Charcot Foot

[bengie]

Diagnosed with Charcot foot about seven months ago. Walked on my foot for about three weeks before a correct diagnosis was made. Result is multiple broken bones and severe deformity. Have to wear a special shoe for EVERYTHING. Can't even shower. Use a walker to get into the shower and have to sit to wash/shower. Was wondering if anyone had ideas about alternatives for getting into/out of the shower. Also, was always a big beach fan, and love to go into the water and swim. Since my foot is so broken (now healed but deformed), I was wondering if anyone with Charcot has found a way to swim. I cannot take more than a step or two without my shoe and, if so, have to walk on my heel. Difficult to keep my balance. Any ideas?

[flosemae]

I know how you feel..I have charcot in the left foot and it is deformed also...Balance and stability is a big problem with me...I am in a very large fiberglass boot and they are trying to make me a Arizona brace that will fit in a tennis shoe...I hope it will work.. Are you considering surgery at any time on your foot? How deformed is yours? Mine is 3 toes and the Middle of my foot has broken and shifted to the inside of my foot...I hope you will post more about your history with this and all that you have had to go through...Do you still work? I thought I would get to go back , but now I know I am probably not going to be able...What kind of shoe are you wearing? I do not have an arch left and that causes some of the balance problem ...they tell me that the Arizona brace will help with it..Please post more...thanks

[Firekat]

I know how you feel. luckily i have a walk in shower in my apartment, and a shower chair to sit on. My husband misses being able to soak in the tub though. :( My left foot is deformed, with a lump on the outer side of my foot and rocker bottom. Both my ankles are involved, although only the right one is badly deformed. I wear crow boots to walk around and am in a wheelchair. Lucky for me my ortho doc was willing to go through the many hoops required to get medicare to pay for a power chair for me. Now I just need to find a way to get a lift so we can get it into the back of our pickup. I try to keep my spirits up, I crochet baby blankets for my daughter and her friends and paint ceramics. Any one want a hand painted ceramic Christmas ornament? lol The day may come when I lose my right foot, the deformity of my right ankle is getting severe, but with my other health problems they dont want to do surgery unless there's no choice. My orthopedist sees me often and does xrays every time he sees me. He is a good man who really sat down and explained everything to me when I first saw him and every time something new has come up. He really makes me feel like he cares about what is going on with me.

[nepaica]

I have an extra cam walker and I wear that into the pool.

[kdramirez]

I too have been diagnosed with this condition recently. My foot hasn't deformed yet, but one of the little broken bones midfoot does protrude a little bit. I am wearing an Arizona brace, but looking for shoes. Right now, I wear "wide" tennis shoes with everything. Good news: no $150 shoes are necessary! I also went to Target and bought two pairs of "mandals" as we call them. I bought one large man's pair of sandals for the brace foot; one pair of smaller man's sandals for the good foot. As long as I can find inexpensive shoes, I can afford "two" pairs at a time, with the "extras" sitting in my closet. I am also exploring online "wide shoe" sites. I also use an ultrasound bone stimulator twice a day. I am just wondering how I will be able to deal with the "mental" or "emotional" side of all this. Everything I read says it is a quickly progressing condition. How do I go through my daily life, not worrying that every tiny ache or twitch is a bone breaking???

Kathy

[kdramirez]

Wish I could find as compassionate dr. as you have. Mine is good, but never really takes the time to talk to me about all of this: the complications, the future, prognosis, what to expect, watch for?

Kathy

[cuppy]

i found out approx 3 months ago i had charcot......the kicker is i went about 5 months ago to my pcp to try and get a elec cart to get around in ....i told her how bad my foot hurt and i could hear cracking when i walked.....she replied to me.....i think you are taking this to extreme and all you need to do is loose some weight, exercise, and WALK MORE....ok so thats what i did til one day walking out of the store my foot gave away......need i say more !!!!!!!!!!!!!! im now hoping to go in for surgery the 22nd......i'm very scared....but i have no choice......the foot is completely collapsed...clear back to the ankle......i just pray it heals fast with no complications. im not sure yet what all will be involved after the foot is healed....i have a great dr now.....and i did get my electric cart!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kdramirez]

Congrats on the cart!! If only insurance providers would see the benefits in "prevenative maintenance" instead of just the upfront costs! You could have probably saved them so much $$ by just getting the cart instead of now the surgery, the follow-up, not to say anything of possibly making the condition worse! I'm getting better with my condition . . . finding some fairly decent shoes, but still having to buy two sizes. At least it's helping my mental state. Of course, everytime I get a little twinge or ache in my foot, I'm thinking the worst. Hope I can get over this mental aspect of the condition.

I wish you luck in your surgery next week and prayers go out for a speedy recovery. Keep us informed of the status of your surgery and recovery.

Kathy

[nepaica]

[quote="bengie"]Diagnosed with Charcot foot about seven months ago. Walked on my foot for about three weeks before a correct diagnosis was made. Result is multiple broken bones and severe deformity. Have to wear a special shoe for EVERYTHING. Can't even shower. Use a walker to get into the shower and have to sit to wash/shower. Was wondering if anyone had ideas about alternatives for getting into/out of the shower. Also, was always a big beach fan, and love to go into the water and swim. Since my foot is so broken (now healed but deformed), I was wondering if anyone with Charcot has found a way to swim. I cannot take more than a step or two without my shoe and, if so, have to walk on my heel. Difficult to keep my balance. Any ideas?[/quote]


My foot is in the same category as yours. I can't walk at all without a Cam Walker Boot. I have gone into the Ocean and pools wearing the Boot. I have been in this position for so long that i have an old boot that I can use for this purpose. The lining comes out and you can wash it.