Charcot Foot Diabetic Foot Care

What You Need To Know

Learn how Charcot foot develops, what symptoms to watch for, and how it is treated.

Understanding Charcot Foot

Charcot foot is a rare but serious complication that impacts the bones, joints, and soft tissue in your foot or ankle. It is typically the result of nerve damage and can cause the foot to be deformed. This deformity could lead to ulceration, infection, and amputation. Oftentimes, Charcot foot isn’t associated with any pain, so it’s imperative that you are on top of your foot health.

Charcot foot begins with peripheral neuropathy, a disease of the nerves in the feet. Because your nerves do not function well, you may not sense pain when you injure your foot. You may break bones or damage joints without knowing it. If you keep walking on your injured foot, fractures can heal unevenly, which causes foot deformity. Diabetics are more likely to suffer from Charcot foot due to diabetes-related neuropathy.

Symptoms of Charcot foot include a red appearance of the foot or ankle, swelling, increased warmth compared to the other foot, a foot that feels warm to the touch, and soreness. If you notice any of these signs, or any loss or change in your ability to feel sensations, contact your board-certified podiatrist right away.

Your board-certified podiatrist will examine your foot and ankle and ask about your symptoms. They may take the temperature of your feet, as a higher temperature can be a sign of Charcot foot. X-rays and other tests may be used to diagnose your condition, and in some cases a bone biopsy may be ordered to check for infection. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent joints from collapsing, so schedule an evaluation as soon as symptoms appear.

Treatment and Protecting Your Feet

There are both non-surgical and surgical treatment options, depending on the severity of Charcot foot. The only way to stop its progress is to stay off the foot long enough for it to heal. Decreasing pressure protects the weakened bones from further damage. Your doctor may have you wear a cast, boot, or brace, and you may need a knee scooter or crutches.

While fractures are healing, it is crucial that you keep your weight off your foot. This is called non-weight-bearing. Remember, you often don’t feel pain with Charcot foot, so even if you feel fine, stay off your foot until your doctor says it’s OK. Once your foot has healed, you may be fitted for custom shoes or inserts, specially made to fit the shape of your foot and help prevent ulcers caused by rubbing from store-bought shoes.

If Charcot foot has caused a severe deformity or if an infection has spread, surgery may be necessary. A board-certified surgeon will repair the damage and stabilize your foot. The goal of surgery is to provide a stable foot that will not develop further ulcerations.

Protect your feet from further harm. Always wear shoes and socks, even indoors. Test bath water with your elbow before stepping in. Go to your doctor for nail trimming, and check your feet daily for increased heat, redness, and swelling. Manage your blood sugar, wiggle your toes, elevate your feet, and see your podiatrist at least once per year if you have neuropathy or diabetes to keep Charcot from recurring.