A podiatrist, podiatric physician, or podiatric medicine doctor is a medical specialist who deals with feet and lower leg problems. You can consult a podiatric doctor to address injuries and complications from health conditions like diabetes. Podiatric soap2day physicians go to special schools and professional associations. Here’s an overview of what a doctor of podiatric medicine can do and the conditions they treat:
Treat Toe, Feet & Ankle Issues
Podiatric physicians are like other doctors as they offer consultation, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management. You can visit a podiatric doctor for various toe, feet, and ankle issues. The initial appointment involves asking questions about your condition, symptoms, and overall health and lifestyle. The doctor will then examine the situation and recommend further tests to diagnose the underlying issue. Below are the common issues podiatric physicians can treat:
1. Toe Issues
The best doctors of podiatric medicine can take care of various toe issues, including ingrown toenails, hammertoes, and fungus. Ingrown toenails are some of the popular reasons for visiting a podiatric center, and the doctor will remedy the pain/irritation and clip the nail.
Hammertoes occur when the toes bend down at the first joint and can cause pain in the toe and foot. Fungus stems from fungal infections that cause pain and foul odor. Podiatric doctors can resolve such conditions and help you prevent future occurrences.
2. Feet Issues
Feet issues like heel pain, bunions, and corns are the specialty of a qualified podiatric physician. Heel pain can stem from Achilles tendinitis, high-arch feet, flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and other conditions. The doctor will diagnose the cause and determine an effective remedy.
Podiatric physicians can remove bunions, corns, and calluses and alleviate the pain and soreness in your feet. The doctors will address the original issue causing the corns. You can approach them for foot support, orthotics, weight redistribution, and joint realignment.
3. Ankle Issues
Injuries and degenerative bone and joint health conditions can change the position and motion of your ankles, causing pain and discomfort. A podiatric doctor can provide ankle support orthosis to remedy different conditions, including deformities, to compensate for the weakness.
People experiencing pain or discomfort around the ankle should see a podiatrist to diagnose the underlying problem. Treating ankle issues will prevent further damage to your joints, nerves, and surrounding structures. Podiatric physicians may offer medication for the pain.
Treat Diabetic Issues & Symptoms
A podiatric doctor can treat various diabetic issues, including diabetic foot ulcers and neuropathy. Diabetic foot ulcers are challenging to treat and can develop into more severe problems. Left untreated, the condition can damage your foot, resulting in its loss. People with diabetic foot ulcers should seek prompt treatment from an experienced podiatric physician.
Neuropathy is another popular field left to doctors of podiatric medicine. Diabetic patients are prone to developing different types of diabetic neuropathy (peripheral, proximal, autonomic, and focal). Podiatric doctors can diagnose and treat the issue regardless of the stage of neuropathy. The doctor alleviates pain and other symptoms through medicine and specific procedures.
Poor circulation is another diabetic issue and can cause problems in the feet, lower legs, toes, and extremities. Podiatric physicians can help you improve blood circulation and unclog blood vessels to allow proper flow to the feet and toes.
Resolving circulation issues prevents health complications and improves wound healing.
Working With an Experienced Podiatrist
Podiatric doctors specialize in diseases, injuries, and deformities of the toe, foot, and ankle. They can improve various foot conditions and manage the worst injuries to maximize recovery. If you experience pain or have concerns about other peculiar symptoms, you should see an experienced podiatric doctor. Choosing a reputable center can help you get comprehensive treatment and foot pathology.
You should work with a trusted podiatrist to identify the underlying cause of feet and ankle problems and make necessary adjustments. The best doctors can handle diabetic care, bunions, hammertoes, ingrown nails, heel pain, skin conditions, arthritis, and foot and ankle deformities. Podiatric physicians can offer medication, conservative treatments, surgeries, and other therapies to improve your condition and prevent further injury.
