Why is my Foot Changing Shape?

There is a condition that is called Charcot foot which although rare, it can occur in diabetic patients. It is a process where your bones will actually break down and rebuild themselves into a new formation. You can think of it the same way you think of a little kid with a set of legos that builds up one object and then takes those same legos and builds something else.

When this process begins to happen, your foot will get red and hot. One of the ways that we are able to tell this condition is occurring is to check the temperature of your legs and feet and compare them to one another. If it is determined that you do have Charcot, all we can really do is wait until your body has gotten through the acute stage and is remodeling itself. Once your foot has settled down, we are able to begin to take action.

Depending upon the shape of your foot, there is a boot called a CROW boot that is specifically made for people with Charcot. This boot is actually molded to your foot to help protect it from additional pressure and prevent you from forming an ulcer in an area of increased pressure. This boot will also serve as an extra form of protection for your foot from external things like stubbing it into a door.

However, in some instances, you may develop a pressure point in an area where the bone is protruding outward. In this case, you may need to have a surgery to remove this extra bump to help prevent you from getting an ulcer. These procedures are straightforward in that the bump will be removed and then you will be fitted for a CROW boot or a diabetic shoe dependent upon the appearance of your foot after the surgery.

In some cases, more in-depth surgical procedures will need to be performed if the arch of your foot collapses. In these cases, your podiatrist will discuss with you the proper surgical procedure for your type of foot.

If you notice that one or both of your legs is red, hot and swollen, please go and see your podiatrist immediately. There are several conditions that can cause your foot to appear this way and we do not want the condition to become worse if it can be avoided. If you live in the North Reading or Reading, Massachusetts areas, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help you determine the cause of your foot condition. We are also happy to announce our Methuen and North Andover offices located at 451 Andover St. Suite 300, North Andover MA 01845 and 87 Jackson St, Methuen, MA 01835.