WTF is up with my toe?

[ED209]

What’s up with my toe?

Second toe on right foot is up like a pudding and really painful. I haven’t done anything that would injure it and I don’t think I have done anything that would cause chill blains? Is it just another symptom of being in my late 40’s? Been like this for about a week. The white crap around the nail isn’t fungus, it’s ibrufen gel residue

[Simon_GH]

Google gout and see whether it describes your symptoms.

[Far Cough]

Gout .... Calm the boozing down

[ED209]

Far Cough said:

Gout .... Calm the boozing down

I wouldn’t say I’m a full on boozer. Can’t remember the last time I was drunk, partial to a couple of beers but nothing extreme.

Symptoms sound very similar though.

You might have a higher chance of getting gout if you:

are overweight. - nope

drink alcohol - as above

have been through the menopause - nope

take medicines such as diuretics (water tablets), or medicines for high blood pressure (such as ACE inhibitors)
have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, kidney problems, osteoarthritis or diabetes
have had surgery or an injury - nope

Edited by ED209 on Monday 31st March 17:21

[cliffords]

Go to the doctor.
My brother in law had similar and it needed attention.

[paddy1970]

It could be one of the following:

1. Paronychia (nail infection)

2. Gout

3. Chilblains (pernio)

4. Stress fracture or minor trauma

5. Cellulitis (skin infection)

6. Inflammatory arthritis (e.g. rheumatoid or psoriatic)

7. Osteoarthritis

8. Tendonitis or soft tissue inflammation

9. Bunion or structural toe deformity onset

10. Insect bite or allergic reaction

A medical consultation would allow to determine the exact cause.

[ED209]

Toe update has now become foot update. Whole foot is now red and painful. Suppose it’s time for the ordeal of trying to get a doctors appointment.

[Narcisus]

Go straight to your local walk in centre.

[markymarkthree]

Had the same when i was on a holiday in Italy. Day 1, painful and red big toe. Day 2 toe is like a plum and redness is tracking, visit local Dr = 50e. Dr asks do i suffer with gout. No. Looks closely at all nails and suggests that i may have trimmed them back for the holiday, too closely and perhaps got an infection. Puts me on a course of ABs, some chlorine powder to soak foot in and some cream stuff. All starts to get better a couple of days later but bloody painful walking about Pompei and stuff.
Conclusion, visit the quack. asap.

[Alickadoo]

markymarkthree said:

Had the same when i was on a holiday in Italy. Day 1, painful and red big toe. Day 2 toe is like a plum and redness is tracking, visit local Dr = 50e. Dr asks do i suffer with gout. No. Looks closely at all nails and suggests that i may have trimmed them back for the holiday, too closely and perhaps got an infection. Puts me on a course of ABs, some chlorine powder to soak foot in and some cream stuff. All starts to get better a couple of days later but bloody painful walking about Pompei and stuff.
Conclusion, visit the quack. asap.

Go to Lucca. You can hire a bike there to ride round the city walls.

No walking! Result!

[S100HP]

That looks like it could be cellulitis to me. I'd be getting to a minor injury unit today otherwise you might end up with sepsis.

[Bill]

paddy1970 said:

It could be one of the following:

1. Paronychia (nail infection)

2. Gout

3. Chilblains (pernio)

4. Stress fracture or minor trauma

5. Cellulitis (skin infection)

6. Inflammatory arthritis (e.g. rheumatoid or psoriatic)

7. Osteoarthritis

8. Tendonitis or soft tissue inflammation

9. Bunion or structural toe deformity onset

10. Insect bite or allergic reaction

A medical consultation would allow to determine the exact cause.

You missed toe cancer!

[Far Cough]

ED209 said:

Toe update has now become foot update. Whole foot is now red and painful. Suppose it’s time for the ordeal of trying to get a doctors appointment.

Thats gone beyond my initial Gout suggestion !!! Good luck at the Dr`s appointment lottery.

[ED209]

Managed to get an appointment this afternoon, wonder if I will manage to discuss the other 3 issues I have at the same time? My numb left foot, my wrist hand injury that still hurts over 2 months after I was told my scaphoid wasn’t fractured and the possibility of a vasectomy. I doubt it though.

