It probably will eventually fall off.  The new nail will most likely
be growing underneath.

The next time this happens, you might be able to save the original
nail if you get a medical type to heat up the edge of a paper clip in
a flame and then *carefully* touch the hot paper clip to the outside
of the nail.  It will rapidly burn through the nail (don't let it hit
the "quick" underneath) and the blood clot under the nail will come
out.  This will relieve the pressure and the pain, and might save the
nail.

In the "olden days" when I was in Army ROTC, and we did the manual of
arms with the wonderful old M-1 Garand rifle, folks would occasionally
get their right thumb caught in the bolt when it slammed home after
the "port arms" command from "inspection arms".  The result was what
was described above.  It was called the "M-1 thumb".  I had one of
these once and used the paperclip myself.

Best,

Bob

Thanks, I'm hoping there's no 'next time'.

== Chris Glur.