Sole Solutions – When to see a Podiatrist

Podiatry is practiced by a variety of doctors, physicians, and surgeons who focus on the health of the foot and ankle. They can be found in many medical fields, including sports medicine, surgery, wound care, diabetic care, and pediatrics. In fact, podiatrists treat such a wide range of conditions, chances are good that if you are having issues with your feet or ankles, a podiatrist will be able to help.

Here are just a few of the problems they treat and signs it might be time to find a podiatrist.

Numbness or swelling of the feet

You’ve likely experienced your foot fall asleep or maybe noticed that your feet swelled after standing or sitting for a long time. But if numb or swollen feet are happening to you often, it’s something you should have checked out. Tendonitis, an ankle sprain, broken bone, or even an infection could cause these symptoms.

Corns and calluses

These alone aren’t a big problem. However, if you have issues with your gait or the bone structure of your feet, you could be getting corns and calluses quite often. These underlying conditions can be treated by a podiatrist, helping you get rid of those recurring hard patches of skin.

Bunions

A bunion is a painful deformity of the big toe that causes the bone around the joint to grow outward. It’s usually caused by tight fitting shoes, foot strain, or arthritis. Pads and wider-toed shoes can help relieve the pain, but you might need to see a podiatrist to surgically fix the bunion.

Dry and cracked heels can go from a cosmetic issue to a medical one if not properly addressed. Heels that are cracked or bleeding are prone to infection, which is much more difficult to treat. If sloughing or using foot cream isn’t enough to treat your dry, cracked heels, have them looked at by a podiatrist.

Podiatrists- Dr. Christopher M. Englert and Dr. Marc Feldman are board certified in Podiatry by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Understanding what these doctors do can help you determine if any foot or ankle related issues you’re experiencing can be treated by a podiatrist. And if any of these signs of trouble look familiar to you, schedule an appointment at Bond Clinic today by calling 863-293-1191.