Charcot foot, also called Charcot arthropathy, is a disease that attacks the bones, joints, and soft tissue in your feet. When it starts, you may not realize something’s wrong. But eventually, it can cause painful sores or change the shape of your foot. But if you know what to look for, your doctor can diagnose and treat the problem before it causes much damage. Charcot foot affects people who can’t feel anything in their feet and ankles because of nerve damage, such as people with diabetes, but other things can cause nerve damage, too, including drug abuse, an infection, a spinal cord disease or injury, and much more.
It can be hard to know for sure that you have Charcot foot, especially early on. X-rays and lab tests may be normal. If you’re having foot problems, Pain Medicine Physicians of Jacksonville can give you the correct diagnosis. Common symptoms include: