Rogers Foot & Ankle Institute

Charcot Foot Treatment In Vineyard, UT

May 25, 2021
Charcot Foot Treatment In Vineyard, UT
Charcot foot is a painful foot deformity that can cause various issues for those affected by the condition. While rare in its occurrence, Charcot foot is a high probability for those who suffer from peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage.....

Charcot foot is a painful foot deformity that can cause various issues for those affected by the condition. While rare in its occurrence, Charcot foot is a high probability for those who suffer from peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage in combination with conditions such as diabetes.

If you or a loved one is suffering from the symptoms or a confirmed diagnosis of Charcot foot, it is critical to seek help from specialized healthcare professionals. This ensures that proper Charcot foot treatment in Vineyard, Utah can be administered to you or your loved one promptly. This helps you alleviate pain and manage symptoms that stem from this problematic complication.

At Rogers Foot and Ankle Institute, our qualified healthcare professionals specialize in the treatment and management of Charcot foot. Whether you suspect that you have initial symptoms of Charcot foot or if your primary healthcare provider confirms that you may have the disease, our targeted approaches can help you manage the condition.

What Is Charcot’s Foot?

Charcot foot or Charcot arthropathy is a condition that can occur due to various reasons. But it most commonly affects those who already have peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage in combination with diabetes.

With that being said, it can also affect those who suffer from nerve damage due to reasons including but not limited to alcohol abuse, drug abuse, infections, or spinal cord disease.

When Charcot foot affects a person, its presence can be noticed in the functions and structure of the foot. When this condition occurs, it causes the bones in the affected foot to become weak, which also affects the connected joints and tissues.

Suppose the treatment is not administered at the early stages; the condition may cause the bones in the foot to break or the joints to dislocate. Over time, this may lead to collapsed joints in the foot, which causes the deformity that is associated with the complication. The increased pressure may also cause painful sores in the foot.

A deformed foot affected by Charcot’s foot often has a collapsed arch, which means that the normal arch of the foot becomes flat or even sticks outward. This can cause various complications in walking as well as performing daily functions. That is why you must get Charcot foot treatment in Vineyard, UT, as soon as possible.

Charcot Foot: Causes And Symptoms

Various causes can lead to Charcot foot and might work in combination with one another. Since it is a rare condition, having one or more risk factors doesn’t mean that you would develop the disease. Instead, it only enhances your chances of having the condition and encourages you to keep your healthcare provider in the loop in seeing any possible symptoms.

These causes include the following.

Neuropathy

The biggest contributor behind Charcot foot is extensive nerve damage or neuropathy. When extensive nerve damage occurs in someone, it can lead to weakened bones, joints, and tissues. If left untreated, this can cause the type of bone fractures or deformities that lead to Charcot foot. 

This type of nerve damage is often associated with diabetes. However, it can also happen due to various other causes such as alcohol abuse, drug abuse, an infection, or a spinal injury. Conditions such as HIV or syphilis may also cause this level of nerve damage. If you notice foot and ankle issues or other types of deformity, remember to contact your local professional at the Rogers Foot and Ankle Institute.

Undetected Injuries

One of the other causes of Charcot foot includes undetected injuries or sprains. Sometimes, patients may ignore the slight pain or discomfort caused by these injuries. In other instances, they may go unnoticed due to the patient’s inability to feel pain because of their nerve damage. 

Either way, if underlying injuries are left untreated, they can lead to extensive nerve damage or weakened bones, joints, and tissue. This could then result in the associated effects of charcot foot. Due to this reason, it’s critical that you get Charcot foot treatment in Vineyard, UT through a specialized professional at the Rogers Foot and Ankle Institute.

Open Or Unhealed Wounds

If you have an open or unhealed wound that does not heal itself even after a few weeks or causes an infection, it can also lead to the associated symptoms of joint, bone, and tissue damage that causes your foot’s skeletal structure to grow weak. 

If you have neuropathy, you may not feel these symptoms until it’s too late. In some cases, this can cause the eventual effects of Charcot foot. 

Foot Surgery

A foot surgery that doesn’t heal in a timely manner can also lead to the associated problems of infection. This can also cause weakened bones, joints, and tissue. 

In this situation, neuropathy may keep you from detecting pain or discomfort. Whereas, the associated damage to your bones, joints, or tissues may cause eventual symptoms of Charcot foot.

There are also various symptoms of Charcot foot, with the most common signs outlined below.

  • Reddened foot. 
  • Swollen foot. 
  • Warm foot. 
  • Painful sores.
  • Curled toes.
  • Visible deformity in the ankle. 
  • Visible deformity in the arch of the foot.

Non-Surgical Treatment For Charcot Foot

Charcot foot is diagnosed by specialized healthcare providers such as a podiatrist (foot doctor). The diagnosis may include your medical history, your underlying conditions, and imaging tests such as X-Rays. 

However, Charcot foot can be tricky to diagnose in its early stages. That is why the condition should be discussed with a specialized professional like those at the Rogers Foot and Ankle Institute. 

The goal of Charcot foot treatment in Vineyard, UT as well as other places is to take the pressure off the affected foot, treat the underlying cause, and prevent the disease from progressing further. 

Non-surgical treatment for Charcot foot typically includes the following approaches.

  • Offloading. This focuses on taking the pressure off of the affected foot. Measures may include practices such as wearing a cast, using a crutch, or using a wheelchair.
  • Treatment of Bone Disease. This may integrate measures such as the usage of specialized supplements to strengthen your bones. 
  • Specialized Footwear. This includes wearing apparatuses such as a Charcot Restraint Orthotic Walker (CROW). This takes the weight off of the foot. Ongoing care such as self-examination for sores, warm feet, or other symptoms is also advised. 

Contact Specialized Foot And Ankle Experts Today

At the Rogers Foot and Ankle Institute, our experts have extensive experience in managing and treating Charcot foot. Through our targeted approaches, you can alleviate your pain, manage your ongoing symptoms, and prevent further progression of the condition.

Since every patient is different, our targeted approach and overall timeline of treatment depend on or vary from person to person. After a detailed discussion and analysis, we can develop a personalized treatment plan that focuses on aspects such as how frequently your cast may need to be changed or what type of supplements you may require to strengthen your bones.

Our medical professionals understand your needs, ensure to look at the signs, and focus on various patients who may suffer from diabetic conditions, ulcers, or other issues like trauma. We are here to assess the bone, the overall health, and prevent issues from becoming more difficult.

To see how our solutions can help you with your Charcot foot treatment in Vineyard, UT, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us today. We will be here to hear from you and offer a targeted treatment plan according to your feet’ issues and needs.