WHAT IS A PODIATRIST?
PODIATRIC MEDICINE
Specialized Care for Your Feet and Ankles
YOUR PODIATRIST - The Foot and Ankle Specialist
Podiatrists are medical professionals trained
to keep feet healthy and working well. Your podiatrist uses
a wide range of therapies and surgery to treat conditions
related to foot structure and function. He or she can also
teach you how to avoid foot problems in the future.
Your podiatrist consults with the other members
of your health care team, such as your primary care physician.
Together, they work to provide you with the best possible
overall medical care.
FOOTNOTES: Believe it or not, you'll
walk about 115,000 miles in your lifetime - equal to more
than four times around the earth. It's no wonder, then, that
most people develop foot problems at some point in their lives.
A DOCTOR OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE
A podiatrist is a highly trained Doctor of
Podiatric Medicine (DPM). Achieving this title takes years
of study and clinical practice. After completing a four-year
bachelor's degree program, a student goes on to a four-year
podiatry medical school. He or she may receive further training
through residency and continuing education programs.
Podiatric medical school is a four-year
program. During the first two years, students study basic
sciences. The third and fourth years, students focus on
learning medical and surgical specialties as well as on
gaining clinical experience in foot and ankle problems.
Residency programs are completed
at teaching hospitals. A residency may run from one to three
years, focusing on different aspects of foot care and surgery.
Continuing eduction is part of the
podiatrist's routine, even after formal training has been
completed. By attending courses and seminars, podiatrists
prepare for state and national certifying boards and stay
informed about the most recent advances in podiatric care.
PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL FOOT CARE
No matter what your age or foot problem,
your podiatrist is the professional to turn to for prompt,
effective care. Your feet are the bottom line for your health
and well-being. So, see your podiatrist for symptoms relief
or corrective treatment at the first sign of foot trouble.
YOUR FIRST VISIT - Podiatric Evaluation
and Treatment
When you first visit your podiatrist, you
may be given a thorough medical evaluation to diagnose your
foot problem. The podiatrist takes your medical history, conducts
a physical exam, and performs tests as needed.
Once a diagnosis is made, your podiatrist
develops a treatment plan designed to relieve your discomfort
or correct the foot problem. Your treatment may include a
variety of nonsurgical and surgical techniques. Your podiatrist
can also give you helpful tips for avoiding foot problems
in the future.
FOOTNOTES: Foot problems tend to grow
worse over the years because of wear and tear. And feet are
one of the most frequently injured parts of the body because
we use them constantly.
MEDICAL HISTORY
Feet are a measure of your overall health.
For example, conditions such as diabetes, poor circulation,
arthritis, kidney disorders, and anemia often affect feet
first. To help diagnose your condition, your podiatrist may
ask you questions about your medical history and any symptoms
you may have.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
Your podiatrist may take your blood pressure
and check your temperature and breathing. He or she may also
check your gait (the way you walk) and examine and
move your feet. To evaluation circulation (blood flow)
in your feet, your podiatrist may check their pulse, skin
color, and temperature. Your ankles, knees, and hips may be
examined to see if they are contributing to your foot problems.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Your podiatrist often requests x-rays
(pictures of bones). These may be taken right in the office.
Other imaging techniques, such as computed tomography (CT)
or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect damage
to soft tissue. Urine, blood, and vascular (blood flow) tests
can also help diagnose a foot condition or health problem.
YOUR TREATMENT PLAN
After making a diagnosis, your podiatrist
plans your treatment to give relief and help correct the problem.
Your plan may include nonsurgical or surgical treatments.
Nonsurgical Treatment
General care such as trimming nails
and corns and padding your feet can help keep your feet
healthy and relieve discomfort.
Medications, applied to the skin,
taken orally, or injected, can be effective in treating
a variety of foot problems.
Physical therapy, including ultrasound
(sound wave therapy), whirlpool therapy, exercise, casts,
splints, and taping, can aid healing and relieve pain and
swelling.
Orthotics, also known as orthoses
or inlays, are devices custom fit to your feet and
put into shoes. They help you stand, walk, or run more comfortably.
Surgical Treatment
Your podiatrist is trained to perform any
kind of surgery on your feet. You may have surgery in your
podiatrist's office, in a same-day facility, or in a hospital.
Preventing Future Problems
Your podiatrist can give you tips to follow
at home to help keep your feet fit and healthy through the
years.
FOOT CHECK - Do You Need Podiatric Care?
Most people suffer from some kind of foot
disorder - from athlete's foot or ingrown nails to bunions,
hammertoes or corns. Tight-fitting or high-heeled shoes are
often the culprit, but heredity, poor foot care, injuries,
or medical conditions can also cause problems. Whatever the
state of your feet, your podiatrist can treat your problem
to restore your comfort and ease of movement.
FOOTNOTES: Problems in your feet can
lead to pain in your hips, knees and lower back.
