Reasons People Visit a Foot Doctor

As a foot doctor or a podiatrist, we are a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, a specialist that diagnose and treat conditions related to the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg. Foot doctors are the most qualified doctors to care for your feet because they are required to complete four years of training in a podiatric medical school along with three years of hospital residency. It is important to have your feet properly treated because they are extremely complex anatomical structures and a lot of your well-being depends on your feet. Your feet are your means to mobility. In addition, your feet are all-in-one stabilizers, propulsion engines, and shock absorbers and so they require expert care. Since they are so critically important to your ability to move, your feet also have very specialized problems that need to be specifically diagnosed, treated, and cured by a certified foot doctor. Below are some of the more common problems that we see as a podiatrist.

A Bunion: When you come in to see a foot doctor at our office with a bunion you have an enlargement at the base of the big toe which is caused by a misalignment of the joint. A bunion can be swollen, tender, and painful if you wear shoes. There are many different reasons why you may get a bunion and need to be treated by a foot doctor. Included in the causes of a bunion are hereditary nature, biomechanical abnormalities, neuromuscular disorders, inflammatory joint diseases such as arthritis, and trauma, to name a few. A bunion can be extremely painful so when you come in to see the foot doctor we will perform a physical examination on the foot, get an x-ray for further evaluation, pad, and tape the foot, and prescribe orthotics. If necessary, we can also perform surgery to correct a bunion.

Fungal Nail: One of the most common conditions that people come in to see a foot doctor with is called a fungal nail. A fungal nail is an infection where the nail is discolored, thickening, has scaling, and may become detached from the nail bed. Patients who have a fungal nail are going to experience some level of pain and discomfort. In addition, if you have a fungal nail your quality of life is going to significantly drop, and your general health is also going to deteriorate. A fungal nail looks terrible from a cosmetic point of view but the problems associated with a fungal nail go far deeper than just cosmetics. Nail fungus is a chronic condition which has long-standing implications for patients especially if it is left untreated for many years. While the condition itself is not life-threatening, it has been elevated to that of an important medical disorder. When you visit us with a fungal nail, we are going to diagnose and prescribe the appropriate drug regimens to achieve a cure. Sometimes these can be topical including creams and nail lacquer. We may also prescribe oral medications for more severe fungal nail conditions.

Regardless of what it is, if you have problems with your feet you should not wait to get expert advice from a foot doctor. Call us to schedule an appointment today.