What do Podiatrists do?
Podiatrists are medical specialists that focus on the lower part of your body, specifically the feet, ankles and lower legs. They can treat both injuries and complications from any ongoing health issues you may have, such as diabetes. While they are considered doctors, podiatrists don’t attend a traditional medical school and instead have their own schools and their own title, going by DPM instead of MD.
Why Should I See a Podiatrist?
The feet have a reasonably complicated structure to them, which is important to keep us moving, but also means a lot of things can go wrong with them. That’s where a podiatrist comes in. You should contact a podiatrist if you have any of the following:
- Foot pain
- Cuts in the skin on your feet
- Peeling on your soles
- Strange wart-like growths on your feet
- Discolored, ingrown or in any way problematic toenails
What Can a Podiatrist Treat?
There are many conditions that podiatrists can treat, and while many of them may be more common in older citizens, they will treat people of any age. Here are some of the conditions a podiatrist will treat:
- A sprain or broken foot or ankle: This one is pretty obvious since they specialize in foot injuries.
- Pain, numbness or swelling of the foot: Occasional sore feet aren’t a problem, but if it’s continuous, it could be something serious.
- Bunions: Bunions are a lump that develops outside your big toe joint and becomes more painful as they get bigger. A podiatrist can diagnose the reason for the bunion and recommend treatment options.
- Diabetes: Anyone who is suffering from diabetes should see a podiatrist at least once a year. A regular checkup can help prevent dangerous problems that can stem from diabetes.
- Ingrown toenails: Your safest option for dealing with an ingrown toenail is to have a podiatrist remove it, as they are best prepared to deal with any infections the nail may have caused. It is also less painful, as a podiatrist can numb the area before removing the nail.
Do you have a podiatry concern? Contact your HROSM orthopaedic specialist at (757) 873-1554 for further steps to take to address your issues.
