Do I Have Subungual Hematoma?

Did you experience a throbbing pain in the nail area?

Was there a discoloration of the nail (it starts as reddish purple, and then it turns dark brown and black as the blood clots)?

Has the pain gone away in a few days?

Does the nail itself take longer to recover?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you have subungual hematoma. When this happens, you experience bleeding and bruising under the nail, caused by an injury to the blood vessels under the nail bed. The nail will discolor and grow out. Sometimes, it falls off, or it needs to be removed – and replaced by a new one. For a fingernail it may take up to eight weeks, whereas for a toenail six months.

Based on your answers, you are displaying some signs of subungual hematoma. Home remedies include elevating the foot or hand and icing the area for 20 minutes at a time. Also, you may want to take over-the-counter pain medication to relieve the pain, and some will reduce inflammation as well.

Based on your answers, you are displaying the signs typically seen among individuals who have subungual hematoma. If your symptoms are intense or persist longer than some days, you may need to contact your doctor. He may perform nail trephination, whereby a small hole is made in the nail, allowing it to drain. This may be done with a sterile needle or laser. The patient will get immediate relief, and the damaged nail will fall off on its own or will be removed by your doctor. Make sure to watch for signs of infection. If the nail gets infected, contact your doctor immediately.