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Posted 5/7/2014 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
So, I've been having a lot of pain in my feet, arthritis I assumed because everything else that hurts gets diagnosed as osteoarthritis. After exam, the podiatrist thought it was the ligaments that support the arches failing. (I've gone from a high arch to completely flat feet in the past two years.)

After x-rays yesterday, she diagnosed Charcot foot. This is most commonly a result of diabetic neuropathy, except that she agreed my blood glucose has never been nearly high enough to cause neuropathy and I have no loss of sensation as would be expected.

So, while it seems not to be an effect of diabetes, I can now shake hands with those of us who have peripheral neuropathy for whatever reason.

Oh, and the podiatrist says other possible causes are a fairly rare genetic defect or some weird autoimmune thing. Guess which one I'm betting on?
Posted 5/8/2014 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
Well, crap! I'm sorry you've got to deal with this. How is this treated? And you're really active, too!

A couple of years ago, I went to an endo for a completely different reason (not diabetes) but of course she did talk to me about diabetes (because she's an endo, after all). The topic of neuropathy came up and I said I was trying to keep my blood sugar 'normal' to avoid this, and she took out this metal instrument that look like a harp or tuning fork. She tapped it on the table and placed the base on one of my bare feet and told me to tell her when I couldn't feel the vibration anymore. After what seemed like a long time, I told her I couldn't feel the vibration and then she placed the instrument on my hand and I felt it vibrating. Well, what a shock! She said I had the beginning of neuropathy even though my blood sugar had not been considered "high enough" to cause neuropathy. I know that this is an individual thing, though. Neuropathy may start at different blood sugar levels for different people. Very insidious.

So, Judy. What do you do next for this?
Posted 5/8/2014 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
Well, the treatment when it's active and acute is to be non-weight bearing - bed rest or a wheelchair. I walked my way through that, though, and the bones have now pretty much re-ossified and it's stabilized. She said it could re-activate at any time, or never.

For now it's shoe inserts to support the arch and get off my feet when they hurt. The risk is that enough foot deformity can occur to cause pressure sores which could be bad enough to necessitate amputation. I guess I could really kick some backs if I had a set of those blades like Pistorius has.

Fortunately I've been doing very low-impact and minimal weight-bearing workouts already (because my feet hurt so much, go figure), so can continue with those. I'll probably be skipping the one-foot standing exercise, though.

Sometimes you just have to laugh about it or you go crazy!
Posted 5/8/2014 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad you were able to have this diagnosed before it became too bad - although I'm sure it's bad enough. I wonder if special 'boots' would help prevent the bones from deforming, keeping the bones straighter.
Posted 5/8/2014 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
This is one of the options when it's active. Right now I'm stable, so I just need to pay attention if it activates again. And see the doctor right away.

I've been brushed off with "arthritis" for all my musculoskeletal pains for years, so I tend not to go to the doctor when I get new or increased pain. I get tired of being told "it's just osteoarthritis" when sometimes I know it isn't in the joint.
Posted 5/8/2014 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
Any chance that you have plantar fascitis? It is very common among IBDers:

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2895945
Posted 5/8/2014 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
Nope. The bony deformities are clearly visible on x-ray. It did resemble that a bit, though.
Posted 5/9/2014 6:29 AM (GMT 0)
You're right Judy, it's interesting but not good news. I'm sorry to hear that. :( I've heard of Charcot Foot but just looked it up now. I must have hit a "not so correct" site about it since it says there is either no pain or just minor pain, in other words.

A Dr. had told me years ago that my arches had fallen which he didn't explain and it meant nothing to me. I felt my foot and there were still some arch left. My feet are always in pain since I have RA and OA. I'm
like you, just keep on walking even though it sometimes feels terrible. I do have a Tailor's bunion on both feet.

I sure hope that they are able to help you to the max and that you do not get any sores on your feet. As you know, socks without seems are best for Diabetics. Take care!
Posted 5/9/2014 11:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, msOuchie. I had severe pain, which supposedly isn't part of it, I did not have the redness, warmth and swelling that you're supposed to have, yet the x-ray appearance is classic.

Since I never seem to get normal things, I'm suspecting there's some other weird, rare thing that causes this deformity. At this point, what caused it isn't as important to me as keeping it stabilized.
Posted 5/9/2014 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
I think we are our own best health advocate and even though there is some incorrect information online, having the Internet to learn more about our health gives us an edge in understanding what we have and what our options are compared to what people had years ago. Judy, I hope you're doing ok and that this foot condition isn't stopping you from doing what you've been doing before. You're a great role model for activity!
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