5 Signs You Should Visit a Podiatrist
A podiatrist specializes in treating foot, toe, and ankle issues. If you have a medical condition that affects such areas, you may need to see a doctor. People with diabetes need regular visits to prevent, treat, and manage foot problems. Athletes may also need regular podiatric treatment. Here are five signs that should prompt a visit to a podiatric clinic:
1. You Have Problems With Your Feet
Problems with your feet are the leading cause of podiatric visits. Popular issues include heel pain, which can stem from Achilles tendinitis, high arches, flat feet, and plantar fasciitis. You’ll receive treatment for the underlying cause of pain. The physician may also recommend pain relievers. Other common feet issues include bunions and corns.
Podiatric doctors can remove bunions to eliminate the pain caused by the soreness. They’re also the right professionals for determining the causes of corns and calluses and removing them. Podiatric doctors can recommend foot orthotics for your needs to provide better support and redistribute your weight. Seek professional help for sharp, sudden pain, swelling, and numbness.
2. You Have Toe Issues
Toe and nail issues are other common reasons for visiting podiatric clinics. These toe problems can include ingrown toenails, hammertoes, and fungus. Ingrown toenails can cause sharp pain and irritation. The issue can occur once or reoccur, depending on various factors. Podiatric doctors can help you remove ingrown toenails and relieve the pain.
Hammertoes occur when the toes bend down at the first joint, causing pain in the toe and foot. Correction can help relieve distress. Podiatric doctors will also help you combat fungal infections through effective antifungals. If you have tinea, warts, and papilloma, seek podiatry care promptly. You should get professional help for any toe issue, especially those involving pain.
3. You Have Heel & Ankle Complications
Heel issues can cause unbearable pain because your heels carry most of your body weight when you stand. Continuous heel pain is a sign you need to see a podiatrist because it may stem from injury to the tendon, bone spur, or arthritis. Your podiatrist will examine the heel using physical manipulations and imaging tools like X-rays to determine the underlying cause.
You should also visit a podiatric doctor for ankle issues and injuries. Leading physicians can treat broken ankles and foot joints. You’ll receive a customized treatment plan complete with a brace or ankle support. Podiatric care can help you control the position and motion of your ankles, correct deformities, and compensate for weakness.
4. You Are Experiencing Diabetic Foot Issues
People with long-term diabetes are more likely to develop foot issues because of poor blood circulation. Diabetic foot ulcers are challenging and require the right care to prevent serious problems. Podiatrists can help you manage diabetic foot issues like poor circulation. Improving circulation will prevent complications and speed up wound healing.
Podiatric services can treat neuropathy, which affects 50% of diabetic patients. Your physician will devise a plan to relieve diabetic foot pain and restore nerve function. Diabetes can reduce pain perception, so you should visit a podiatry office regularly to prevent serious issues. Watch out for athlete’s foot, infections, numbness, swelling, and fluid buildup in the ankles.
5. You Sustained an Injury To Your Leg
You should visit a podiatry office if you sprain an ankle or feel a twist in your foot or toes. Sprains and twists are common injuries in sports. You can also suffer such injuries when beginning a new fitness program. Injury to your foot, ankle, toes, and lower leg can cause persistent pain making it difficult to walk properly.
Podiatric doctors can help you identify and fix the injury to relieve pain. The physicians manage chronic medical concerns like shin splints, one-sided pain that doesn’t go away, and athlete’s foot. Stress fractures, foot/toe joint arthritis, and deformities are other issues your podiatric doctor can help you with.
Don’t Hesitate to Visit a Podiatrist
Your feet may hurt after a long day but then recover with rest. Such discomforts are more common if you spend a lot of time on your feet throughout the day. If you experience sharp or hot pain on your heel or have difficulty putting your foot down, seek professional care. Any pain, including intermittent foot, heel, and ankle pain that lasts more than a week should be examined by an expert.
Other reasons for visiting the podiatry office include skin infections and discoloration, cracked heels, swollen feet, and changes in size and structure. Find a reputable podiatrist that can provide expertise in treating all issues relating to the foot, ankle, and lower leg.
