agree with greenman,if it is gout it is extremely painful,i had it year before last and I could not put pressure on my left foot the slightest touch and you nearly go through the roof with pain,your toe becomes very heated,cannot bend it,cannot walk on it,it comes with eating too much salt[I allways thought it was port drinkers only who got gout]but if you put too much salt on your food it apparently crystalises in the joints of your toe and causes the gout,very painful.