Diabetic now told he has Charcot Foot

[mickcant]

Hi all,
My eldest son who is 49, has been diabetic for some years and has had problems with his feet, and has special shoes made at our hospital.

On a routine appointment today 13-11-2-14, after deciding to x-ray his feet he was told that he had at least 4 broken bones in his foot, and was told he has "Charcot Foot"

Part of the advice given him was to Alter his daily routines to minimize the time he is on his feet. He is a Chef and so on his feet all day every day! can he continue doing that work?

Mick.

[Doc Alan]

I’m sorry to read about your son, Mick.



" Charcot foot " ( named after a nineteenth century French doctor ) results from damage to joints and bones because of loss of sensation – nerve damage, usually caused by diabetes. There may also be skin ulceration. Protective footwear and continued professional foot care will help.


The problem is that the relative lack of pain means a risk of further injury and damage, unless he is also very careful to avoid excessive exertion - which of course is a hazard of being a chef. Any solution would be for him, his health care professionals, and his employers.

[mickcant]

Thank you Alan,
it's on how feasible it is for him to continue working as a chef that is a concern to me at the moment.

He has worn special boots for a few years and been advised he should change his occupation so he is not on his feet so much, he has been a chef all his life and does not want to stop!

I am concerned he is going to lose his foot.
Mick.

[Arthur Little]

I’m sorry to read about your son, Mick.

Me too, Mick. As you know, I was diagnosed with - or, perhaps more accurately ... ... it was confirmed that I had - Type 2 diabetes in 2011.

Whilst I've heard of 'Charcot foot', I must confess it wasn't a condition I'd given any real thought to ... until reading this thread.

Thanks to Alan's response, I'm now more enlightened about it and can readily sympathise with your son's predicament ... most especially its long term effect on the nature of the work he does.

Hopefully, the treatment prescribed by the specialists will, in due course, prove sufficient to obviate the need for your son to relinquish an occupation so ideally suited to his talents ... and one he clearly loves.

[mickcant]

Hi Arthur,
Sorry to hear you have Type 2 diabetes, I have been thought to be borderline.

With my son He was advised to consider changing his employment to a non standing role around 2 years ago, I am frustrated in trying to get him to see that saving his foot from amputation is more important that staying in the job!
Mick.

[fred]

Very difficult situation..Obviously cooking is his passion.
Remove that and then what?
What a tough decision Mick! So sorry to hear about this.