Charcot Foot

[livingwith]

Is there anyone out there who was treated for charcot joint quickly? I do not have any deformity, just swelling and pain.
I was initially misdiagnosed with gout like others here. It took at least three months to convince the doctor that this was not the case. After two rounds of x-rays, a bone scan, and an MRI I was finally diagnosed with either stress fractures or charcot and sent to a specialist. The specialist is treating me for charcot. It looks like I’m in for a long trek since...Read the full article

[blake]

I have been dealing with charcot foot for about 3 years. I am not diabetic but had neuropathy in my feet and always assumed that it was caused by repetitive motion from years of exercise, especially tennis, running and heavy use of the stair master. The initial diagnosis ranged from gout to spider bite until a podiatrist made the right call. It took about three months of no weight on the foot before it was stable enough to be fitted with an orthotic and I have gone on with my life with certain modifications. I bike instead of run and take the golf cart instead of walk. The biggest problem is watching for infection caused by the foots deformity. I have had one infection since the charot started and it took 6 weeks to heal. My frustration stems from the fact or attitude that it is progressive and will only get worse. My MD tells me to keep him on speed dial and the best we can to is manage the inevitable crisis. There has to be some MD somewhere in the world who has insight in to why this condition occurs and what solutions might be available to us. I would like to hear your thoughts.

[rallison]

I'm with you, Blake. It seems to me that with all our medical advances that someone would have discovered more on the Charcot Joint by now. Have you thought about checking with yet another doctor to see if there might be any other alternatives. Waiting for the enevitable is like waiting for the Sword of Damacles to fall. Sometimes Doctors, just like the rest of us, start thinking inside the box and won't peer over the edge to see if there's something better out there.

[blake]

I have a few leads on Doctors that are working in a very positive direction. I will let you know. Thanks for the response.

[blake]

Thanks, you are right that the MD perspective is that it is inevitable that you will go from crisis to crisis for the rest of your life. I believe that there are dedicated doctors who are trying to find a cure for the neuropathy but I can't find the results of their research. In the meantime, just watch for infection and I know people that have been successfully dealing with this condition for decades. The progressive nature of Charcot seems to be a real unknown.

[RioLion]

You state that Charcot foot is progressive and can only get worst?

I have recently been diagnosed with Charcot foot by a podiatrist and he states that my situation is reversible. He ordered me to stay off my swollen left foot for 3 months so I am doing the wheelchair & crutches things.

He furthered stated that one should not believe everything on the subject one finds on the Internet.

Perhaps this ailment is highly individualized and while your situation may be similar to mine, one cannot say with absolute certainity that Charcot foot can only become worst in all those that are afflicted.

[freddamico]

I have been diagnosed with charcot about 13 months ago, I went to a orthopedic surgeon in Manhattan
attached to the Hospital for Special Surgery.
At first he suggested amputation on my left foot just below the knee, option was to go through a long procedure, 7 months in a total contact cast being changed every 10 to 14 days to inspect for ulcers then it was time for surgery 8:15 hour surgery to reconstruct the foot and a external fixator for a little over 3 months which I spent in a nursing home for proper care of changing the dressing twice a day.
when the external fixator was removed another total contact cast for 1 month while a CROW walker was being made to fit me.
Now being in the CROW walker I am experiencing some Pain in the foot, not exactly sure if the pain is from the surgery or from the neurothery, the CROW walker as I call it looks like a Frankenstein Boot
very clumsy, and after all this my foot is the same exact size it was before surgery, it is hard as a rock from all the hardware in it & the color is dark.
At this point I wonder if ampution was not the way to go it would have elimated a lot of pain and suffering and it would have all been over a year ago and I would have been able to wear matching shoes