Signs and symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease may include:  Weakness in your legs, ankles and feet Loss of muscle bulk in your legs and feet High foot arches Curled toes (hammertoes) Decreased ability to run Difficulty lifting your foot at the ankle (footdrop) Awkward or higher than normal step (gait) Frequent tripping or falling Decreased sensation or a loss of feeling in your legs and feet  As Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease progresses, symptoms may spread from the feet and legs to the hands and arms. The severity of symptoms can vary greatly from person to person, even among family members. Causes Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is an inherited, genetic condition. It occurs when there are mutations in the genes that affect the nerves in your feet, legs, hands and arms. Sometimes, these mutations damage the nerves. Other mutations damage the protective coating that surrounds the nerve (myelin sheath). Both cause weaker messages to travel between your limbs and brain. Risk factors Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is hereditary, so you're at higher risk of developing the disorder if anyone in your immediate family has the disease. Other causes of neuropathies, such as diabetes, may cause symptoms similar to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. These other conditions can also cause the symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease to become worse. Medications such as the chemotherapy drugs vincristine (Marqibo), paclitaxel (Abraxane) and others can make symptoms worse. Be sure to let your doctor know about all of the medications you're taking. Complications Complications of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease vary in severity from person to person. Foot abnormalities and difficulty walking are usually the most serious problems. Muscles may get weaker, and you may injure areas of the body that experience decreased sensation. Sometimes the muscles in your feet may not receive your brain's signal to contract, so you're more likely to trip and fall. 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. You may also experience difficulty breathing, swallowing or speaking if the muscles that control these functions are affected by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.                  By Mayo Clinic Staff By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Request an appointment   Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis & treatment       March 08, 2023   Print Print  Share on: FacebookTwitter Facebook Twitter Show references Klein CJ. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and other hereditary neuropathies. Continuum. 2020; doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000000927. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Charcot-Marie-Tooth-Disease-Fact-Sheet. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Kang PB. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: Genetics, clinical features and diagnosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Facts about Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and related diseases. Muscular Dystrophy Association. https://www.mda.org/disease/charcot-marie-tooth. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Neurotoxic medications. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association. https://www.cmtausa.org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/medications/. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Simon RP, et al. Sensory disorders. In: Clinical Neurology. 10th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2018. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Kang PB. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: Management and prognosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Rossor AM, et al. Are we prepared for clinical trials in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease? Brain Research. 2020; doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146625. Pareyson D, et al. New developments in Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy and related diseases. Current Opinion in Neurology. 2017; doi:10.1097/WCO. 0000000000000474. Important foot care for people with CMT. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association. https://www.cmtausa.org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/important-foot-care-for-people-with-cmt/. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Pedicure pointers. American Podiatric Medical Association. https://www.apma.org/Patients/HealthyFeetTips.cfm?ItemNumber=9859. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020.  Show references  Klein CJ. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and other hereditary neuropathies. Continuum. 2020; doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000000927. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Charcot-Marie-Tooth-Disease-Fact-Sheet. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Kang PB. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: Genetics, clinical features and diagnosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Facts about Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and related diseases. Muscular Dystrophy Association. https://www.mda.org/disease/charcot-marie-tooth. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Neurotoxic medications. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association. https://www.cmtausa.org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/medications/. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Simon RP, et al. Sensory disorders. In: Clinical Neurology. 10th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2018. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Kang PB. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: Management and prognosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Rossor AM, et al. Are we prepared for clinical trials in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease? Brain Research. 2020; doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146625. Pareyson D, et al. New developments in Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy and related diseases. Current Opinion in Neurology. 2017; doi:10.1097/WCO. 0000000000000474. Important foot care for people with CMT. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association. https://www.cmtausa.org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/important-foot-care-for-people-with-cmt/. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Pedicure pointers. American Podiatric Medical Association. https://www.apma.org/Patients/HealthyFeetTips.cfm?ItemNumber=9859. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020.   Klein CJ. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and other hereditary neuropathies. Continuum. 2020; doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000000927. