Clubbing in my thumb's why?

Question

My thumb nails are rising and growing inward and downward, if you can picture that. I hate it. Half of both thumb nails are not attached to my skin like their supposed to be. My Dr. calls it clubbing. Doctor said it is from smoking. I have COPD, but, the information I looked up on Yahoo Health, said it was not associated with COPD. I just had some blood work done to check for a lot of things. The Dr. said I don't have Cancer. I had asked a question earlier on why my middle fingers were numb. I went to a Neurologist had that terrible test done, that Dr. said I had Carpal Tunnel. In my right hand/wrist. MMM. I used to work in Electronics for almost 30 yrs. and haven't work for some time now. I do use my computer a lot, I guess that's what did it. Gee whiz.........

Answer 1

What did you do when you worked in electronics??

Did you work a soldering iron. soldering station, or wave solder machine?  You could have lead poisoning, IF you breathed too much solder smoke.

I'm not totally sure, but >I THINK< that lead  problems can show up as damaged nails.  Lead poisoning is not something that doctors normally check for UNLESS they have a reason to (like your history in electronics, >maybe<)

Either way, might be worth telling the doctor(s) about . . . .

Answer 2

Clubbing of the nails can be caused by a number of things inclulding: Inflammatory bowel disease, pulmonary malignancy, asbestosis, chronic bronchitis, COPD, cirrhosis, congenital heart disease, endocarditis, atrioventricular malformations, fistulas.  

Your doc did some blood work on you so you are probably ok on most items on the list.  If you have any sort of chronic inflammation in your bowels this could lead to malabsorption of certain vitamins/nutrients needed for proper nail formation.  Though its is more than likely a result of your COPD.  Hope this helps.