What Is Charcot Foot? Understanding This Serious Complication of Peripheral Neuropathy

There are millions of Americans who have peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) in their lower limbs. While the numbers are tough to pin down, researchers estimate that between 10% and 40% of adults (the numbers increase with age groups) have some degree of peripheral neuropathy.

This collective nerve damage can set the stage for some very serious complications that can compromise your mobility and greatly influence your quality of life. And Charcot foot is a perfect example of this.

As an expert in nerve-related foot, ankle, and leg issues, double board-certified wound specialist Dr. Thomas Rambacher and the team at Foot Ankle Leg Wound Care Orange County are no strangers to serious peripheral neuropathy complications like Charcot foot. Here’s what we want you to know.

Damaging your feet over time

When you have peripheral neuropathy, it might seem like numbness is a much better option than pain, but we assure you that numbness is equally as dangerous.

Charcot foot is a prime example of the pitfalls of numbness. With this complication of peripheral neuropathy, sensations in your feet become blunted to a point where you don’t feel much of anything at all.

Given the complex anatomy of your feet — for starters, each foot contains 26 bones and 100 ligaments and tendons — there’s great potential for damage. When your feet are numb, you won’t feel when there’s a problem and given all that your feet are responsible for, problems develop all the time.

So, instead of stopping to address a problem in your foot, such as a broken toe, wound, or torn ligament, you carry on. As a result, your body compensates for the lack of response and, instead, tries to protect itself as best it can, which can lead to deformities and other issues, including:

• Rocker bottom foot: the bones in your midfoot collapse and your arches reverse
• Curled toes: your toes curl inward and become more claw-shaped
• Bends in your ankle: your ankle can turn inward or outward

These foot deformities develop over time as your body compensates for unrecognized injuries and tries to keep up with your continued movements as best it can. So, those clawed toes are your body’s way of trying to “grip” the ground.

These deformities also set the stage for further complications, such as slow-healing foot ulcers that form in areas where there’s new friction.

Who gets Charcot foot?

Charcot foot has long been associated with diabetes since about half of people with diabetes develop peripheral neuropathy.

The reality, however, is that peripheral neuropathy isn’t confined to people with diabetes. Other conditions can lead to the problem, such as peripheral artery disease (PAD) and obesity.

Signs of Charcot foot

A great rule of thumb for recognizing a foot injury when you can’t feel your feet is to check daily for swelling and heat in your foot that’s not related to an open wound or infection.

If you find these early signs — heat and swelling — please come see us straight away so that we can check your feet for damage. This early intervention can save you from permanent deformity and foot ulcers down the road.

If you have more questions about Charcot foot or you suspect you might have the condition, please call our office in Mission Viejo, California, at 949-832-6018 or request an appointment online today.