Charcot Foot

[chilly]

Hi ;
I have just found out that i have charcot foot What I have read so far on the internet is that is is related to diabetes and neuropathy . That because the bones are deteriorating and the lack of feeling in your feet helps to contribute to not knowing whats going on because of not feeling and it then getting worse because of it.
I on the other Hand do have neuropathy but still have alot of feeling in my feet and because of the extreme pain and discomfort when bareing weight and walking went to my foot dr. desperate for help. After casting for a mth. was put in a camwalker and am unable to bare any weight at all . now they are going to put me back in a cast. Is it also common to feel so much pain????
Hope you to can help
Thanks Sharon!

[Tj12761]

Sharon,

Some people have no pain with Charcot (pronounced sharko), others like my husband had lots of pain. It depends on your degree of neuropathy. I've posted several items here about this condition and my husband's experience with it.

Talk to your doctor about pain medication. Gabapentin worked well for my husband.

The most important thing to remember is to not walk on your foot so it can heal properly and quicker. If crutches are hard for you to use, see if you can get a wheelchair or knee walker through your insurance. (We found wheelchairs starting around $100 online.)

Keep us posted!

[chilly]

Thank you for responding to my inquirey. My Drs. have been very good with me and I am glad that they did realize that it is what it is when they did. I was just scheduled for an emg to see just how bad my neuropathy is when I had to get put back in a cast again. But without even going for the emg my neurologist knew that I had it because of the symptoms.
I have had alot of pain in my legs and feet for quite some time now and my right has been extremely painful for quite awhile . I was coming home from work in tears and that's what brought me back to the foot drs.
I really don't do well with crutches because i have some pain in my other foot and my knees aren't in the best shape either. Thank god I still have my insurance and am waiting for a chair. I have used up all my sick time over the past year with my foot and my drs have told me to apply for disability.
I am on Neurontin 2700mil a day it helps but there was still no way I could tolerate the pain without my foot being casted.
How about your husband. How is he managing and how long has He been dealing with it?
Thanks Again Sharon!

[Tj12761]

In November of 2007 hubby's foot swelled up so we went to the Emergency Department. They said it was an infection and sent him home with antibiotics. Over the next 4 months, we returned 3 more times and he was admitted each time - the Doctors still insisted that hubby had an infection but I demanded further testing which they all said was negative for any broken bones, blood clots etc.

In February of 2008, I took him to a hospital in a neighboring city and we received the diagnosis of Charcot. The Doctor worked with casting and a CROW walker boot. Hubby's foot just did not cool down and start to heal so in August 2008, he had reconstructive surgery to repair his foot. (Three breaks by the way.) By December, hubby was in orthopedic shoes and walking on his own 2 feet again.

After he was in shoes, the Doctor sent him through physical therapy for 3 months. Hubby will see the Doctor for checkups every 6 months for the first 2 years then yearly after that.

Here is a good article on charcot.
http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/charcot-foot.htm

[nepaica]

I have charcot foot in my right foot. I have been wearing a cam walker for 16 months and there is no sign it is getting any better. I had two episodes on my right foot. The first was focussed on the front and mid part of my foot. The more recent is in the ankle. I cannot walk without the boot. A year before it started in my right foot I had it in my left foot. That went a little better and healed after 9 months. It doesn't look too deformed but I lost much of the normal range of motion. I can sympathize with you on the pain. Every article I read said that most people do more damage because they have no feeling and no pain. I have plenty of feeling and a ton of pain. Most times it was an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Good luck.

[chilly]

Thank You for your response. I know what your talking about when you say your pain is on a scale of 1-10 that your pain is an 11 I too feel your pain. however as long as it is casted it feels fine because I am in a non weight bareing cast . I had it on for almost 2 mths and they took it off and I was unable to stand . The pain automatically brought tears to my eyes. I was put right back into a cast and we are looking at e-raying it again at the end of june . I honestly don't know what happens after that. It's all so frustrating the not knowing. Now my left foot swells some days and I am afraid that I might be at the start of something going on with it.
You said that you are walking in a cam walker and thats ok 16mths is a long time . Whats next with you do you know?

[Tj12761]

Wearing a Cam Walker or a CROW doesn't mean you have unlimited steps. These are most often used for people who can't be in a cast or who doctors feel will keep it on as much as possible (but allows the patient to take it off to shower).

You should still be using crutches, a knee walker, or if both feet are affected a wheelchair. Read through other posts I have done here and let me know if you have any questions. If you have one I can't answer, I will ask hubby's doctor. He's always willing to answer when I can't!

If your foot does not heal using casting or a cam/crow, then surgery may be the next option. Surgery is possible if: your #s are in control, you don't smoke, you've never been on prednisone, and if your other doctor(s) agree you are able to stand a 4-5+ hour surgery.

Read posts here that my hubby made about his surgery. http://www.dlife.com/diabetes-forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=12615&sid=3c7fbd137dc5e345abf0384eae404002
(dlife.com - Forum Index » Diabetes Community » Everything But the Kitchen Sink (Off-Topic) - OWWW My Foot.)

[nepaica]

Last Friday, we discovered I have a hematoma in my right foot. They drained a whole lot of blood.I had to go in over the weekend (both days) and have it re bandaged because it broke through. I had an mri this morning to find the source. On my way now to discuss with the doctor.

The next poster is correct. Just because I am in a cam walker doesn't mean I am running around the block. I stay off it as much as I can but I don't use crutches or a walker. It really just lets me drive back and forth to work (seated all day) and from the couch to the bed at night.