To wonder how to stop this from happening repeatedly?

[Ankleblisters]

I keep getting this problem with my right foot - I believe it's called a 'stone bruise' where the ball of my foot, under my big toe, seemingly out of nowhere, really suddenly swells up and then bruises really badly.
There is usually no pain before the sudden swelling up but it's extremely painful afterwards, like walking with a knife in the ball of my foot.
This has happened three times just since the start of the year and it takes weeks to heal.
According to the internet the main cause is excess weight but I'm pretty sure I'm not overweight. I can't weigh myself because it's a major ED trigger for me but my 'healthy weight' jeans fit me comfortably with room to spare. This is messing with my head though, especially as it keeps happening.
I exercise a fair amount but I don't do anything that causes repeated impact to the foot apart from normal walking to get from A to B. I'm just concentrating on strength training because I need to stay strong as a carer to a disabled relative.
I've tried to identify whether my shoes could be causing it but I've been wearing different pairs since the first time and it has still happened again twice. I've also tried to identify things I could be doing in my day to day life and avoid them but nothing seems to be working. I'm 37 if it might be age related.
It's really painful and inconvenient and frustrating. I'm feeling quite low at the moment anyway and this has really added to that - especially as it's changing how I exercise and so it's upsetting the fragile balance I've got at the moment.
If anyone has any advice or suggestions I would be really grateful.
I did wonder if I should post this in the 'exercise' thread but I don't think exercise is causing it because it's only recently started happening. But it feels like every time one bruise fades away and stops hurting I get another one.

I don't know whether to attach pics - feet are gross anyway and the bruise is really really dramatic and ugly looking!

Don't come at me 😂 but could it be gout? Uric acid crystals building up in the big toe joint. It's horrendously painful and can affect younger people although it's perceived as an old man's condition. It is treatable, if so.

Thanks for the reply. I don't think so... my Dad has gout and has had since he was younger than I am, but this looks really different to how his looks when it flares up. It's not quite in the same place (I know it can be anywhere) it's underneath the foot, where it meets the floor and it's clearly a nasty bruise in the way it develops and spreads - rather than an inflammation of any other kind

Have you actually seen the GP or a podiatrist for this? If not, then start there first. I have plantar fasciitis in both feet and foot conditions can get awful if left unchecked.

Look at aschenbach syndrome. I get it in my fingers. A blood vessel stings and bursts , so you get swelling and a bruise.

I’ve not heard of it in feet, but why not?

If you are doing strength exercises, do you wear the same shoes for them? Is the increased stress you put on your feet causing an issue?

I know what you mean about the jeans, I have a belt which is currently on the "mid sized" notch.

If it weren’t for the bruising I’d have wondered if it was a Morton’s Neuroma. That feels like you have a stone in your shoe.

Have you seen a doctor? It sounds awful and I don't think trying to diagnose yourself from the internet is the answer. Surely it's time to consult a medical professional?

Thanks, you're right. I actually wasn't hoping for any kind of diagnosis though - I don't think this is a health issue, I think it must be something I'm doing. I just don't know what I'm doing that's causing it!
It's always in the exact same place, whereas most of the long term conditions mentioned here wouldn't be - which to me strongly suggests it must be caused by something I'm doing (or wearing).

I was sort of hoping loads of people would say they'd had the exact same thing and it was no big deal and they'd totally solved it with (insert magic solution e.g. special shoes, magic insoles etc) and could recommend exactly what to do to make it stop happening!

I think any abnormal bruising needs medical investigation. It might be the type of shoes but you need to rule out medical causes first.