What is Charcot Marie Tooth Disease?
The condition Charcot Marie Tooth disease is passed genetically. It occurs when the nerves in your hands, limbs, legs, and feet are compromised by genetic changes.
The illness causes the muscles to be smaller and weaker. You might also find it difficult to move and lose the feeling of your muscles contracting. The symptoms, which usually begin in the feet and legs, may ultimately spread to the hands and arms.
Sometimes, these abnormalities can result in nerve damage. Some variations cause damage to the covering that protects the nerve (myelin sheath). Both cause the signals that are sent from your head to your limbs to be weaker.
Early Symptoms of Charcot Marie Tooth Disease
As CMT is a degenerative disorder, the symptoms progressively worsen with time. As a result, it could be challenging to identify symptoms in young children with CMT.
Early warning signs of CMT in children include:
- having difficulty walking because they may have issues getting their feet off the ground,
- their toes tucking under when they do so, and
- appearing especially awkward and accident-prone for their age (foot drop)
Signs and symptoms of Charcot Marie Tooth disease may include:
- Weakness in your legs, ankles and feet
- Loss of muscle bulk in your legs and feet
- High foot arches
- Curled toes (hammertoes)
- Decreased ability to run
- Difficulty lifting your foot at the ankle (footdrop)
- Awkward or higher than normal step (gait)
- Frequent tripping or falling
- Decreased sensation or a loss of feeling in your legs and feet
- The severity of symptoms can vary greatly from one individual to the next, even among family members.
Treatments
Orthopaedic surgery, braces and other orthopaedic devices, physical and occupational therapy, and braces may all be able to help with the disease’s incapacitating effects even though there is no known cure for CMT. Additionally, doctors can prescribe medicine for possible excruciating nerve agony.
It’s essential to maintain the flexibility, suppleness, and power of your muscles. Early intervention with treatment may stop or delay the deterioration of the nerves and muscles before they become incapacitating.
Always speak to an expert. Our expert podiatrists have worked with patients with the disease, get in touch for support.
