If you have Charcot Foot you know there is a certain sound that along with it. A snap, crackle, pop sound. It’s shocking when you first hear it. If we are completely honest the sound of Charcot Foot is a little gross. It’s not normal to be able to hear your foot bones moving and shifting. The first time I heard it I felt like I may be sick. When I spoke with my doctor about it he reassured me it is common among those with Charcot Foot.
Are my bones cracking?
The sounds from Charcot Foot can leave you asking, “are my bones cracking”? The answer is, maybe. Sometimes the cracking, snapping, popping sounds you hear can be a sign of broken bone in the foot moving. The sounds can also be an indicator of a new foot fracture occurring.
The human foot is complex. There are 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. The sounds you hear when applying pressure to your Charcot Foot can be coming from joints or bones. The sounds can also be a sign of the foot entering the sub-acute stage of Charcot Foot. During the sub-acute stage the bones begin to consolidate. The sounds may be more noticeable during the stage as they are shifting and consolidating into their new placement.
Should I be worried about cracking bones
When you have Charcot Foot there is always a concern about foot fracture and injury. However, you shouldn’t assume a foot fracture has occurred solely on the cracking or popping sounds you may hear. The only way to know for sure if you have foot fracture is to contact your physician and get an x-ray.
The cracking and popping sound you hear could also be attributed to escaping gases. The bones in our joints are surrounded by synovial fluid that lubricates and prevents bones from rubbing against each other. Synovial fluid contains oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. When the joint capsule is stretched, these gases form bubbles that cause a popping sound when the bubbles are released. In order to crack the same joints again, you have to wait until the gasses return to the synovial fluid. This is why the cracking or popping sound may not occur regularly.
Movement of tendons and ligaments can also cause a cracking or popping sound. As tendon position changes and the tendon moves slightly out of place when a joint is moved a sound can occur. The movement may cause you to hear a snapping sound when the tendon returns to its original position. Also, your ligaments may tighten as you move your joints, which can make a cracking sound.
When you hear a popping or cracking sound coming from your Charcot Foot try not to panic. The sound doesn’t necessarily mean a new foot fracture has occurred. If you experience swelling, your foot is red or hot or you have significant pain contact your doctor immediately. If not, you can most likely wait until your next regularly scheduled appointment to discuss the sounds.