Swelling in rt foot 4 years ago....now my left foot is swollen. Went to Africa?

[moosictchr]

PLEASE HELP.  I've seen my GP, dermatologist (psoriatic toe nails), podiatrist, rheumatologist (psoriatic arthritis in remission for 10 years), and a vascular guy. My right foot was swollen for about 4 years.  I then experienced weird, short "lightning strike" pains in my chest for a period of about 2 months.  No difficulty breathing or anything unusual and nothing showed an improvement or made them worse. Then the chest pains stopped and my left foot swelled up worse than the original foot.  The top of the foot was very painful to the touch, but has since improved greatly.  My toes look like sausages and the skin has a blue tinge to it.  Every once in awhile I feel a tingle under the skin on the top of the foot.  I've had all sorts of blood tests and ultrasounds.

I went to Africa the year before this all happened so a guy in the vascular surgeon's office was a specialist in African worm diseases and thought maybe that was the cause.  They drew my blood and sent it to the Center for Disease Control and it came back negative.

I don't know what to do.  No one has helped me figure out what is wrong with me. I've been dealing with this for six years.  Someone please help me!

[NURSELPN]

If your not getting anywhere with your current treatment, you might seek help at a major university teaching hospital. They like to dig in & find out what's wrong in unusual cases like yours. They are up on the latest research & treatments.

Just a suggestion: I wouldn't fool around with those toes very long...blue coloration needs immediate attention. If you have to go to ER at that major university hospital you will be seen quicker.

In any event find someone who will listen & find out what's wrong.
    
God Bless & Good Luck, TJ

[moosictchr]

I'm not on steroids and haven't been in the past.  There is no joint involvement at all - no pain.  I've been in remission for almost 10 years.  Even when I was battling the pain I had no swelling in my feet.  I had gold salts injections (solganol) as part of my treatment.

[moosictchr]

Where specifically would I find my pulse in my feet?

I have another appt. with the vascular surgeon next Friday and will post what the results are.  My rheumatologist did not think it was the psoriatic arthritis.  The swelling is in my toes, the top of my foot, and up onto my ankle.  The only involvement I had with the arthritis was my toes.