I have [Charcot foot], which has caused one foot to be a size larger than the other,” said Trusk. “I’m wearing shoes to fit the larger foot, which is causing friction blisters on the other foot. I’m a diabetic, so this is not a good situation.”
At Play answers: Charcot foot is common among diabetics, according to Dr. Pam Eernisse, a Chicago podiatrist. Nerve damage from diabetes causes the bones in the foot to soften, and continual walking causes those bones to get wider, flatter and longer.
Your first step is to visit a podiatrist, who can either cast an insole that supports your foot, or prescribe a pair of orthopedic shoes. “If you don’t, there are pressure points that aren’t normal and you could get ulcers on your foot,” Eernisse said.
Another route: Go to a shoe store that has a certified pedorthist, someone trained in customizing footwear for medical purposes, says podiatrist Dr. Laura Pickard. A few places to try are Waxberg Walk Shoppe, 7013 W. Dempster St., Niles, 847-965-3338; Scheck & Siress Orthotics & Prosthetics, Inc., 8641 W 95th St., Hickory Hills, 708-599-8336, and Michelangelo’s Foot Comfort & Pedorthic Shoppe, 8344 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge, 708-453-4900.
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