A podiatrist is an expert at diagnosis and treatment of foot, ankle, and toe conditions. A podiatrist can help you enjoy healthy feet, so you can stay active. Visiting your podiatrist regularly is important, not just for your feet. The truth is, visiting a podiatrist can help keep your body healthy too.
What You Need To Know About Podiatry Services
So, when should you see a podiatrist? You should visit a podiatrist if you:
- Have experienced an injury to your feet, ankles, or toes
- Are experiencing foot, ankle, or toe pain that is interfering with movement
- Are experiencing chronic pain in your feet, ankles, or toes
- Have a fever accompanied by foot pain
- Have difficulty wearing shoes due to foot pain
- Are experiencing weakness or instability in your feet, ankles, or toes
You should also see a podiatrist if you have a chronic disease or illness affecting your feet, ankles, or toes. Let’s look at some of the common chronic diseases and the problems they can cause:
- Osteoarthritis can cause stiffness in your joints, inflammation, and joint destruction
- Rheumatoid arthritis can cause severe pain in your joints, deformed bones and joints, and mobility problems
- Diabetes can cause nerve damage, peripheral neuropathy, loss of blood flow, and delayed or absent healing
You should also see your podiatrist if you are experiencing common foot, ankle, and toe conditions like these:
- Ingrown toenails
- Hammertoes
- Fungal toenail
- Plantar fasciitis
- Bunions
- Lateral ankle instability
- Ankle strain or sprain
- A broken ankle
When you see a podiatrist, the podiatrist may recommend laboratory testing to determine whether an underlying medical condition is causing your foot, ankle, or toe issue. Imaging studies may also be recommended to assess whether you have damage to ligaments, tendons, bones, or other structures.
Your podiatrist offers many treatment options to help you get relief, so you can resume your daily activities. Depending on your foot, ankle, or toe condition, your podiatrist may recommend:
- Orthotics, to provide support, realign your feet and toes, and help relieve pain
- Anti-inflammatory medication, to decrease inflammation and pain
- Corticosteroid injections, to decrease swelling, inflammation, and pain
- Physical therapy, to restore strength, function, and range-of-motion
- Surgical therapy, to repair or realign bones, tendons, ligaments, and other structures
Want To Know More?
To find out more about when to visit a podiatrist and how podiatry services can help you, talk with our podiatrist today.