Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a group of inherited disorders that lead to nerve damage....this damage mostly occurs in the arms and legs (peripheral nerves)....this disease is also known as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy. This disease causes the muscles to become smaller and weaker.... Sometimes patients experience numbness, muscle contractions and difficulty walking. Foot abnormalities such as hammer toes and high arches and soles are also very common.. Symptoms start in the feet and legs.. but sometimes it may eventually affect your hands and arms as well. The symptoms of this disease usually appear in early adulthood or in adolescence.. but it is also possible to develop it in adulthood. What are the symptoms? Symptoms caused by this disease can include such substances: - Feeling of weakness in the legs - Loss of leg muscle mass - Decreased feeling or numbness in the legs - Frequent crash - high foot arch - hammer finger - abnormal or more steps than usual (when walking) - Difficulty in lifting the ankle - reduced performance As Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease progresses, the symptoms may spread from your feet to your hands... The severity of the symptoms caused by this disease can vary from person to person. What are the reasons? This disease is a hereditary and genetic disease and occurs when there are mutations in the gene and affects the nerves of the hands and feet. Sometimes these mutations cause nerve damage...other mutations damage the protective covering that covers the nerves or the myelin sheath...both of which cause weaker messages to be exchanged between organs and the brain. risk factors This disease is hereditary; Therefore, if one of your family members has this disease, you are at risk of developing this disease. Other causes of neuropathy, such as diabetes, may have symptoms similar to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.. Diabetes also worsens Charcot-Marie-Tooth... Chemotherapy drugs such as vincristine, paclitaxel, and others exacerbate symptoms. Be sure to check with your doctor about the medications you are taking... For more information, read the article Diabetic neuropathy. What are the side effects? The effects of this disease are different in terms of severity in different people.. Difficulty in walking and deformity of the foot is one of the most serious problems you can experience. In addition, muscles may become weaker and injure parts of the body... When the leg muscles do not receive the brain's signal to contract, the likelihood of falling increases. The brain may not receive pain messages from the foot, for example if a blister develops on a toe, it may become infected without you knowing. If different parts of the muscles are affected by this disease, you may have difficulty breathing, speaking and swallowing. How is it diagnosed? During the physical exam, the doctor may check for the following: - Muscle weakness in arms, legs and hands - reduction of muscle mass in the leg - Loss of sensation in legs and hands - reflux reduction - foot deformities such as hammer toe - Creating orthopedic problems such as hip dysplasia or mild scoliosis To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor recommends tests to check the extent of nerve damage and the factors that may cause it: - nerve conduction test - electromyography - biopsy - genetic test What is the treatment? There is no cure for Charcot-Marie-Tooth.. but there is no need to worry, because this disease grows slowly and does not affect people's life span. Treatment solutions that help control this disease are as follows: ### Pharmaceutical treatment This disease may lead to pain caused by muscle cramps and nerve damage. If pain becomes a problem for you, prescription pain relievers can help control the pain. ### Therapies #### Physiotherapy Doing physical therapy helps strengthen and stretch muscles to prevent stiffness and muscle loss. #### occupational therapy Weakness in the arms and hands can make it difficult to hold and move the fingers, such as pressing buttons or writing. #### Use of orthopedic equipment Many people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease require some form of orthopedic equipment to maintain daily stimulation and prevent injury. Using leg and ankle braces or splints will help you be stable when walking or going up and down stairs. ### Surgery If the foot deformities are severe, you may eventually need corrective surgery to reduce pain and improve the ability to walk. Surgery cannot help weakness or numbness. Self-care tips By carefully following some tips, you can prevent this disease and it will help you control its complications... To control your disease, pay attention to these things: ### Stretch regularly Stretching exercises can help improve or maintain joint range of motion and reduce the risk of injury. Furthermore, it is effective in improving flexibility, coordination and balance... If you have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, doing regular stretching exercises will prevent joint abnormalities. ### Exercise daily Regular exercise keeps your bones and muscles strong. Low-intensity sports such as swimming or cycling put less pressure on muscles and joints. ### Help improve your stability Muscle weakness caused by Charcot-Marie-Tooth causes instability and serious injury if you fall.. In these cases, walk with a cane or a walker to help increase your stability.