Is toenail fungus painful? are there any otc medicines or home remedies that anyone reccomends?

I work in a Derm's office and it doesn't sound like a fungus. Sounds more like you may have damaged the nail (wearing different shoes, dropping something on it etc) The nail needs to grow out which could take months depending on where the 'bruise' is. I have never heard anyone say that fungus was painful. If you want to treat it for fungus anyway, there are many creams for this treatment, go to any drug store and find one that is in your price range, use it twice a day and make sure you rub some of the cream under your toenail as far as you can as well as over the top of the nail.

Go to a health food store or a supplement place like GNC and get some pure tea tree oil. follow the instructions carefully. if it is a fungus this will clear it up. if not, I would do what the other person suggested and see a doctor.

It could be a fungal infection, but you need to find out from a Dr. it could be something serious. They say to use vicks and rub that on the infected nail but i have never tried that myself.