Hi Patricia,
Saturday night just before retiring, my little toe (left foot) started to itch at the base. Awoke about an hour later and my god did it hurt, burning and swollen like a mini sausage! Put an ice pack on (under a sock), didn't sleep much cos of the throbbing pain.
Sunday morning couldn't walk, it was so painful, so rang NHS Direct - advised to take anti-hist. ibroprofen (anti-inflammatory), and ring back if it showed signs of spreading. Lucky it didn't, but got some anti-hist today from docs, who said it would "track" up my leg if it was spreading.
Told to keep it clean and dry, by the way.
Nothing else can be done, at least now it isn't so painful or swollen.
Mine is nothing like yours tho, so I very much sympathise with your plight, it must be agonising for you.