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Charcot-Marie-Tooth-Disease-Fact-Sheet. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Kang PB. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: Genetics, clinical features and diagnosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Facts about Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and related diseases. Muscular Dystrophy Association. https://www.mda.org/disease/charcot-marie-tooth. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Neurotoxic medications. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association. https://www.cmtausa.org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/medications/. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Simon RP, et al. Sensory disorders. In: Clinical Neurology. 10th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2018. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Kang PB. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: Management and prognosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Rossor AM, et al. Are we prepared for clinical trials in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease? Brain Research. 2020; doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146625. Pareyson D, et al. New developments in Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy and related diseases. Current Opinion in Neurology. 2017; doi:10.1097/WCO. 0000000000000474. Important foot care for people with CMT. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association. https://www.cmtausa.org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/important-foot-care-for-people-with-cmt/. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Pedicure pointers. American Podiatric Medical Association. https://www.apma.org/Patients/HealthyFeetTips.cfm?ItemNumber=9859. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020.  Klein CJ. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and other hereditary neuropathies. Continuum. 2020; doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000000927. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Charcot-Marie-Tooth-Disease-Fact-Sheet. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Kang PB. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: Genetics, clinical features and diagnosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Facts about Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and related diseases. Muscular Dystrophy Association. https://www.mda.org/disease/charcot-marie-tooth. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Neurotoxic medications. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association. https://www.cmtausa.org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/medications/. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Simon RP, et al. Sensory disorders. In: Clinical Neurology. 10th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2018. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Kang PB. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: Management and prognosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Rossor AM, et al. Are we prepared for clinical trials in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease? Brain Research. 2020; doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146625. 2019.146625 2019.146625 Pareyson D, et al. New developments in Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy and related diseases. Current Opinion in Neurology. 2017; doi:10.1097/WCO. 0000000000000474. Important foot care for people with CMT. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association. https://www.cmtausa.org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/important-foot-care-for-people-with-cmt/. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020. Pedicure pointers. American Podiatric Medical Association. https://www.apma.org/Patients/HealthyFeetTips.cfm?ItemNumber=9859. Accessed Dec. 31, 2020.  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signs symptoms charcot-marie-tooth disease may include:  weakness legs  ankles feet loss muscle bulk legs feet high foot arches curled toes (hammertoes) decreased ability run difficulty lifting foot ankle (footdrop) awkward higher normal step (gait) frequent tripping falling decreased sensation loss feeling legs feet  charcot-marie-tooth disease progresses  symptoms may spread feet legs hands arms  severity symptoms can vary greatly person person  family members  causes charcot-marie-tooth disease inherited  genetic condition  occurs mutations genes affect nerves feet  legs  hands arms  sometimes  mutations damage nerves  mutations damage protective coating surrounds nerve (myelin sheath)  cause weaker messages travel limbs brain  risk factors charcot-marie-tooth disease hereditary  you're higher risk developing disorder family disease  causes neuropathies  diabetes  may cause symptoms similar charcot-marie-tooth disease  conditions can cause symptoms charcot-marie-tooth disease worse  medications chemotherapy drugs vincristine (marqibo)  paclitaxel (abraxane) can symptoms worse  sure let doctor know medications you're taking  complications complications charcot-marie-tooth disease vary severity person person  foot abnormalities difficulty walking problems  muscles may weaker  may injure areas body experience decreased sensation  muscles feet may receive brain's signal contract  you're likely trip fall  brain may receive pain messages feet  you've rubbed blister toe  example  may infected realizing it  may experience difficulty breathing  swallowing speaking muscles control functions affected charcot-marie-tooth disease                   mayo clinic staff mayo clinic staff request appointment request appointment   diagnosis & treatment diagnosis & treatment diagnosis & treatment       march 08  2023   print print  share on: facebooktwitter facebook twitter show references klein cj  charcot-marie-tooth disease hereditary neuropathies  continuum  2020; doi:10 1212/con 0000000000000927  charcot-marie-tooth disease sheet  national institute neurological disorders stroke  https://www ninds nih gov/disorders/patient-caregiver-education/fact-sheets/charcot-marie-tooth-disease-fact-sheet  accessed dec  31  2020  kang pb  charcot-marie-tooth disease: genetics  clinical features diagnosis  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed dec  31  2020  charcot-marie-tooth disease diseases  muscular dystrophy association  https://www mda org/disease/charcot-marie-tooth  accessed dec  31  2020  neurotoxic medications  charcot-marie-tooth association  https://www cmtausa org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/medications/  accessed dec  31  2020  simon rp  al  sensory disorders  in: clinical neurology  10th ed  mcgraw-hill; 2018  https://accessmedicine mhmedical com  accessed dec  31  2020  kang pb  charcot-marie-tooth disease: management prognosis  