[Badda]

paddy1970 said:

It could be one of the following:

1. Paronychia (nail infection)

2. Gout

3. Chilblains (pernio)

4. Stress fracture or minor trauma

5. Cellulitis (skin infection)

6. Inflammatory arthritis (e.g. rheumatoid or psoriatic)

7. Osteoarthritis

8. Tendonitis or soft tissue inflammation

9. Bunion or structural toe deformity onset

10. Insect bite or allergic reaction

A medical consultation would allow to determine the exact cause.

Thanks ChatGPT

[ED209]

Managed to get an appointment this afternoon, wonder if I will manage to discuss the other 3 issues I have at the same time? My numb left foot, my wrist hand injury that still hurts over 2 months after I was told my scaphoid wasn’t fractured and the possibility of a vasectomy. I doubt it though.

[Badda]

ED209 said:

Managed to get an appointment this afternoon, wonder if I will manage to discuss the other 3 issues I have at the same time? My numb left foot, my wrist hand injury that still hurts over 2 months after I was told my scaphoid wasn’t fractured and the possibility of a vasectomy. I doubt it though.

Sigh. Since when did GP bashing become a thing in this country.

You moaned about the 'ordeal' of getting an appointment and then say you got a same day one and now are already moaning about something you know GPs (especially same day duty GPs with 10 min appts) don't have time to do. Don't bottle all your ailments up and then unload them during an emergency, if they're important to you then you should make time to make an appointment for them.

[ED209]

Badda said:

Sigh. Since when did GP bashing become a thing in this country.

You moaned about the 'ordeal' of getting an appointment and then say you got a same day one and now are already moaning about something you know GPs (especially same day duty GPs with 10 min appts) don't have time to do. Don't bottle all your ailments up and then unload them during an emergency, if they're important to you then you should make time to make an appointment for them.

I’m not moaning, and the ordeal of getting an appointment is not the Gp it’s the reception and their silly systems fault.

There’s simply no scope to ring up at a sensible time and book a non urgent appointment 1/2/3 weeks in advance like I would prefer to do. You have to ring up at 0830 on a morning and join the scrum for an appointment that day. I would have been happy with an appointment in a few days if it didn’t mean waiting in a telephone queue of over 30 to get one.


I appreciate the strain GPs are under, that’s why I haven’t bothered to try to get an appointment for my other issues when I probably should have. I have had issues with my left foot for months, I don’t need an urgent appointment but the issues clearly aren’t going away, it’s mad that I will have to take up an appointment that someone with a genuine urgent need could have used just to get seen.

[Far Cough]

ED209 said:

Managed to get an appointment this afternoon, wonder if I will manage to discuss the other 3 issues I have at the same time? My numb left foot, my wrist hand injury that still hurts over 2 months after I was told my scaphoid wasn’t fractured and the possibility of a vasectomy. I doubt it though.

Gotta get your monies worth ..... go for it. My scaphoid still aches after it was pinned 20yrs ago. Tricky little blighter

[ED209]

Badda said:

Sigh. Since when did GP bashing become a thing in this country.

You moaned about the 'ordeal' of getting an appointment and then say you got a same day one and now are already moaning about something you know GPs (especially same day duty GPs with 10 min appts) don't have time to do. Don't bottle all your ailments up and then unload them during an emergency, if they're important to you then you should make time to make an appointment for them.

I’m not moaning, and the ordeal of getting an appointment is not the Gp it’s the reception and their silly systems fault.

There’s simply no scope to ring up at a sensible time and book a non urgent appointment 1/2/3 weeks in advance like I would prefer to do. You have to ring up at 0830 on a morning and join the scrum for an appointment that day. I would have been happy with an appointment in a few days if it didn’t mean waiting in a telephone queue of over 30 to get one.


I appreciate the strain GPs are under, that’s why I haven’t bothered to try to get an appointment for my other issues when I probably should have. I have had issues with my left foot for months, I don’t need an urgent appointment but the issues clearly aren’t going away, it’s mad that I will have to take up an appointment that someone with a genuine urgent need could have used just to get seen.