Charcot Foot

[flosemae]

I was wondering if anyone was experiencing the same thing that I am...I have a charcot (left) foot that involves the mid foot and it is deformed...(big bone (knot) on inter foot)...I have been in a nonwt bearing boot for months and I am out of the acute stage...so they made me an insert for one of my shoes...my foot swelled up worse than ever and the pain is something else..as long as I wear the boot I have little pain...but with the shoe it is bad...also with the shoe my balance is terrible...I thought I would be able to go back to work but I don't know now..I was reading on a forum that drs talk to each other about charcot and surgery sounds so risky ....I hate this , as I know all of you do, Is there anyone out there that has had this for a long time? I have so many questions...please respond and keep me in your prayers...also are any of you using a bone enhancer? thanks

[nepaica]

I have charcot foot in both feet. It struck the left foot first then the right one about a year later. My left foot turned out ok after wearing the boot 7 months. It has about half the flexibiltiy it should have but it is not swollen and has only a small anti-arch. It hurts if I stand on it too long but otherwise its ok.

About a year later I was struck in the right foot. This has been much worse. I wore the boot for a total of eight months. After the first 5 months I had to have surgery to have the bone shaved as it caused an ulcer. After I got out of the boot the foot has remained swollen and it hurts like hell. I can hardly walk (severe limp). The foot barely moves up/down as i have about 2% of the flexibiltiy I should have. I have to wear a compression sock or I can't get my right shoe on. I have had both of my shoes modified with rocker bottoms (I don't think it helps) and the doctor has said I should get an brace (orthotics) for the right foot which I haven't had a chance to do yet.

The pain is almost unbearable at times. I take 8 hour tylenol and a prescription NAISD. I also take the generic version of Fosamax. My doctor seems to be at a loss as to what to do now and just shrugs off the pain.

I must say with all of this, I never missed a day of work (except for the day I had surgery). All in all I have been dealing with this for almost three years.