red, swollen toes

[anniemaine]

This is a problem I have had for years and is getting progressively worse. Doctors including podiatrist and vascular surgeon are stumped. I have been given guesses of Raynaud, blue toe syndrome, infection (antibiotics sometimes help, sometimes not), and other things, but nothing seems to quite match my symptoms.

It usually astarts when the weather starts getting colder and started a few weeks ago.

First, if I sit with my legs curled under me or hanging, I will develop extremely dusky, dark cyanotic looking toes, which clears when circulation improves.

It seems to be set off by my feet getting too hot. It will start with a painful or sometimes itchy small bump - mosquit bite size- on a toe. This will progress with the toe becoming more and more swollen, red, and painful. This would usually last a week or two. This has been going on and off for several years. However, last winter it lasted longer with more swelling. I ended up with a couple of disformed toenails (which are now growing out) and when the redness disappeared, I was left with a discoloration of where the bump had beenthat took several months to disappear.

This year, the big toe had the red bump but instead of swelling, the small area (less than 1/4-inch) has become whitish surrounded by a thin rim of dark red.

The second toe, only past the distal joint, is red, swollen and painful only when I walk or press on it. Where the bump started near the tip of the nail is now a whitish color with a rim of dark red, which does not blanch, while the redness of the rest of the toe will blanch with pressure. It is very painful.

I have been to so many doctors with so many guesses. I just don't know what to do any more, but with the progression, I feel I will end up losing toes if I can't figure out what is wrong.

If someone can tell me who to see about this or what it might be, it would be greatly appreciated.
Annie_maine@hotmail.com

[Unregistered2009]

I, too, have been almost the exact same symptoms you have been having. It all started 3 days ago and I ended up going in the ER because my foot was so swollen, red (turn white when you apply pressure), & purplish-blue, I was a bit concerned. They were quite sure it was an embolism but when the ultrasound of my arteries came back clear, they were stumped. My feet are ice cold and have no feeling in them, unless I walk, then they are painful. The vascular surgeon had no idea and sent me on my merry way.

The next step my primary dr is sending me to is a dermatologist? Which I am confused on. But I am assuming it is because of these red spots but it does not explain anything else.

I hope since you have posted this back in Sept. that you have found some sort of relief.. I hope that I will find out what is going on with my own, some way or another..

They did rule out frost-bite, my shoes rubbing on my shoes, and the embolism. So I know what it's NOT.

[sirah]

i think this is chillblains. my husband has had the same symptoms for 3 years now when winter starts.

[Unregistered]

This sounds identical to what I have. I have a doctors appt on Monday to further investigate. Incidentally, I also have Raynauds Disease so I am wondering if it is related. I have had this before but never this bad. I showed my toes to my best friend today (who is a nurse) and she says it looks like something one of her co-workers has...gouty artheritis. I looked up gouty artheritis and it appears to normally just affect the big toe. For me, all toes are affected but it seems my middle toes are definately the worst....swollen, red and quite painful when touched.

[Unregistered]

Well, we certainly can confirm repetition of the symptoms! I wish we had pics of each of our toes to help sort out. My husband had it 2 weeks ago and yesterday, I had red swollen toes, #2 & 3- down to the nailbed. It does not affect our joints, however- so rules out gout, in spite of our Florida diet of seafood. We have gotten these symptoms before when we are in Florida. Is it contaminants in the food? Variety of Athletes foot?
(Gout is a systemic problem and although often the big toe, can hit other joints. )
Any other answers out there?

This sounds identical to what I have. I have a doctors appt on Monday to further investigate. Incidentally, I also have Raynauds Disease so I am wondering if it is related. I have had this before but never this bad. I showed my toes to my best friend today (who is a nurse) and she says it looks like something one of her co-workers has...gouty artheritis. I looked up gouty artheritis and it appears to normally just affect the big toe. For me, all toes are affected but it seems my middle toes are definately the worst....swollen, red and quite painful when touched.

[Unregistered]

I too have been affected with this bizarre 2nd toe thing. It began on my left foot, 2nd toe last week. I thought I had an ingrown nail, so I treated that but then the bulbous tip section of my 2nd toe began getting red and swollen. still thinking it was because of the nail thing, I ignored it. It never traveled to other toes on that foot. Now, as of two days ago, the 2nd toe on my OTHER foot is now getting red and very swollen ( I remarked to my husband last night that it looks like a small red tootsie pop! LOL) I am stumped, as my right knee cap has been bothering me for a while and I assumed it might be joint related ( ie: gout), but this toe thing is def. not in the joint?!? should I be worried or concerned?

[Redfoot]

I too jut started having this problem and found this picture. Seems the same. It's called Chillblains.

2.bp.blogspot.com/.../s400/chillblains.JPG

http://www.free-makeup-tips.com/skin...chilblains.htm

[Unregistered]

A few days ago I started having a problem with my middle toe on my left foot.It is swollen and hot to the touch. I looked online and found the posts above. Thanks to everyone for writing. It makes you realize you are not alone. This is so strange. I am a runner, and live in warm weather. I thought I must have broke my toe, or it could be arthritis. I'll research Chillbain and see what I can find out. It's definitely a strange circumstance.

[unregistered]

A few days ago I started having a problem with my middle toe on my left foot.It is swollen and hot to the touch. I looked online and found the posts above. Thanks to everyone for writing. It makes you realize you are not alone. This is so strange. I am a runner, and live in warm weather. I thought I must have broke my toe, or it could be arthritis. I'll research Chillbain and see what I can find out. It's definitely a strange circumstance.

Well the same for myself which started with the right third toe and the big toe , but, crucially not in the joints, then I had the same happen on my left foot. My physician suggested uric acid build-up, again, I knew my diet pretty well and felt that wasn't the suspect. So indeed a thanks for the posts, the link to the explanation is a good starter.http://forums.wrongdiagnosis.com/http://f1.hgimg.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

[Unregistered]

I, too, have been almost the exact same symptoms you have been having. It all started 3 days ago and I ended up going in the ER because my foot was so swollen, red (turn white when you apply pressure), & purplish-blue, I was a bit concerned. They were quite sure it was an embolism but when the ultrasound of my arteries came back clear, they were stumped. My feet are ice cold and have no feeling in them, unless I walk, then they are painful. The vascular surgeon had no idea and sent me on my merry way.

The next step my primary dr is sending me to is a dermatologist? Which I am confused on. But I am assuming it is because of these red spots but it does not explain anything else.

I hope since you have posted this back in Sept. that you have found some sort of relief.. I hope that I will find out what is going on with my own, some way or another..

They did rule out frost-bite, my shoes rubbing on my shoes, and the embolism. So I know what it's NOT.

I too have had the same problem and after reading everyones posts on the internet, i did some research on my own.....it turns out I am allergic to the black dye used in my shoes....so if you are wearing black shoes, tennis shoes etc....you could be allergic to them. I am using Aveeno coallidel oatmeal to soak them in and then using a cortisone topical treatment to help with the itching and burning. Hope this helps