Podiatry Frequently Asked Questions
What is a podiatrist?
Apodiatristis a physician or surgeon who diagnoses and treats conditions of the foot, ankle, and supporting structures. Podiatrists can treat everything from general foot and ankle injuries to ongoing complications from health conditions such as arthritis, tendinitis, and diabetes. There are several areas of specialization in podiatry, including:
- diabetes
- pediatrics
- sports medicine
- surgery
- wound care
Podiatrists treat many common foot-related conditions, including:
- arthritis: the wear and tear of your joints that causes inflammation and pain
- bunions: an enlargement of your big toes’ joints that causes them to bend out of place
- corns and calluses: rough and firm patches of skin that can form on your feet
- diabetes: a condition that can damage the nerves in your legs and feet
- fractures,sprains, andbroken bones: includes other damage to the bones, ligaments, and tendons of your foot, ankle, and supporting structures
- gout: various painful feet conditions caused by a buildup of uric acid
- growing pains: a common aching and throbbing pain experienced by children
- skin diseases andnail infections: several conditions that lead to infection, inflammation, and pain in your feet and legs
You can contact your podiatrist for a complete list of the conditions they treat.
Podiatrists can perform various procedures to help treat foot-related conditions and injuries, including:
- foot and ankle cast placement
- hammertoetreatment
- ingrown toenail surgery
- plantar fasciitis surgery
- resetting broken bones
- MRI scans
- X-rays
You may contact your podiatrist for a complete list of the procedures they perform.
There are many reasons you might consider a visit to a foot doctor. Because feet are so important to your overall health, a regular visit to a podiatrist is not uncommon, especially if youwork on your feet.
You may want to visit a podiatrist if you have or are experiencing:
- a chronic condition such as diabetes
- difficulty walking or moving around
- flat feet that require a foot brace or arch support
- pain in your feet, ankles, or knees
- scaling or peeling calluses on your soles
- toe infections or discolored toenails
- warts or other growths