What is Charcut Marie Tooth Disease?
Charcut Marie Tooth disease is a genetically inherited ailment. It happens when there are genetic changes that impair the nerves in your hands, arms, legs, and feet.
A different name for Charcot-Marie-Tooth illness is a hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy.
Muscles are smaller and weaker with the disease. Also, you can have trouble walking and lose the ability to feel your muscles contracting. The hands and arms may eventually be affected by the symptoms, which typically start in the feet and legs.
These mutations can occasionally cause nerve injury. Some mutations harm the nerve’s surrounding protective layer (myelin sheath). Both result in weaker signals being sent between your brain and limbs.
Early Symptoms of Charcut 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)
CMT symptoms usually start in your early teenage years but can start earlier during childhood or later during middle age. Issues usually appear and develop slowly, getting progressively worse over time.
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 hands and arms may also experience symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease as the condition worsens. Even within family members, the intensity of symptoms might differ widely from one person to the next.
Treatments for CMT
Although there is no known treatment for CMT, orthopaedic surgery, braces and other orthopaedic devices, physical and occupational therapy, and braces may all be able to aid with the disease’s incapacitating symptoms. In addition, doctors can give medication for severe nerve pain.
It’s crucial to keep your joints mobile, and your muscles supple, and muscle strength. Starting a therapy regimen early may prevent or slow down muscular weakening and nerve deterioration before they reach the point of incapacity.
High-top footwear, such as boots or shoes, can help a person with weak ankles. The loss of fine motor skills and hand weakness can both be helped with thumb splints. Because they may stop muscle strain and lessen muscle wasting, assistive devices should be utilised before impairment sets in.
It is so important to speak to an expert to be properly diagnosed. Make an appointment to see a qualified podiatrist.
Previous post: Did you know these diabetic foot care do's and don't?
