Patients with Diabetes Must Be Alert to Charcot Foot
Charcot foot, also called Charcot arthropathy, is a disease that attacks the bones, joints, and soft tissue in your feet. Initial signs are hard to spot and may not seem like anything serious. Eventually, Charcot foot can cause painful sores or change the anatomy of your foot. If you know your risk level and what to look for, you can alert your podiatrist and she or he can diagnose and treat the issue before it causes long-term damage.
People who have diminished sensation in their feet - often as a complication of diabetes - are particularly at risk of Charcot foot. However, those with diabetes are not the only ones who need to stay alert. Anyone with nerve damage or neuropathy is vulnerable.
There's no specific cause for Charcot foot. But doctors do know that some things can trigger it, including:
foot and ankle injuries that don't receive prompt treatment
unhealed foot sores
infection
If perceiving discomfort in your feet is a challenge for you, it can be hard to recognize these situations as they begin. When you then continue to stand and walk on your wounded foot, the sore or injury can worsen. The bones in the feet can lose calcium, weakening and breaking and even moving out of place. The arch in the middle of your foot can drop until the bones are lower than your heel or toes. Podiatrists sometimes call this "rocker bottom." The toes may curl. The ankles can become unsteady.
When Charcot foot starts, your foot will probably appear red and swollen and will feel warm to the touch. Of course, these are common symptoms that can be related to a variety of conditions. Only your podiatrist can provide an accurate diagnosis.
If the feeling in your feet has been negatively affected by diabetes or another illness, it's important to visit your foot doctor for an examination as soon as symptoms of Charcot foot begin.
Contact Podiatry Group of Annapolis and let us help with all your foot and ankle needs. Dr. James Mckee and Dr. Adam Weaver are experienced and dedicated podiatrists who provide high-quality individualized care. Call us today at 410-224-4448 or visit us online to make an appointment at our conveniently located Annapolis office.