PAYMENTS FOR CHOCOT OR CMT?

Charcot joint disease, sometimes called Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) Arthropathy, can produce difficulty in standing or walking and may be classified by Social Security as a disability.

This article is not intended as nor should be taken as medical advice. If you are having ankle problems or foot pain please seek medical treatment.

CMT is a foot deformity that arises from nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) in the foot or ankle joints. Neuropathy is frequently associated with diabetes (diabetic neuropathy), but neuropathy can occur without diabetes as well. Neuropathy affects foot sensation which in turn increases the likelihood of injury. Many patients with Charcot Foot Syndrome have sustained a foot or ankle injury that refuses to heal.

The Charcot process starts off as an inflammatory process at the injury site. Osteomyelitis (bone infection) can co-occur with Charcot but they are treated differently. Charcot Neuroarthropathy and Osteomyelitis both increase the risk of lower limb amputation.

The symptoms of Charcot foot begin as a warm, red, and swollen foot/ankle. Symptoms may or may not include pain with weight bearing due to loss of nerve sensation from neuropathy. The affected bone can undergo destruction, subluxation, dislocation, and eventually charcot deformity. “Rocker bottom” foot (midfoot collapse) is the most common deformity. according to the American Diabetes Association.

If CMT Arthropathy is making it difficult for you to work, you should consider filing a SSDI claim right away. Your doctor will need to specifically describe the limitations this disease is causing. He or she should document the exact degree of limitations in standing, walking or weight bearing. If you are age 55 or over, it may be possible to meet a "grid" rule or Medical-Vocational Guideline to get disability benefits. If you are under age 55, you will probably need to prove that you are not able to perform even sedentary (sit-down) jobs that don't require a lot of standing/walking.

The Forsythe Firm in Huntsville is experienced in this type of disability claim and provides a free case evaluation based on your age, medical conditions, education and past relevant work. There's never a fee for our assistance unless we win your disability case and recover past due benefits for you. Start with a phone call to (256) 799-0297.