Fight Charcot Foot While You Still Can
Charcot foot is a rare but severe condition. It can affect people who suffer from diabetes mellitus or people with peripheral neuropathy, which are both frightening conditions on their own. If you have Charcot, it affects the tissues in your feet along with the joints and bones. Over time your bones become weak, causing them to break. Your joints will be affected too as they will dislocate. You need to catch this condition early because your foot will be permanently deformed if you do not. With this unfortunate condition, the slightest wound can cause infection and possible amputation.
Know the Symptoms of Charcot Foot
Loss of sensation–in particular, this condition primarily affects people who experience peripheral neuropathy. However, it can affect anyone. When you have the situation mentioned above, though, you have damaged nerves in your feet, and that damage causes you to lose the sensation in your feet.
Redness–in the early parts of this condition, your foot will be red, and you will see significant swelling. You will also notice that your foot feels warm or hot to the touch.
If you have a sprain or injury, you will need to check immediately that this doesn’t lead to Charcot. In many cases, because you have peripheral neuropathy, you won’t feel yourself get hurt. As such, you won’t know you need help, so vigilance is vital. A broken bone that has not been appropriately treated, organ transplants in people who have diabetes, and people who experience a rock bottom foot deformity should also be checked immediately.
If you suffer from Charcot, don’t wait to get it looked at or treated. If you believe that you may have this condition, see your podiatrist immediately. There are many treatments available to help this condition. When you begin to see infections and ulcers, you will need help right away because you may lose more than afoot if you leave it untreated. In dire cases, patients have lost their entire leg.
The foot experts at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists in the Tucson, Oro Valley, and Green Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, have experience treating any diseases regarding your foot and ankle care. Our team of doctors: Christopher M. Funk, D.P.M., FACFAS, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, and Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, and Zeno Pfau, D.P.M., can offer you cutting edge medical technologies, including the PinPointe FootLaser, and Radial Pulse Therapy (RPT) for chronic pain. Please call (520) 575-0800 to see us today.
