feelbad

This can also be an aquired condition when there is any loss of innervation in the extremity.i aquired charcots knee after my spinal cord was damaged and i developed a condition called brown sequard syndrome.this condition partially deinnervated my right side from right under my R breast on down thru my foot.i can still feel even light touch but cannot feel the difference between hot/cold or surface type of pain.jab a needle into my stomach or inner thigh areas and i will feel the sensation of the needle but absolutely no pain whatsoever.tho the main sense of touch is still quite normal,on some sensory level,there is some sort of loss of innervation.

people who also have peripheral neuropathy can aquire this too once the loss of some senation sets in.what happens in charcots is because of that loss of feeling in certain areas,we tend to start walking very differently and the joints suffer for it.i was told by my ortho and neurosugeon that because my gait is so very different now,when i walk,the joint gets 'hit' with the incoming bone at a totally different angle and this actually creates micro or mini traumas everytime i take steps.this repeated process starts becomming very painful and you end up with whats referred to as neuropathic arthopathy.this iswhere i am at right now.my knee is also always much warmer than the rest of my body because of the constant inflammation thats going on in that particular joint.although my docs aren't sure whether the heat is from that or from the RSD i also have in that same knee.my knee is just one huge mess,so who knows.all i know is that it hurts like hell.the only reason that i can actually feel the RSD pain is that it is generated sympathetically,from the same spinal cord area of damage,my sympathetic nervous system was pretty severely damaged as well.

Unfortunetly as you already know,this can be a debillitating condition eventually.i was told pretty much the same thing as you were by your doc.try and limit your walking.well that sucks for me too cuz i used to love to take really long walks in the woods nearby and just to release stress.but with my other condition,the RSD,i am supposed be staying mobile to keep the area from freezing up on me.so what the heck do ya do?the best thing for this condition is the bracing which they are doing with that lovely new footwear they are making for you.unfortunetly i cannot tolerate any sort of constriction around my knee what so ever so bracing is kind of not happening at this point only because it is extremely painful.so you are at least able to take advantage of that part and believe me,this really really is very important for you.the better bracing you have the less trauma that will hit the joints.i can tell my knee is just getting worse now and my knee is actually wayyy hyperextended backwards but without the actual brace,this continues to get worse too.

it does sound tho like you have a doc who is very knowledgeable about charcots and that in itself is really really great for you.at least you know you are in great hands,and your doc appears to have your best interest at heart.alot of people are not that lucky when it comes to even properly Dxing this.i wish i had better news to give you(and me too)but this really is just a sucky condition to have.i think you will see at least a bit of improvement once you get the shoes.it will keep that impact down to a minimum.i wish you luck with this and please keep me posted.marcia

__________________
3-22-01,herniated C-6-7
11-20-01,placement of hardware for failed fusion
9-22-03,removal of cavernous hemangioma that was inside spinal cord. Neuro damage to L hand L leg and R leg.