Take a moment to read this list and check
off any conditions or problems you think you might have. If
you check any of these boxes, a visit to your podiatrist may
be just the help your feet need.
Medical Conditions
- High blood sugar (diabetes)
- Cold or hot feet (circulatory problems)
- Joint pain and swelling (arthritis or gout)
Nail Problems
- Painful ingrown nails
- Thickened nails that are difficult to trim
- A black-and-blue nail from an injury
Bone Problems
- An unsightly bump (bunion) on the side of your foot by
your big toe
- Uncomfortably bent toes (hammertoes) that may rub on the
tops of your shoes
- A stiff joint in a toe
- Pain in the bottom or back of your heel (possibly a heel
spur)
- A broken (fractured) bone in your foot
Skin Problems
- A wart on your foot
- Thickened skin (callus or corn) between your toes or where
your foot repeatedly rubs against your shoe
- Discolored patches (fungal infection) on your foot or
nail
- Cracks, sores or ulcers on your foot
Soft Tissue Problems
- Muscle pain or tendinitis
- Pain on the bottom of your feet (plantar fasciitis)
- A twisted or sprained ankle
Arch Problems
- Painful, tired flatfeet
- Painful high arches
Nerve Conditions
- Sharp pain in your toes (neuroma)
- Sharp pain, numbness, or burning sensation in your toes
when you're at rest (neuropathy)
MEDICAL CONDITIONS
You may not realize it, but your overall
health affects your foot health - a lot. Many medical conditions
that affect circulation (blood flow), nerves (feeling), or
joints may cause damage to your feet first.
That's why you should see your podiatrist
regularly, especially if you have medical conditions such
as diabetes, poor circulation, gout, or arthritis. Although
your podiatrist doesn't treat the underlying medical condition,
he or she works closely with your primary physician to provide
care and catch problems early.
- Diabetes
Diabetes can cause poor circulation or loss of feeling in
your feet. Even a tender spot or tiny break can turn into
an infection.
Treatment Options: Regular check-ups, prompt treatment
of sores or infections, or self care to prevent future problems.
- Poor Circulation
Your feet may show symptoms of poor circulation first, including
swelling, cramping, numbness, and slow healing.
Treatment Options: Medication to aid healing or exercise
to increase circulation.
- Gout or Arthritis
Arthritis can cause stiff joints, swelling, and pain. Gout
is a type of arthritis that often affects the feet, especially
the big toe.
Treatment Options: Medication or physical therapy
to relieve symptoms, orthotics and braces to aid movement,
or surgery to repair the joint.
BONE PROBLEMS
Your feet take a tremendous pounding. Walking
on cement can give each foot a 180 pound jolt with each step.
As years go by, this wear and tear can take its toll, in some
cases shifting, deforming, or even breaking a bone. Combine
this wear and tear with feet that widen over time and poorly
fitting shoes, and you can end up with bone problems, a lot
of pain, and an inability to move with ease.
Fortunately, there's help. In many cases,
your podiatrist can give you padding, medication, or orthotics
to relieve discomfort, and perform surgery to correct the
underlying bone problem.
- Bunions
A bunion is a bump of bone on the side of the big toe, often
caused by heredity or a widening foot.
Treatment Options: Changes in shoes, orthotics, or
surgery.
- Hammertoes
Toe joints can tighten up because of too-short shoes or
an inherited muscle imbalance.
Treatment Options: Padding or orthotics to provide
relief or surgery to correct the toe joint.
- Heel Spurs
Painful lumps (spurs) can grow behind or under the heel
bone.
Treatment Options: Medication, physical therapy,
or orthotics to relieve pain or surgery to remove the spur.
- Fractures
Bone fractures may go undetected unless they cause pain
and immobility.
Treatment Options: Casts, splints, fracture boots,
or surgery to help the bone heal.
- Stiff Joints
Joints, especially in the big toe, can become stiff and
painful.
Treatment Options: Cortisone injections, exercise, whirlpool
therapy, orthotics, or surgery to relieve the joint stiffness.
SKIN PROBLEMS
Feet seem especially susceptible to skin
problems. Maybe it's all the time your feet spend in dark,
moist places, or perhaps it's the lack of attention we often
give them. Whatever the cause of a skin problem, your podiatrist
can help provide the cure, from medication to surgery.
- Warts
Small bumps cause by viruses, warts can appear anywhere.
Plantar warts, the most painful, appear on the bottom of
your foot.
Treatment Options: Wart-removing medication or surgery.
- Fungal Infections
Moist spots like those between your toes are prime spots
for fungal infections (such as athlete's foot) to develop.
Treatment Options: Antifungal medication.
- Corns and Calluses
Corns and calluses are dead skin cells that pile up, often
where shoes rub the foot.
Treatment Options: Orthotics, trimming, or surgery
to correct the underlying bone problem.
- Cracks and Sores
Cracks, sores, and ulcers on the skin can be slow to heal
and can easily become infected.
