is much thicker and darker and the nails grow more slowly and are brittle. Not to mention all of the redness, swelling, shiny/scaly looking skin, etc. RSD is sure attractive, isn't it?

I had nail changes in the hand of my effected limb. Thick, hard brittle with ridges in them. Very ugly. Nail polish would not even stick.

Within two months of tDCS treatments the nail problems became much better and now are totally gone. I didn't realize how much I hated that with all of the other symptoms that were so overwhelming.

My toe nails started changing last summer. They went from clear to dark yellow almost overnight. Just horrible looking. This winter when I started taking vitamins they started to clear up and I started walking again. Still have burning pain, but not the pain I had.