Charcot Foot Diabetic Foot Care

What You Need To Know

Understanding Charcot foot, its symptoms, and why early care matters.

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.

Symptoms include a red appearance of the foot or ankle, swelling, increased warmth compared to the other foot or ankle, a foot that feels warm to the touch, and soreness. Check your feet daily for changes, keep regular appointments with your board-certified podiatrist, and always wear shoes and socks, even when you are indoors.

Charcot foot is the result of bone or joint damage. It can begin with peripheral neuropathy, a disease of the nerves. Because the nerves are impacted, patients may not sense sensations in their foot. Another cause is repeated minor fractures that aren’t felt or don’t heal correctly. Diabetics are more likely to suffer from Charcot foot due to diabetes-related neuropathy.

Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent joints from collapsing and deforming the foot. Your board-certified podiatrist will examine your foot and ankle, ask about your symptoms, and may take the temperature of your feet. X-rays and other tests may be used, and in some cases a bone biopsy may be ordered to check for infection. Contact your podiatrist right away if you notice any of these symptoms so care can begin promptly.

Treatment, Prevention, and Outlook

Decreasing pressure to your feet is one of the most important ways to heal Charcot foot. This 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. Custom orthotics and bracing can help the bones heal and prevent recurrence.

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 details depend on each individual case, and the goal is to provide a stable foot that will not develop further ulcerations.

If Charcot foot isn’t caught early, the joints or arch in the foot can collapse, causing deformity. It may permanently affect the patient’s ability to use their foot and can lead to a foot infection. In severe cases, failure to get treatment can result in the loss of a toe, foot, or leg.

The best prevention method is regular check-ups with your board-certified podiatrist and daily foot self-exams. Manage your blood sugar levels to slow nerve damage, wear shoes and socks even indoors, get fit for custom orthotics, stop any activity causing foot or ankle pain, and maintain blood flow by wiggling your toes and elevating your feet.

If you have neuropathy or diabetes, see your podiatrist at least once per year so early changes can be caught and treated before serious damage occurs.