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What is Diabetic Charcot Foot? Catch it Early!

Brandon Podiatrist helps to prevent Diabetic Charcot Foot

At the Gentle Foot Care Clinic, Dr. Jairo Cruz sees many patients at both of his offices in Brandon and Zephyrhills Florida. One of the conditions common in diabetic patients is a condition called Charcot arthropathy, which is usually referred to as Charcot foot. Dr. Cruz would like you to have all the information about the condition so you can identify it early and get it treated before it comes to drastic measures.

What Exactly is Charcot Foot?

Charcot foot is a condition triggering weakening of the bones in the foot that can occur in people who have considerable nerve damage (neuropathy). The bones are damaged enough to fracture, and with ongoing walking the foot ultimately alters shape. As the disorder progresses, the joints collapse and the foot takes on an unusual shape, which looks like the bottom part of a rocking chair.

Charcot foot is a very major condition that can lead to serious defect, special needs, as well as amputation. Because of its seriousness, it is essential that patients with diabetes– a disease often related to neuropathy– take preventive measures and look for immediate care if indicators or signs and symptoms appear. Dr. Manohar recommends regular checkups, especially for diabetic patients.

What are the Signs and symptoms of Charcot Foot?

The signs of Charcot foot might include:

Early diagnosis of Charcot foot is the best case scenario for successful treatment. To reach a diagnosis, Dr. Manohar will analyze the foot and ankle and ask you what kind of activities you were involved in prior to the symptoms. He may also order X-rays and other imaging studies in order to aid with diagnosis.

As soon as treatment starts, x-rays are taken periodically to assist in assessing the status of the condition.

What are the Causes of Charcot Foot?

The main cause of Charcot foot is a result of neuropathy, which reduces sensation and the ability to feel temperature level, discomfort, or trauma. Because of lessened sensation, the client may remain to walk– making the injury worse.

People with neuropathy (especially those who have actually had it for a long time) are at risk for getting Charcot foot. In addition, neuropathic patients with a tight Achilles tendon have actually been revealed to tend to develop Charcot foot.

Non-Surgical Treatment of Charcot Foot

It is extremely crucial to follow Dr. Manohar’s instructions for dealing with Charcot foot. Failure to do so can result in the loss of a toe, foot, leg, or life.

Non-surgical treatment for Charcot foot consists of some of these methods:

In many cases, the Charcot deformity may become so serious that surgical treatment is required. If needed, Dr. Manohar will refer you to a podiatric surgeon to treat it.

How you can prevent Charcot Foot

You can avoid Charcot foot and its complications by following these measures:

If you are diabetic and are exhibiting some of the signs and symptoms of Charcot Foot, please contact Dr. Jairo Cruz at his Brandon office (813) 502-5904 or in Zephyrhills (813) 782-3233. Alternately, you can submit a request by clicking the button below to schedule an appointment.

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