Search
Recommended Products
Related Links

 

Informative Articles

Teeth Bleaching Facts
Unlike whitening toothpastes,which only remove surface stains to reveal the underlying whiteness of teeth, bleaching agents actually make teeth whiter. The most common teeth bleaching agents are hyd... [Author: Albreht Moy - Health - April 18, 2006]
Talking To Your Emotions: How To Heal Your Life Quickly
What most people don't realize is that emotions are real things. The word E-Motion means energy in motion. Emotions become real the second you create them. However, where most people go wrong is they... [Author: Rino Soriano - Health - April 18, 2006]
"One World . . . One Breath" . . . A Massive Global Public Health & Healing Event
Two of the world’s most widely read publications, Parade Magazine and USA Weekend, began a string of media references in the last few months, to a truly unusual coming event. An unprecedented global ... [Author: Bill Douglas - Health - April 18, 2006]
Depression Treatments And Symptoms Of Anxiety Depression
More than 17 million American people are affected by anxiety depression symptoms, so that the specialists have been calling this illness as psychiatric flu. When the young people are concerned, the p... [Author: Michael Rad - Health - April 15, 2006]
Boosting Immune System is One Step Toward Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease
Drugs have been used to ease the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and give people a better quality of life. Many such therapies are designed to fight the effects of the build up of amyloid proteins th... [Author: Frank Mangano - Health - April 14, 2006]
 
Google

The Charcot Foot Condition - A Little Known Diabetes Complication


The Charcot Foot Condition - A Little Known Diabetes Complication  by: Belver Ladson

Charcot Foot disease is a little known complication that can affect anyone who has diabetes. This condition also occurs in non-diabetic patients too, but diabetics can be more prone to this disease due to a diabetic complication known as neuropathy (nerve damage) Nerve damage can stop someone from feeling pain, so the foot can get injured without the person being aware that something is wrong.

The Charcot Foot condition is a very serious condition. Joints and bones can literally be crushed without being known to the sufferer. Imagine breaking your foot and not knowing that it’s broken due to no pain being felt. As time wears on, those broken bones (and sometimes joints) can suffer irreparable damage, with the person walking on the foot normally instead of the foot being in a cast and trying to heal.

Once this damage happens the foot can become misshapen, become dislocated, warm to the touch, and the arch of the foot can literally collapse. The Charcot condition is often called a “silent” disease since a sufferer might not know there is a problem until massive damage has occurred.

Treatment for this condition, traditionally has been to apply a cast so the fractures and dislocations can heal. The foot would be immobilized for a long period of time (often a year or more). Surgery, although done in some cases is ruled out for many patients due to an increased risk of the foot not healing properly.

Some patients must wear a special brace on their foot/leg in order to be able to walk with the Charcot condition present. It’s extremely important for the foot to stay as stable as possible in order to avoid future additional damage such as ulcers, infection and amputation.

A Charcot Foot (also called a Charcot Fracture) can bring devastating changes to a person’s life. Day-to-day activities can be limited and the person might find themselves immobilized for long periods of time, sometimes having to use a wheelchair to get around. Often people can go back to work after treatment with limitations and/or corrective shoes/braces.

About The Author

Belver Ladson has been a diabetes educator for the past ten years and has strived to help people with diabetes live long, fulfilling lives. Belver's life goal is to help others see the goodness in life and to let them know that hope is always present. Belver can be reached at http://www.dfandiabetes.com.