Post by Steve on Mar 30, 2017 6:51:39 GMT -8
Eet eez a French name; Say "Shark? Oh!" Jean-Martin Charcot was a neurologist who described a number of problems caused by nerve damage. Read the info below and check the link if you already have neuropathy. It is scary stiuff.
"Charcot foot (Charcot arthropathy) is a condition causing weakening of the bones in the foot that can occur in people who have significant nerve damage (neuropathy.) The bones are weakened enough to fracture, and with continued walking, the foot eventually changes shape. As the disorder progresses, the joints collapse and the foot takes on an abnormal shape, such as a rocker-bottom appearance." – Foot Health Feet
Since I do have a Charcot foot[1], I can say that I must be lucky[2]. I still have the foot! It is progressive and can lead to amputation. I'd like to avoid that, but how? Reading the Foot Health page mentions continued walking can deform the foot, etc. Well, since I have continued walking (seriously, what are my options?) and had not been told about the "progressive" part of the deal, maybe it is not so common? I have heard of several local people who have lost their foot! Note that these people were unwilling to give up pizza delivery and other treats; I am hearing this as a fairly common situation with "older" people, (many younger than I am!) I am lucky in this situation to still have both feet.
I'm not sure "diagnosed" is the right word, maybe just recognized? It starts out with erythematous[3], reddening of the foot, ironically due to hyperemia (increased blood flow to capillaries.) Probably best noticed by an observant Primary Care; I certainly never noticed.
Then, due to the inevitable fracture , the bottom of the foot bulges out: rocker foot. At this stage you get a custom CROW boot. Is that a bad joke? No, it's a Charcot Restraint Orthotic Walker. I think somebody was trying too hard for a cool acronym. It isn't a walker,…a boot. A fancy sort of "air cast" that imobilizes the ankle and foot, but after wearing one for 18 months and being told NOT to walk outside, and minimally inside, I guess it did some good? My foot is still bulging (bones do not re-set like a broken arm or whatever.) And while I was told about surgery and filing down the dropped bone(s), I am not getting in line for that.
The irony is that after the time in the boot, I was sent to get some real diabetic shoes. Special inserts with a divot to accomodate my foot bump, so I could walk more. I bought a treadmill to have a way to exercise again. A few weeks after some daily walks, I took off my shoes and found a bloody spot on my sock! A few days wait to see the podiatrist, and she sent me straight to the ER. I had my pinky toe amputated that night!
Because of a numb foot and bad vision, I was missing the fact that I had a small spot rubbed on my foot by a slightly too-tight shoe (thank you, orthotic shoe specialists!) and that small wound allowed osteomyelitis to destroy the bone.
UPDATE: A second pair of shoes, slightly better results. Read about this...
Be aware. Be mindful of foot injuries. You do not want this.
1. For a really good description of Charcot, read this! It's worth knowing about.
2."Most patients with neuropathic arthropathy have had poorly controlled diabetes mellitus for 15 to 20 years."–ACP So having it happen in the first two years of diagnosed diabetes might mean I had spent 10+ years undiagnosed? Lucky me.
3. No harm in using real medical words. I think they are interesting to learn.
4. Ironic because the neuropathy that starts this problem is described as too much glucose and bad circulation: "Decreased blood flow deprives the nerve cells of oxygen, causing nerve damage or nerve cell death," and yet…!
• The bone that presses down on my foot is the medial cuneiform. Check it out.
"Charcot foot (Charcot arthropathy) is a condition causing weakening of the bones in the foot that can occur in people who have significant nerve damage (neuropathy.) The bones are weakened enough to fracture, and with continued walking, the foot eventually changes shape. As the disorder progresses, the joints collapse and the foot takes on an abnormal shape, such as a rocker-bottom appearance." – Foot Health Feet
Since I do have a Charcot foot[1], I can say that I must be lucky[2]. I still have the foot! It is progressive and can lead to amputation. I'd like to avoid that, but how? Reading the Foot Health page mentions continued walking can deform the foot, etc. Well, since I have continued walking (seriously, what are my options?) and had not been told about the "progressive" part of the deal, maybe it is not so common? I have heard of several local people who have lost their foot! Note that these people were unwilling to give up pizza delivery and other treats; I am hearing this as a fairly common situation with "older" people, (many younger than I am!) I am lucky in this situation to still have both feet.
I'm not sure "diagnosed" is the right word, maybe just recognized? It starts out with erythematous[3], reddening of the foot, ironically due to hyperemia (increased blood flow to capillaries.) Probably best noticed by an observant Primary Care; I certainly never noticed.
Then, due to the inevitable fracture , the bottom of the foot bulges out: rocker foot. At this stage you get a custom CROW boot. Is that a bad joke? No, it's a Charcot Restraint Orthotic Walker. I think somebody was trying too hard for a cool acronym. It isn't a walker,…a boot. A fancy sort of "air cast" that imobilizes the ankle and foot, but after wearing one for 18 months and being told NOT to walk outside, and minimally inside, I guess it did some good? My foot is still bulging (bones do not re-set like a broken arm or whatever.) And while I was told about surgery and filing down the dropped bone(s), I am not getting in line for that.
The irony is that after the time in the boot, I was sent to get some real diabetic shoes. Special inserts with a divot to accomodate my foot bump, so I could walk more. I bought a treadmill to have a way to exercise again. A few weeks after some daily walks, I took off my shoes and found a bloody spot on my sock! A few days wait to see the podiatrist, and she sent me straight to the ER. I had my pinky toe amputated that night!
Because of a numb foot and bad vision, I was missing the fact that I had a small spot rubbed on my foot by a slightly too-tight shoe (thank you, orthotic shoe specialists!) and that small wound allowed osteomyelitis to destroy the bone.
UPDATE: A second pair of shoes, slightly better results. Read about this...
Be aware. Be mindful of foot injuries. You do not want this.
1. For a really good description of Charcot, read this! It's worth knowing about.
2."Most patients with neuropathic arthropathy have had poorly controlled diabetes mellitus for 15 to 20 years."–ACP So having it happen in the first two years of diagnosed diabetes might mean I had spent 10+ years undiagnosed? Lucky me.
3. No harm in using real medical words. I think they are interesting to learn.
4. Ironic because the neuropathy that starts this problem is described as too much glucose and bad circulation: "Decreased blood flow deprives the nerve cells of oxygen, causing nerve damage or nerve cell death," and yet…!
• The bone that presses down on my foot is the medial cuneiform. Check it out.
