Charcot’s foot is a disease that affects bones, joints, and tissue in your feet. This disease can cause you to lose feeling in your foot or ankle because of nerve damage. Due to the nerve damage, foot bones are weakened and are susceptible to fractures and foot deformities that can change the shape of your foot. The misshapen areas can cause friction which leads to painful sores. This disease can affect one or both feet or ankles. Thankfully, Great Neck Family Foot Care has several skilled podiatrists who are capable of treating Charcot Foot and other conditions of the feet and ankles.
Charcot Foot
At first, you may not have any symptoms of Charcot’s foot. Eventually, you will start to see signs such as deformities and sores. If you notice these symptoms, reach out to our podiatrist in Little Neck for the help you need. Our podiatrist can help to diagnose your condition and get you the treatment you need before more damage has been done.
Causes
The primary cause of Charcot’s foot stems from nerve damage. This is a common problem among diabetics with neuropathy. However, other conditions can lead to nerve damage, such as:
- An infection.
- HIV.
- Alcohol/drug abuse.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Spinal cord disease.
Treatments
Our podiatrist in Little Neck can diagnose your condition and provide you with an effective treatment plan. The most important action to take during the treatment process is to keep pressure off the affected foot to allow for healing. Other treatments include:
- Rest and Elevation: this will take stress off of the foot and ankle. It will enable the fractures and wounds to heal.
- Immobilization: our doctor may suggest a cast for your foot/ankle. This will stop movement in the foot, allowing it to heal.
- Surgery: Surgery can help to correct deformities and repair fractures.
Prevention
You must take precaution and take care of your feet. Follow these preventative tips to avoid developing Charcot’s foot:
- Get regular check-ups with our podiatrist in Little Neck.
- Check your feet daily for sores, redness, swelling, fallen arches, or warm spots. Do not ignore these symptoms.
- Wash your feet daily.
- Always wear socks with your footwear.
Contact our podiatrist in Little Neck if you start to experience any symptoms of Charcot’s foot. Charcot’s foot is a severe disease, and symptoms should not be ignored. Dismissing symptoms and not getting treatment can lead to deformities and issues in the future. Don’t wait for the pain to subside on its own, contact Great Neck Family Foot Care today!