Treatment Options: Medication, wound care, and observation
to limit future damage.
NAIL PROBLEMS
Do you have a painful or unsightly nail problem?
Don't ignore it - it probably won't go away by itself. Nail
problems are common complaints. Your podiatrist can treat
them effectively with medication, surgical procedures, and
general podiatric care, such as trimming nails.
- Ingrown Nails
Nails can grow into the skin, causing pain. This is often
a result of heredity or improper nail cutting.
Treatment Options: Trimming to provide relief or
corrective surgery.
- Thick Nails
Nails can thicken as a result of a fungal infection or injury.
Treatment Options: Thinning the nail or surgery to
permanently remove the thickened nail.
- Black-and-Blue Nail
Injury to a toe can cause bleeding and swelling under the
nail. The nail looks black and blue.
Treatment Options: Medication, soaks, or ice to reduce
pain and swelling or draining fluid under the nail to relieve
pressure.
SOFT TISSUE PROBLEMS
Ouch! Maybe you spent a few too many hours
on your feet at work or you twisted your ankle during that
softball game. Since you use your feet so much every day,
it's no wonder that the muscles and other soft tissue are
susceptible to swelling, sprains, and other injuries.
Thankfully, there's help for your aching
feet. Your podiatrist can provide a wide range of treatments
to reduce pain and swelling and to help you move with more
comfort and ease.
- Tendinitis
Overuse of muscles and other soft tissue may lead to pain
and swelling.
Treatment Options: Medication, orthotics, or physical
therapy.
- Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia (soft tissue on the foot's bottom) may
be strained by overuse or weight.
Treatment Options: Medication, orthotics, taping,
ultrasound, hot and cold soaks, whirlpool, or surgery.
- Ankle Sprains
Overuse or twists can tear soft tissue in the ankle.
Treatment Options: Icing, compression, elevation,
casts, taping, or surgery.
ARCH PROBLEMS
Did you know that the arch of your foot is
made up of bones connected by muscles and other soft tissue?
When these connections are too tight or too loose as a result
of heredity, you can have arch problems. Your podiatrist can
help relieve your discomfort with custom-made orthotics. In
extreme cases, your podiatrist may perform surgery to create
a normal arch.
- Flatfeet
Flatfeet (low arches) can lead to hammertoes, bunions, heel
spurs, pain, and foot and leg fatigue.
Treatment Options: Orthotics to relieve pain or surgery
to repair the arch.
- High Arches
High arches can cause tired or aching feet, calluses, and
heel or arch pain.
Treatment Options: Orthotics to relieve pain or surgery
to repair the arch.
NERVE CONDITIONS
If you suffer from sharp pain, numbness,
or a burning feeling in your toes, a nerve condition may be
the cause. Nerve conditions can result from wearing tight
shoes, being on your feet too long, or general medical conditions.
Nerve conditions can be hard to detect, but your podiatrist
is trained to identify them, relieve any pain they cause,
and, when possible, correct them.
- Neuromas
A thickening of nerves - usually between toes - causes foot
pain, numbness, burning or tingling.
Treatment Options: Medication, orthotics, or ultrasound
to relieve pain, or surgery to relieve pain and other symptoms.
- Neuropathy
Diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, and other medical conditions
can lead to loss of feeling, pain, or strange sensations
in the feet.
Treatment Options: Orthotics or medication to relieve
pain and other symptoms.
PREVENTING FOOT PROBLEMS - What You Can
Do To Keep Your Feet Fit
In addition to relieving pain and correcting
your current foot problems, your podiatrist can provide tips
to help you avoid foot trouble down the road. Although some
foot problems are hereditary, there's lots you can do to make
sure your feet stand up to years of wear and tear. Preventive
care can make a big difference in your mobility and health,
especially if you have diabetes. Take care of your feet, buy
the right shoes, and exercise right to make sure your feet
stay healthy and pain-free for years to come.
FOOTNOTES: You take as many as 8,000 to
10,000 steps each day.
Take Care of Your Feet
- Wash and dry your feet thoroughly every day, scrubbing
around your toenails and between your toes.
- Trim your nails straight across, using a toenail clipper.
Your podiatrist can show you how or can do it for you if
bending makes you dizzy or uncomfortable.
- Check your feet regularly for cuts and infection. If you
notice any problems, see your podiatrist.
Exercise Right
- Walk as much as you can. It's one of the biggest favors
you can do for your feet.
- Save your feet some grief by selecting the shoe that's
right for the activity, whether you're walking, jogging,
or playing tennis. Ask your podiatrist to show you foot-stretching
exercises to prevent injuries when you exercise.
Buy the Right Shoes
- Try on both shoes, since it's likely that one foot is
bigger than the other. Choose shoes that fit your larger
foot.
- Shop for new shoes in the afternoon, since feet tend to
swell during the day.
- Choose flats or low-heeled shoes. If you wear high heels,
don't keep them on too long, since they can cause calluses
and make bunions hurt more.
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