Several years ago (2002 I believe) I had both of my big toes treated for severely ingrown nails. The problem recurred and I dealt with it for several years, until 2006/2007 when I had them treated again by a different doctor. I haven't had a recurrence since then.
However, within the last 2 to 3 years, I've noticed that when my toes get cold, the skin in the area of the infection (from the last round) turns purple - a kind of bruised-up purple that I'm not at all comfortable with. I don't lose any feeling in the toe (my first freak-out thought was that my toes were going necrotic). If I soak my feet in warm water/put them under a heating pad/rub them briskly, the normal color returns quickly.
Could these two things - toenail removal and the discoloration - be related at all?