Charcot Foot Support

pain medication

Living with Charcot Foot: Mark’s Experience

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Mark is a 64-year-old male living in Texas who has been battling Charcot Foot for over 10 years. He experienced delayed diagnosis, two difficult surgeries and has embarked on his own crusade to try to manage Charcot Foot to the best of his ability. We are so thankful he is willing to share his experience living with Charcot Foot.

Foot Pain

Mark says he has experience foot pain or sore feet every day for the last 20 years. Long before his Charcot Foot diagnosis he was experiencing foot pain but wasn’t certain why. He often attributed the pain to being on his feet for long hours during work.

“I was a police officer for 28 years and spent 20 of those years on a walking beat,” Mark said. “I easily walked 15 miles in a shift so having sore feet just seemed like part of the gig. The sore feet changed to actual pain at some point but I just thought it was the job.”

He had side of foot pain and pain on top of the foot mainly. He also regularly experienced swelling and on occasion his foot would be hot and red. He would rest for a few days and the swelling and pain would subside.

Charcot Foot Diagnosis

After a particularly long week at work Mark experienced extreme swelling and pain. He couldn’t walk because of the swelling in his right foot and his left foot was almost as bad. He scheduled an appointment with a doctor and was diagnosed with Cuboid Syndrome. Cuboid syndrome is the result of partial dislocation of the bones in the middle of the foot. He sought a second opinion and was diagnosed with a Lis Franc fracture as well as Cuboid Syndrome. He underwent his first foot surgery at that time.

“I should have never had that first surgery,” Mark said. “My gut was telling me both doctors were wrong but I just wanted to feel better and get back on my feet. It was about eight weeks after the first surgery I realized how wrong they had been.”

At his two month follow up surgery it was obvious he had a rocker bottom and his doctor mentioned Charcot Foot for the first time. Mark remained non-weight bearing for another two months after surgery and then went into a CROW boots. He maintained with the CROW boots for another five years.

Foot Surgery Recovery

Five years after his first surgery Mark had foot reconstruction surgery done and had external fixators. The recovery process was long and fraught with complications. He had several infections which delayed recovery and had a difficult time managing his pain.

“I will never put myself through a surgery like that again,” Mark said. “I have never wanted to eat a bullet so bad in my life. The recovery process was horrible and not worth the end result.”

Mark admits he began taking too much pain medication during the recovery stage which led not only to an increase in his depression but also addiction. After eight months non-weight bearing Mark was finally released to walk. After everything he had been through he had to return to the CROW boots and was addicted to pain medication. He knew he had to take control of his own care.

Regaining control

Mark checked himself into a drug and alcohol treatment center and stayed there for 45 days. He was able to get off of the pain medication and did a lot of therapy to help him process how much his life was changing due to the Charcot Foot. Over the course of his time in treatment he was able to get a clearer view of what he needed to do to get healthy.

“Going to treatment was the smartest thing I ever did,” Mark said. “I had support, I had people helping me set goals, helping me see there was still a future. Most of all I learned how to manage my pain in a healthier way.”

Upon leaving treatment Mark began exercising daily, he swims, does chair workouts and strength training. He also began making time to meditate every day which he credits with helping manage pain as well as stress. He has changed his diet and dropped his A1C to 6.2 from over 10.

“My goal is to get as healthy as possible before I have my feet amputated so I can recover well and get back to living,” Mark said.

We appreciate Lindsay’s willingness to share her experience living with Charcot Foot. You can read about the experiences of Jessie, Beth, Jennifer , Joe, Lindsay and Charlie as well. If you would like to share your experience with Charcot Foot please contact us.

Should I take pain medication for my Charcot Foot?

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Should you take pain medication if you have Charcot Foot? It’s a question we have received from a couple of different readers. The interesting thing is some people with Charcot Foot report absolutely no pain because of the neuropathy they have and then others report a good deal of pain. Those who do have pain report chronic pain which makes the question of using pain medication a difficult one to answer.

Pros and Cons of Pain Medication

The obvious pro when it comes to considering pain medication is the fact that pain medication can relieve pain. None of us want to experience pain so it is an obvious benefit to be able to have the pain reduced. However, it’s important to consider the downside to pain medication.

Pain medication is incredibly addictive. When you are already battling so many health conditions the risk of addiction must be considered. Addiction will only increase the troubles you are currently facing due to Charcot Foot.

You also have to be realistic about the effectiveness of pain medication. Pain medication can relieve some pain but it doesn’t eliminate it completely. It’s important to weigh the benefits and risks before taking pain medication.

Additionally, pain serves a purpose. It is a clear indicator to us that something is wrong. Pain can tell us the shoes we are wearing don’t fit right, it can tell us we have walked to far for the day or stood too long. It can indicate a new fracture or wound that needs attention. Using pain medication can prevent us from recognizing problems quickly and addressing them.

Managing pain without pain medication

There are ways to manage Charcot Foot pain without medication. There are several pain relieving creams which can be applied to your feet which can help. We even did a more in-depth review of some pain management options here.

Soaking your feet in Epsom Salt is a wonderful way to reduce pain and swelling. It can also help you relax which will in turn reduce pain. You should never soak your feet if you have any open wounds or sores. After a foot soak make sure you dry your feet completely and apply lotion.

There are over the counter pain relievers which can be helpful. It is important to talk with your doctor before taking them to ensure they won’t cause problems if you have other health concerns, like kidney problems.

Elevate your feet and go non-weight bearing as much as possible! We know it is annoying but one of the best ways to reduce pain is to get off your feet and elevate them. Think toes above nose. While you are resting those feet listen to a relaxing guided meditation to help you relax.

Talk with your doctor about pain medication

Always talk with your doctor about using pain medication. Have a frank discussion about your concerns, the risks associated with pain medication and the possible benefits. No one knows your body and your pain better than you. It is your job to educate your doctor on what you are experiencing so they can provide the best guidance.

It can be helpful to keep a journal or calendar documenting your pain prior to appointments with your doctor. You may notice a spike in pain at night or over the weekend. By documenting you can identify trends and help provide your doctor with a clear view of what you are experiencing.

What ways do you manage Charcot Foot pain? If you have found a tactic that works for you and would like to share it with others please contact us. Additionally, if you have a question you would like answered, please reach out to us. You can see our response to previous questions about how to explain Charcot Foot to others.