Hello there.

I have been reading up on Gout for last 5 hours. Not sure if I have it or it's a false alarm. I am 35years old very active and go gym 3-5 times a week to do weights(45minutes) and cardio (45minutes). I am fit and not fat.

10 days or so ago I felt slight pain or shall I say discomfort on the top part of my left toe (I have marked with a pen, black dot inside the green circle in the attached photo). I did not think much of it. It was more irritating pain rather than what I would call full blown pain. I don't remember hurting my toe recently or ever.


5 days ago it went completely away. Then I was at gym and was using calf muscle machine where you basically push some weights with the ball of your feet, toe does not play any direct part. I did not feel any pain so maybe completely unrelated but next day the irritating pain returned to my toe.


3 days ago I went out to do some shopping and on wearing my shoe I realized that it hurt bit more than before. It hurt enough for me to try and transfer my weight to the outside of the left foot while walking with my shoes on. All through out there has not been any clearcut swelling or redness. Since yesterday maybe there is very slight sweeling and very slight redness. Not sure but you can be the judge.


Now I am back to my initial irritating pain level but will go and visit doctor tomorrow to check it out. At no time ever in the last 10 days did I have any pain outside the green circle area that I have drawn on my foot. Just on the top where the black dot is. I have had full range of movement in my toe during this whole period and definitely no pins and needles sensation. Could it be gout?


Some background- I have been vegetarian for last 7 years and have a very good diet. No junk food etc. Mainly fruits, vegetables and nuts. I do eat lot of cashew nuts 200gms maybe every 2-3 days. I ate lot recently but nothing more than what I have been eating for months and years.

My 70 year old dad has gout attack sometimes and from what he says the whole foot area hurts even with a slight touch. I don't have that kind of pain. For example right now I have to press with medium force on the black dot to feel the pain. I can walk freely but feel that something is not 100% right inside the green circle.


I tested my urine ph level and it is on the acidic side- ph6 or maybe ph5.

FOOT IMAGE-
http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss333/d ogcatmousedog/awer.jpg



So when I see the doc tomorrow what tests should I ask for? I am just a number for doc so I want to be pro active and get to the bottom of this.

1- Blood test? Which specific tests should I ask for? Blood urea.

2- X-ray?
3- Too early to do the liquid from joint test?


What else? Thanks for any advice and opinion.