Why Would I Need A Podiatrist?
A podiatrist, or foot doctor as they are commonly called, can be a huge asset to someone who needs them. What are the reasons surrounding why someone would need a podiatrist, you might ask? Here are some of the most common reasons surrounding a referral to a foot doctor.
Sore Feet
While many people think that having sore feet is just a common side effect of a hard day's work, some people experience sore feet no matter what they do. This chronic condition can be quite painful, and unfortunately, is often ignored by those who suffer from it. In the same way that aching teeth merit a trip to the dentist, experiencing frequently sore feet could mean that you need to see a podiatrist.
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails are the result of a toenail that has grown incorrectly. This could mean that your nail has grown into the skin surrounding the nail, causing the skin to become inflamed and infected. This happens occasionally to everyone, but no matter what some people do they get recurrent ingrown toenails. For these people, a trip to the podiatrist may give them tools to combat the problem.
Foot Injuries
Individuals who have sustained foot injuries due to trauma will often need to see a podiatrist for surgery to fix the problem. Each foot contains 26 bones and 33 joints, which means there is a lot that could go wrong. Breaks happen, which means surgeries need to happen too. Podiatrists are experts at healing injured feet.
Disease
Diabetes and other diseases such as arthritis can often cause big problems in the feet. When left untreated or treated poorly, diabetes can cause numbness in the feet. Unfortunately, many diabetics have complications from this numbness, including unknowingly stepping on things that become lodged in the feet and cause huge infections. Some diabetics do not even notice that they have lost the feeling in their feet until they are evaluated by a doctor. Podiatrists can often improve one's care of their feet by helping them to understand the lasting effects that may come from neglect.
In conclusion, there are many reasons why someone may need the services of a podiatrist. Some podiatrists see people who just walk into their offices, while others only take referrals. If you think that you may want to see a foot doctor, talk to your primary care physician to see if they will help you get in.
