swollen toes...?

[joko]

a few times now the middle toe on my foot has swollen up on the end... it feels hard and firm and like there is a round bit on the bottom that is harder than the rest (about size of a 5p)

there is no pus or wound or 'head' etc - or any visible sign of anything really - its just tender to touch, red, and swollen

it sometimes seems to happen to both middle toes and also a bit to the smaller one at the side...

why does this keep happening? any ideas?

i have researched gout (!) but there are no white bits or lumps...so not sure about that.
i am not diabetic either... at the moment i am on a no sugar/low carb diet...but i cannot remember if i was the last time it happened... could that be it?

it isnt my shoes as i dont wear heels or fancy shoes - mainly just trainers or plain flat slip ons...no rubbing or tightness at all...

thanks

(i probably go to the doctors at some point)

[Sqad]

3 things spring immediately to mind (and there may be others which don't ;-)

1) Early rheumatoid arthritis
2} Psoriatic Arthritis......have you got skin problems?
3 Atypical gout.

A few blood tests will give you the answer.

My bet?......Psoriatic Arthritis.

[joko]

thanks sqad - i used to have eczema, but havent had it in years... i dont have any patches now... it used to come on mainly in the summer on arms and legs.
used to get it under wrist bands etc... it is never severe...just a few minor patches here and there.

had it bad as a baby apparently.

the toe thing just went away last time though...