And your brain may not receive pain messages from your feet, so if you've rubbed a blister on your toe, for example, it may get infected without your realizing it. Sometimes the muscles in your feet may not receive your brain's signal to contract, so you're more likely to trip and fall. Muscles may get weaker, and you may injure areas of the body that experience decreased sensation. Foot abnormalities and difficulty walking are usually the most serious problems. ComplicationsĬomplications of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease vary in severity from person to person. Be sure to let your doctor know about all of the medications you're taking. Medications such as the chemotherapy drugs vincristine (Marqibo), paclitaxel (Abraxane) and others can make symptoms worse. These other conditions can also cause the symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease to become worse. Other causes of neuropathies, such as diabetes, may cause symptoms similar to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Risk factorsĬharcot-Marie-Tooth disease is hereditary, so you're at higher risk of developing the disorder if anyone in your immediate family has the disease. Both cause weaker messages to travel between your limbs and brain. Other mutations damage the protective coating that surrounds the nerve (myelin sheath). Sometimes, these mutations damage the nerves. It occurs when there are mutations in the genes that affect the nerves in your feet, legs, hands and arms. CausesĬharcot-Marie-Tooth disease is an inherited, genetic condition.

The severity of symptoms can vary greatly from person to person, even among family members. Decreased sensation or a loss of feeling in your legs and feetĪs Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease progresses, symptoms may spread from the feet and legs to the hands and arms.Awkward or higher than normal step (gait).Difficulty lifting your foot at the ankle (footdrop).Loss of muscle bulk in your legs and feet.Signs and symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease may include:

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