Help me, help my Dad!

[Fake it...]

Hey folks!
Please can anyone help me to help my lovely Dad?
He had a bad stroke 7 years ago and was left paralysed down his left side. He always had gorgeous, really beautiful nails, way too nice for a bloke!
Since the stroke his left hand has started to close up into a fist, shortening of the tendons I believe, and become really tight. He sleeps with it in a splint to try and help reverse the action but after an hour or so without it his hand closes up again. As a result the nails on his left hand have really thickened and are curling over the top of his finger. The doctors won't do anything, they told him to go to Boots and buy some heavy duty toenail clippers!
I cut them down and file them as best I can but its super difficult with the hand/wrist/arm not being supple and pliable.
If a client sat down before me with this condition I would refer them to their GP as I don't feel that it's something a nail technician should try to deal with.
Can anyone shed some light onto what it may be please and what I can do to help. A chiropodist won't touch it as its not feet related and we don't really know what else to do.
I'll attach as many pics as I can to show the "bad" hand and the "good" hand.
Ps. The "bad" hand sweats a lot due to it being clenched into a fist all the time.
Thanks in advance
xx

and pliable .

 

[MissJulesBeauty]

Hello

I am going to be of very little help here but I did not want to read and run as firstly I am appalled that the doc did not refer or help your dad. Nail clippers are clearly not going to help.

I would be tempted to go back to the docs and insist that you get a second specialist opinion. As an ex nurse i know it is your dads right as a patient to request a referral.

One of my ex customers had this problem also due to a stroke. Her nails were actually very brittle and so I used to apply gelish to keep them strong, nightmare in the lamp though, we literally had to cure a couple of fingers at a time as she could not stop them smudging each other if you know what I mean. She too had to wear a splint but had it on most of the time not just at night.

 

[Fake it...]

Thank you for your reply. I intend to go with my dad to his next appointment and explain that I'm a nail tech etc. and that this is the job for someone medically trained. I don't think it will help though. If this condition were on his toenails then they would refer him to a chiropodist/podiatrist, there doesn't seem to be the fingernail equivalent out there... Does there??? xxx

 

[vidanails]

Maby try buffing the nails (to reduce thickness and make colour look more even) I would also suggest doing his nails with the splint on they look sooo dry poor guy cuticle oil regularly to help maintain healthy nails and skin this will also help future nail growth look better do the nails dig into his hand at all being clenched a the time? Poor man hope this helps him x

 

[Kit_Cat]

I agree with the above regarding a second opinion.

Has your dad had input from Physio and occupational therapy? Splint sounds essential but I wonder if a Physio might recommend any exercises to open up the hand a bit more?

I used to work in neuro and Botox was often used by doctors in cases like this to relax and stretch the muscles out. Would be worth asking your GP about.

Good luck and hope you can sort your dads nails, sorry I can't be more help here! xxxx

 

[gillian w]

Welcome

Its maybe worth contacting the society in the above link and asking them if there is anyone that treats fingernails as well.They maybe able to advise you or at least point you in the right direction

 

[Fake it...]

Hi guys.
Thanks for your replies. I don't want to buff the nails as I really think that it could be a case of onchomycosis and would prefer it to be treated medically.
Re Botox, we've asked, Doc says "No!"
His physio has given us exercises to do with his hand but it seems that after 7 years we are loosing the battle. He used to wear the splint during the day too but it made his hand sweat so badly that his palm went so soft that the skin just opened up, started smelling and weeping like it was rotting. The Doc told us to leave it off during the day so that the palm could "breathe." It healed up but we always make sure that he has a ball of kitchen roll in his hand to keep the moisture under control.
It helps but the nails just keep on thickening and "knitting" to the skin as they creep over the tops of his fingers.
They are so thick they won't fit into tip cutters so I cut, with scissors, what I can and then file the rest of the length down.
It's just prolonging the problem though.
Does anyone else think it looks like onchomycosis or something similar?
xx

 

[GlamourEyes11]

Hiya hunni,

Ahh your poor dad

After his stroke, do you know / remember if he was given a contact of a local stroke specialist / team? If so, have you tried contacting them? They may be able to offer some advice.
I may still have the phone number of the lady we dealt with from the stroke team after my partner suffered his strokes. He's had 3 strokes now and we've dealt with the same lady every time. She's been amazing! Although she won't be able to help personally but she may be able to point you in the right direction? Xxx

 

[Fake it...]

Ooh, that would be great if you could. I'll ask mum if she has any ideas.
He's really conscious of how it looks so it'd be good to get it sorted for that reason alone.
I hope your partner is ok and on the mend,
Love to you both xxx

 

[gillian w]

To confirm it was fungal they would have to take clippings you could ask them to.It does look a bit fungal but I think nails just get thickened and discoloured through lack of circulation the way they do in the elderly.
If his hands get sweaty and prone to infection Australian body care skin wash and hand and body lotion are very good and may help.

 

[Fake it...]

Ooh, many thanks Gillian.
I shall ask the Doc to take clippings and I shall get some of the ABC products that you have mentioned.
Thank you to everyone for taking the time to answer and advise. Much appreciated
xxx

 

[amurphy105]

I have a client who is paralyzed. Her fingers curve into her fist. I can't upload pics, but when I mani her I put a polar block(or any 4 sided buffing block) in her palm, and toe separaters between her fingers. As long as it doesn't hurt. Somedays her hands are tighter than others. If you try it, and your dad's fingertips go white or purple, lose the separaters.

Sent from my Desire HD using SalonGeek

 

[Pooh8bear]

Ooh, many thanks Gillian.
I shall ask the Doc to take clippings and I shall get some of the ABC products that you have mentioned.
Thank you to everyone for taking the time to answer and advise. Much appreciated
xxx

Let us know how you get on, good luck.:hug::hug

 

[beauty bits]

Insstead of kitchen towel try muslin squares rolled imto a saussage shape for the palm of the hand and a smaller sausage muslin shape and snake it between the fingers. Wash hand in a bowl of warm mild soapy water am and pm. Avoid creams unless the skin is dry and once dryness is dealt with stop creaming. Ask to be referd to the strokes team but with budget cuts and depending on where u live chances are u wont get to see one. If not ask for physio stating that its causeing pain to your dad due to spasms (sometimes a little lie helps). Keep nails as short as possible and file regulary to keep short. Get him to use his good hand to stretch out and kind of massage the fingers on his bad hand as often as he can to try and keep it pliable. Hope that helps a little bit x

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[Lynne Baker]

I think you could do worse than paying for a private Occupational Therapist to take a look at the splinting situation, and I have no doubt that they would be able to advise about the nails.

 

[Claire@OBNMK]

I dont have any help or advice, sorry,
but I really wish the both of you luck.

I personally was shocked that the doctor won't do anything, does the doctors surgery have serveral doctors in it, perhaps you could see a different doc.

I know when my hubby got sciatica badley I had to bang and shout to get help/mri scans/operation appointment etc so i know how fustrating and upsetting things like this can be.

Keep us updated xxx