Charcot-Marie-Tooth Syndrome (CMT) is also known as Hereditary Motor Sensory Neuropathy (HMSN). CMT has also been known as Peroneal Muscle Atrophy. It affects about one in 2,500 people. CMT is the most common "inherited" neuropathy. CMT can vary greatly even within the same family. If you have CMT, symptoms can become evident when you are young, old, or in-between. Or symptoms might never be that evident but you still can pass it on. CMT is misdiagnosed even today as polio, Fredricks's Ataxia, etc.

CMT is progressive (usually slowly) causing deterioration of peripheral nerves that control sensory information and muscle function of the foot/lower leg and hand/forearm. However, not every CMTer has their hands affected or vise versa. Sometimes it is surgically treated. However, brace first and then perhaps surgery depending on the problem.

It may become worse if certain neurotoxic drugs are taken. It causes foot drop walking gait, foot bone abnormalities, high arches and hammer toes. However, some people have flat feet or even normal arches and not all have hammer toes. There are problems with balance, problems with hand function, there can be lower leg and forearm muscle cramping, loss of normal reflexes, and sometime scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

There is no treatment at this time. No magic bullet; supplements, pills, etc. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and moderate physical activity can be beneficial. If you overdo you can exacerbate CMT. No pain, no gain is not the way to go with CMT.

CMT is usually inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means if one parent has CMT, there is a 50% chance of passing it on to each child. Depending on the type of CMT - and there are many - it is inherited in other ways.

CMT is a complicated syndrome. Much research is being done. It is under the umbrella, as they say, of the MDA along with about 40 other orphan diseases.

Reputable sites are always a must when trying to learn about CMT and then one will never understand it all anyway.

Jean-Martin Charcot, the Father of Neurology is a fascinating person to research. There is much to learn about him.