Can anyone suggest a diagnosis?

[nigglewiggle]

DH's left ankle started to hurt and swell for no apparent reason 2 weeks ago. The following day his right knee also became painful and swollen.

We were going away on holiday for a week so I pushed him up to the doctors (not literally). She didn't offer a diagnosis, but said it might be an injury - this doesn't seem likely with it involving both legs. She has arranged some blood tests, but due to our hols these aren't happening until mid-week.

It has not improved during or after our holiday (he is icing them and keeping his legs up as much as possible).

Today his left foot has swollen to twice the normal size. He says that the arch of the foot is incredibly painful and he is now having real difficulty walking.

Any ideas? I have persuaded him to go back to the doctors, but I would like to have some idea of what might be going on. Googling "swollen legs" is just too vague.

Bite or cut or splinter type thing leading to an infection?

What about this?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/Gout/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Sounds like Gout to me.

I ruled out a reaction to a bite or a cut because it has affected different joints on different legs with 2 weeks between swellings.

I thought about gout, but he hardly drinks at all (unlike me ) and actively dislikes the foods associated. He's not overweight and the joints are not red or itchy.

Keep the suggestions coming..

lots of possibilities. need bloods to think about rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions. also liver conditions. Also a condition called Reiters syndrome, which is arthritis (swollen inflamed joints like your DH has), eye problems and urethritis (soreness weeing or penile discharge). more common in men. could be gout but sounds less likely, or other causes such as psoriasis? also post viral or other infective causes (Lyme disease is one, has he any rashes?).

many more possibilities. he definatly needs to go back for bloods and GP review. HTH Cass.

Thanks Cass, that's interesting. Post-viral is a possibility as he was ill about a week before the swelling started. GP seemed to think there was no connection. He has no other symptoms now. Will have a look at Reiters Syndrome.

Went to GP this morning and has been sent straight to hospital. So my nagging was justified! Doing blood tests more urgently now that he can't walk.