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed dec  31  2020  rossor am  al  prepared clinical trials charcot-marie-tooth disease? brain research  2020; doi:10 1016/j brainres 2019 146625  pareyson d  al  new developments charcot-marie-tooth neuropathy diseases  current opinion neurology  2017; doi:10 1097/wco  0000000000000474  important foot care people cmt  charcot-marie-tooth association  https://www cmtausa org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/important-foot-care-for-people-with-cmt/  accessed dec  31  2020  pedicure pointers  american podiatric medical association  https://www apma org/patients/healthyfeettips cfm?itemnumber=9859  accessed dec  31  2020   show references  klein cj  charcot-marie-tooth disease hereditary neuropathies  continuum  2020; doi:10 1212/con 0000000000000927  charcot-marie-tooth disease sheet  national institute neurological disorders stroke  https://www ninds nih gov/disorders/patient-caregiver-education/fact-sheets/charcot-marie-tooth-disease-fact-sheet  accessed dec  31  2020  kang pb  charcot-marie-tooth disease: genetics  clinical features diagnosis  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed dec  31  2020  charcot-marie-tooth disease diseases  muscular dystrophy association  https://www mda org/disease/charcot-marie-tooth  accessed dec  31  2020  neurotoxic medications  charcot-marie-tooth association  https://www cmtausa org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/medications/  accessed dec  31  2020  simon rp  al  sensory disorders  in: clinical neurology  10th ed  mcgraw-hill; 2018  https://accessmedicine mhmedical com  accessed dec  31  2020  kang pb  charcot-marie-tooth disease: management prognosis  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed dec  31  2020  rossor am  al  prepared clinical trials charcot-marie-tooth disease? brain research  2020; doi:10 1016/j brainres 2019 146625  pareyson d  al  new developments charcot-marie-tooth neuropathy diseases  current opinion neurology  2017; doi:10 1097/wco  0000000000000474  important foot care people cmt  charcot-marie-tooth association  https://www cmtausa org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/important-foot-care-for-people-with-cmt/  accessed dec  31  2020  pedicure pointers  american podiatric medical association  https://www apma org/patients/healthyfeettips cfm?itemnumber=9859  accessed dec  31  2020    klein cj  charcot-marie-tooth disease hereditary neuropathies  continuum  2020; doi:10 1212/con 0000000000000927  charcot-marie-tooth disease sheet  national institute neurological disorders stroke  https://www ninds nih gov/disorders/patient-caregiver-education/fact-sheets/charcot-marie-tooth-disease-fact-sheet  accessed dec  31  2020  kang pb  charcot-marie-tooth disease: genetics  clinical features diagnosis  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed dec  31  2020  charcot-marie-tooth disease diseases  muscular dystrophy association  https://www mda org/disease/charcot-marie-tooth  accessed dec  31  2020  neurotoxic medications  charcot-marie-tooth association  https://www cmtausa org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/medications/  accessed dec  31  2020  simon rp  al  sensory disorders  in: clinical neurology  10th ed  mcgraw-hill; 2018  https://accessmedicine mhmedical com  accessed dec  31  2020  kang pb  charcot-marie-tooth disease: management prognosis  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed dec  31  2020  rossor am  al  prepared clinical trials charcot-marie-tooth disease? brain research  2020; doi:10 1016/j brainres 2019 146625  pareyson d  al  new developments charcot-marie-tooth neuropathy diseases  current opinion neurology  2017; doi:10 1097/wco  0000000000000474  important foot care people cmt  charcot-marie-tooth association  https://www cmtausa org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/important-foot-care-for-people-with-cmt/  accessed dec  31  2020  pedicure pointers  american podiatric medical association  https://www apma org/patients/healthyfeettips cfm?itemnumber=9859  accessed dec  31  2020   klein cj  charcot-marie-tooth disease hereditary neuropathies  continuum  2020; doi:10 1212/con 0000000000000927  charcot-marie-tooth disease sheet  national institute neurological disorders stroke  https://www ninds nih gov/disorders/patient-caregiver-education/fact-sheets/charcot-marie-tooth-disease-fact-sheet  accessed dec  31  2020  kang pb  charcot-marie-tooth disease: genetics  clinical features diagnosis  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed dec  31  2020  charcot-marie-tooth disease diseases  muscular dystrophy association  https://www mda org/disease/charcot-marie-tooth  accessed dec  31  2020  neurotoxic medications  charcot-marie-tooth association  https://www cmtausa org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/medications/  accessed dec  31  2020  simon rp  al  sensory disorders  in: clinical neurology  10th ed  mcgraw-hill; 2018  https://accessmedicine mhmedical com  accessed dec  31  2020  kang pb  charcot-marie-tooth disease: management prognosis  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed dec  31  2020  rossor am  al  prepared clinical trials charcot-marie-tooth disease? brain research  2020; doi:10 1016/j brainres 2019 146625  2019 146625 2019 146625 pareyson d  al  new developments charcot-marie-tooth neuropathy diseases  current opinion neurology  2017; doi:10 1097/wco  0000000000000474  important foot care people cmt  charcot-marie-tooth association  https://www cmtausa org/living-with-cmt/managing-cmt/important-foot-care-for-people-with-cmt/  accessed dec  31  2020  pedicure pointers  american podiatric medical association  https://www apma org/patients/healthyfeettips cfm?itemnumber=9859  accessed dec  31  2020    associated procedures   electromyography (emg)   gene therapy   genetic testing   knee braces osteoarthritis   show associated procedures   products & services   book: mayo clinic family health book  5th edition   newsletter: mayo clinic health letter — digital edition   show products services mayo clinic    associated procedures   electromyography (emg)   gene therapy   genetic testing   knee braces osteoarthritis   show associated procedures  associated procedures   electromyography (emg)   gene therapy   genetic testing   knee braces osteoarthritis   show associated procedures  products & services   book: mayo clinic family health book  5th edition   newsletter: mayo clinic health letter — digital edition   show products services mayo clinic  products & services   book: mayo clinic family health book  5th edition   newsletter: mayo clinic health letter — digital edition   show products services mayo clinic  charcot-marie-tooth diseasesymptoms & causesdiagnosis & treatmentdoctors & departments  charcot-marie-tooth disease symptoms & causesdiagnosis & treatmentdoctors & departments
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