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Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease

Neuropathia hereditaria sensitivomotoria (Charcot-Marie-Tooth) · Charcotova–Marieova–Toothova choroba

What it is

The commonest inherited nerve disease, about 1 in 2,500: long nerves slowly fail from the feet up — high arches, thin calves, foot drop, later weak hands; lifespan is normal.

Symptoms & signs

  • High-arched feet, hammer toes
  • tripping, foot drop, ankle sprains
  • thin lower legs ('inverted champagne bottle')
  • numb feet, cold feet
  • weak hands later
  • family history

🚩 Get help if…

  • see a doctor soon Frequent falls or tripping getting worse
  • see a doctor soon Foot sore, blister or burn you didn't feel
  • see a doctor soon Weakness spreading fast over weeks
  • see a doctor soon Breathlessness or trouble swallowing

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Nerve conduction tests, genetic testing
  • Physiotherapy and ankle–foot orthoses trials support
  • foot surgery for severe deformity
  • avoid nerve-toxic drugs — vincristine especially
  • genetic counselling

Natural & lifestyle

  • Regular moderate exercise — keeps strength
  • foot care and good shoes
  • healthy weight

Emerging & experimental

  • Gene silencing for CMT1A (PMP22) early / small studies
  • High-dose vitamin C for CMT1A — no benefit in trials not confirmed in trials
  • PXT3003 — trial results mixed

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • High-dose vitamin C — no benefit in several trials not confirmed in trials
  • Curcumin — animal studies only early / small studies
  • Hydrotherapy and yoga — keep balance and strength; few trials mixed evidence

ICD codes