Charcot Marie Tooth Disease

Dear Diary, What is happening to me? In my 20 years of life I’ve never experienced anything like this. For the past few days I’ve noticed that I can’t move my right foot or ankle upward. To walk, I’m forced to bend my knees more than usual to prevent my feet from dragging along the ground. If I don’t, it’s painful. Today I went to the grocery store to pick up some supplies to make apple pie and I noticed everyone’s eyes on me. I could hear them wondering why I walked with such a weird gate. I was hoping it would go away and that I simply hurt my ankles from running too much but it’s been a whole week and it seems to be getting worse; not better. It’s so frustrating since all my life, for as long as I can remember, I’ve been a runner. Running is my passion. It helps me relieve stress that I build up because of work, struggling to pay off rent, and so on. If this doesn’t go away, I don’t know what I’ll do. I’ve decided to see a doctor if I cant move my ankle correctly by Monday.

Dear Diary, It’s Monday morning and I think it’s worse than before. I’m heading to the doctor. I’m scared.

Dear Diary, I’m on the verge of tears. Doctor Sheeth explained to me that what I’m experiencing is called a food drop, which is a gait abnormality in which the dropping of the forefoot happens due to weakness, damage to the peroneal nerve, or paralysis of the muscles in the anterior portion of the lower leg. He told me that although they can ease my pain, there isn’t a definite treatment. My ankle can only be stabilized, not fixed indefinitely. He said I may never be able to run at the extent that I used to ever again. I’m frustrated.

Dear Diary, The ankle stabilizing techniques help slightly. But my symptoms are changing. My boyfriend went to help me tape up my ankle and I noticed that I couldn’t feel his fingers on my foot. Then, later that day we held hands, but it was as if I was holding nothing but air; I could barely feel his hand within my own. I think this is