Charcot foot is an extremely serious complication of diabetes in which joints and bones break, dislocate, collapse and even disintegrate, leading to severe deformity and loss of function.
Charcot foot usually only happens alongside a case of severe neuropathy. Due to nerve damage, you don’t feel the pain of the initial injury, so you continue to walk or run and make the problem worse.
Since those with severe neuropathy can’t rely on pain to flag an early case of Charcot foot, you’ll need to carefully monitor your feet for the early warning signs, including:
- Skin that is red or warm to touch (compared to an unaffected foot or other area)
- Swelling of the foot despite the lack of an obvious initial injury
- Pain and discomfort may be present, depending on your level of sensation in the lower extremities.
If you have diabetes and neuropathy and detect any or all of these warning signs, don’t take any unnecessary risks. An X-ray at our office can confirm if there has been any damage to the underlying bone. Please request an appointment with Family Foot & Ankle Center online or give us a call at (888) 689-3317 today.
