Peroneal muscular dystrophy is the most common hereditary peripheral neuropathy with a prevalence of about 1 in 2500. The main clinical features are progressive muscle weakness and atrophy of the distal extremities with mild to moderate sensory impairment and skeletal deformities such as bowed feet, starting in childhood or adolescence.
Peroneal muscular dystrophy is not yet treated with specific drugs, but mainly with supportive symptomatic treatment. Some neurotrophic drugs such as B vitamins and coenzyme A may slow down the process of neurodegeneration; rehabilitation physiotherapy and aerobic exercise can help maintain muscle strength and improve limb function; ankle-foot orthoses can help maintain the normal anatomical shape of the foot joints and improve gait; surgical orthopedic surgery can improve the skeletal deformity and dysfunction of patients to some extent.
Patients with peroneal muscular dystrophy often have cracked fissures in the foot with itching, which can easily cause skin scratches and infections; tinea pedis is a common fungal infection that makes toenails thick and painful and secondary to bacterial infections; sensory paralysis, hyperalgesia or burning pain; ingrown nails compress the surrounding skin, which can lead to infection if the patient does not feel the pressure and thus ignores it; electric blankets, hot water bags, etc. often lead to hyperalgesia in patients with Severe burns, ulcers, infections and gangrene; foot incisions and scrapes that are difficult to heal; ankle-foot deformities are common, with abnormal foot pressure, prone to pain, calluses, infections and ulcers, etc.
Therefore, in addition to the above treatments, patients with peroneal muscular dystrophy should pay special attention to foot care, note the following.
1, barefoot walking needs to be cautious, especially in the outdoors, be sure to thoroughly check their toes and the soles of their feet. Wear waterproof shoes to protect your feet from injury when you are in a pool or at the lake;
2.Shoes need to be selected to leave sufficient space for the toes and to ensure support for the ankle and arch. After putting on the shoes, the longest toe tip and the tip of the shoe should have 0.5 inches (i.e., a thumb width) between the distance. A rounded toe is recommended, and the upper part of the shoe should be soft and flexible. The inner surface of the shoe should be smooth without creases or stitches;
3.Do not wear the same pair of shoes for two consecutive days and pay attention to keep the shape of the shoes;
4.Do not wear the new shoes for a long time before your feet get used to them, wear them for only a few hours at a time to prevent blisters and pressure pain on your feet. Check for red marks on the feet, which indicate excessive pressure on the feet;
5. Check daily for sharp edges or foreign objects in the shoes;
6, there are the following precautions for foot bathing: foot bathing should be appropriate so as not to over-dry the feet or over-wet between the toes. You can choose the right herbal foot bath, can improve the condition of the foot skin and relieve foot pain. Note that between the toes do not overly wet, so as not to produce ringworm;
7.When rubbing the feet, pay attention to keep the gap between the toes dry;
8, for the feet calluses and dry and rough parts, you can properly use coconut oil and other natural softeners to moisten these parts to prevent dry and cracked skin. But do not use between the toes;
9, pay attention to the sagging skin wrinkles on the feet, the need to seek medical advice as soon as possible to identify the cause and deal with skin lesions;
10.Change your socks at least once a day, and do not wear thick acrylic socks or nylon socks. It is better to wear socks with strong sweating ability and shock absorption for the soles of the feet when walking;
11.Check your socks daily for stains, blood or other marks, if there are any, it indicates that there may be sores on your feet that you do not feel and need to be treated as soon as possible;
12, timely trimming of toenails. Soak your toenails in warm water to soften them before trimming them. Do not trim the toenail too short to avoid damage to the nail bed, and do not trim the toenail too rough, the nail edge should be trimmed neatly to avoid damage to the skin. If you have hypoesthesia, neurological dysfunction or circulatory dysfunction, it is best to consult a specialist and have your toenails and calluses trimmed by a professional technician. This can reduce the risk of cutting injuries and avoid secondary infections and other problems;
13, corns and calluses indicate that the foot is under excessive pressure and should be evaluated by a specialist for treatment;
14, avoid local topical and oral use of some drugs that are damaging to peripheral nerves;
15, avoid cold or hot extreme environment, when you feel cold, you should immediately put on warm boots, do not use hot water bags and electric blankets;
16, Do not wear tight socks, because too tight socks will be like a tourniquet tied around the leg or ankle, reducing the blood supply to the foot. When the leg feels swollen, consult a specialist if you need to wear elastic leg stockings. Avoid wearing any tight items on the leg or ankle;
17, Do not smoke, smoking can directly affect the blood supply to the foot;
18, to keep the feet and legs moving, do not cross your legs all the time to reduce the blood circulation in the lower extremities. Exercise, stretching and massage can maintain the elasticity and strength of the foot;
19.Do not expose the legs to the sun for a long time;
20, before consulting a specialist, do not let the foot skin contact and use adhesive materials such as padding and tape, etc.;
21.Check your feet daily, especially between the toes. Use a mirror to help check areas that are not easily seen, or ask a family member or friend to help. If you find any pressure, sores, cuts, redness, swelling, abscesses, or blisters on your feet (even if they are not painful), see a specialist immediately.
Remember, prevention is the best cure.