When your feet become numb, they are at increased risk for problems. One way this happens is through ulcers, or a break in the skin that may become infected. With numbness, or peripheral neuropathy, a bone condition called Charcot (pronounced “sharko”) foot can occur. This is one of the most serious foot problems you can face. The result is a deformed shape of your foot caused when your bones fracture and shift. With no pain due to numbness, you continue to walk, increasing the deformity and pressure on the soft tissue. Many Diabetic pressure related foot ulcers and patients diagnosed with early phases of Charcot fractures can be treated with total contact casting. The shape of your foot molds the cast. This contact casting lets your ulcer heal by distributing weight and relieving pressure. If you have Charcot foot, the cast eliminates your foot’s movement and supports its contours while the patient heals. To consider the use of a total contact cast, you need good blood flow. The cast is changed every week with weekly evaluations. More common is the use of a Charcot Restraining Orthopedic Walker, or CROW, this custom-walking boot is another way to support the Charcot foot. Non weight bearing is vital in the Charcot foot. Surgery is considered if your deformity is too severe for a brace or shoe.
