[Phranp]

"Charcot foot is a progressive degenerative condition that affects the joints in the feet. It is associated with nerve damage (neuropathy) that decreases the ability to sense stimuli, including pain, and decreases muscular reflexes that control movement. As a result, the joints in the feet are subjected to repeated trauma and injury, causing progressive damage to the ligaments, cartilage, and bones. ... Charcot foot occurs most often in people with diabetes mellitus."

I have been having terrible foot and leg cramps at night (and sometimes during the day). While researching this I found "Charcot Foot" which also causes a deformity of the foot ... I took a look at my feet and sure enough I've got two bulges on the inner side of each foot ... I've seen the bulges before but they are bigger now ... I didn't think much of them in the past but now I'm a little concerned ... so, any thoughts on "Charcot Foot" out there? Thanks

[princesslinda]

My brother-in-law, also a T-2 diabetic, suffers from Charcot joint disease, in his foot and ankle. His foot is grossly misshapen due to the deterioration of his bones. He's had to be fitted with special shoes that relieve pressure on certain areas of the foot, otherwise, the bones eventually work their way out, causing an open wound that is very difficult to treat. He has incredibly bad neuropathy in his feet, and has actually broken bones in his foot and didn't realize it until he had swelling and redness because he has so little feeling.

There doesn't seem to be a lot that can be done for this condition. He takes meds for his neuropathy and checks his feet often and NEVER walks barefoot, always wearing the big "specially-made" shoes to try and prevent problems. He's 40, and this started in his mid-30's. He's had 4 surgeries so far to remove bones that were creating pressure ulcers. Since the veins in the foot are so small, this has caused some difficulty healing.

His situation didn't start with an noticeable bulge, rather a red spot that calloused over and kept getting bigger...the first one was on the fleshy pad of the foot, just under the toes.

You might want to have a podiatrist take a look at your feet and see what he/she thinks is going on.

[Phranp]

Thanks Princess L ... I will make an appointment with the podiatrist soon ... maybe ... if I'm lucky ... my feet are just fat ... lol ... after all ... my BG numbers are good 99% of the time ...

[princesslinda]

Hope everything goes well foot-wise for you. Seems everything that happens to me health-wise I try and blame on my diabetes. Your foot situation hopefully has nothing to do with it. Still, getting it checked by a foot specialist will go a long way in alleviating your concern. Keep us posted!

[Alice]

How is this pronounced? Char-cot or Char-coat? or true french...Shar-coe?

[princesslinda]

"Shar-coe" is how my BIL says it....of course we're "Southern" so who knows!

[Tj12761]

My husband had surgery this past August 11 for Charcot foot. (Shar coe is the correct pronounciation.) His symptoms first appeared in November of 2007. He was in fiberglass casts but his foot never left the acute phase. His doctor tried "CROW" boots (see below) and that didn't help either.

Since his surgery, he has been in an external fixator and now a non-weight bearing cast. This Wednesday my husband will be put into a walking cast for 2 weeks. At the end of the 2 weeks, he will be measured for orthopedic shoes and then re-casted for 2 weeks while his shoes are being made. If all goes well, he will be back standing on his own two feet in early December.

I've posted an article below that I was directed to when my husband was diagnosed. If you have any questions after reading it, feel free to ask....I'll answer what I can! It's my goal to get the word out about Charcot - it took my husband 3 months and 4 hospital visits (3 of which he was admitted) until we received a diagnosis! He had tests for blood clots, infection, lymphatic system problems and cellulitis. He had countless x-rays, blood tests, and an mri. To diagnose Charcot, the doctors need to do a bone scan which will show the smallest of fractures.

Surgery is often the last plan of action to heal a Charcot foot. Most doctors will try casting or "CROW" boots. Patients must use crutches, a knee walker, or a wheelchair to move about. Keeping weight off of the foot is the #1 rule.

Four factors are considered to be necessary in order for Charcot arthropathy to develop:
(i) peripheral neuropathy;
(ii) unrecognized injury;
(iii) continued repetitive stress on injured structure; and
(iv) increased local blood flow.



People with diabetes are at risk of getting a rare foot complication called Charcot foot. While rare, the number of people developing Charcot foot is increasing according to a recent press release. All diabetics should be aware of the symptoms so that they can seek immediate treatment for this rare foot disease.

Millions of Americans have diabetes. Few of them are aware of a potential complication called Charcot foot. While current research estimates that approximately one percent of diabetics contract Charcot foot, the number of incidences continues to rise. As the number of people with diabetes increases, and the American population ages, physicians expect this once rare disease to become more common.

Many diabetics suffer with complications of diabetes that affect their feet. Charcot disease affects diabetics, usually without them even realizing they have this disease. It happens when the bones in the foot suddenly become soft. It is usually caused by nerve damage to the foot, or severe neuropathy.

Charcot foot can cause a host of problems. A few of the complications of Charcot foot include easily getting foot fractures, having ulcers, collapse of their foot arches, developing a deformed foot, needing to have the foot amputated, or even death. Some people are unable to walk on their foot when suffering with complication from diabetes.

While you cannot reverse the damage caused by Charcot foot, the destruction that it causes can be stopped with proper medical treatment.

Every diabetic should be aware of the symptoms and seek immediate medical care if they suspect they may have Charcot foot disease. It is particularly important since most people who have diabetes do loose the ability to sense changes in their foot.

Symptoms of Charcot foot can appear overnight. Some of the symptoms include:
One foot feels warmer than the other and is warm to the touch
Redness in the foot
Pain or soreness in the foot
Swelling of the foot

If you have any of these symptoms, please seek immediate medical attention. These symptoms could indicate Charcot foot, or other medical problems that necessitate immediate medical care as well.

"More people with diabetes, their families and their care providers need to know about Charcot foot. When I diagnose a patient with this complication, I telephone their primary care doctor and educate them about it as well," said J. T. Marcoux. DPM, FACFAS. Marcoux is one of the few Massachusetts foot and ankle surgeons who perform reconstructive surgery for Charcot foot.

Sources:
The Charcot Foot
Neuropathy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia