Charcot Marie Tooth disease is a neurological problem that affects various nerves in the brain. When a baby develops CMT, it will cause a variety of serious problems with parts of the body, such as the hands and the feet. It can cause a baby to develop claw toes and make it difficult for them to walk. Thankfully, a podiatrist, like the ones at http://www.advancedfootclinic.org, can help with this problem.
Symptoms of This Problem
A baby may not show early symptoms of this disease immediately. In some instances, they may appear to be a normal and healthy baby. However, as they learn to walk and grow a little more, their leg muscles may be less developed than other babies. It may be difficult for them to walk or stand, and they may walk in an awkward way.
These symptoms occur because CMT impacts the way the muscles and nerves develop in a child's legs. As a result, they cannot walk with the same strength and coordination of other children. These problems can impact the way they react to their environment and make it more difficult for them to mature at the same rate as their peers.
How It Causes Claw Toes
One of the biggest problems caused by CMT is the development of claw toes. You should start to notice this problem in your baby fairly quickly. It causes their toes to curl in a way that doesn't match the natural and healthy growth of a foot. It will create a high arch that is often painful and difficult to manage. In some instances, it may cause a child to revert to crawling.
A crawling baby isn't a major problem, but a toddler or even a preschooler who prefers crawling may be frowned upon by their peers. It may even make it difficult for a perfectly intelligent child to adapt to social and educational experiences and cause them to lag behind the intellectual progress of their peers. However, a podiatrist can help with this concern.
The Ways a Podiatrist Can Help
During the early days of CMT treatment, a baby is likely to get fitted with shoes that help support their feet. These shoes are particularly important for those children whose arches have grown particularly high. Being able to walk in a more traditional manner may help a child feel more emotionally comfortable with their condition.
Pain management techniques, such as massages and individual digit exercises, can help increase the flexibility of the toes and provide a child with a better chance of adapting to walking. In some instances, though, surgery may be necessary. Even better, successful surgery can help a child adapt emotionally to the difficulties of their condition.
More importantly, it can give them the intellectual support that they need to get through a difficult treatment process. Many children who go through CMT and develop claw toes need the help of a skilled podiatrist to avoid experiencing the kind of social stigma that could otherwise follow them for years.
