When to Call the Podiatrist

Your foot is an incredibly complex structure. With 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 ligaments, muscles and tendons when something goes wrong you need the attention of a professional podiatrist to ensure an accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment. Too often patients put off making an appointment hoping the pain or discomfort they are experiencing will simply go away on its own. More often than not, however, what starts out as a minor annoyance can develop into a major foot health threat that can seriously impact your daily life. Here at the New York State Podiatric Medical Association we want to encourage patients to take foot pain seriously and see a podiatrist at the first signs of a foot or ankle disorder. If you don’t have a podiatrist, use the Find a Podiatrist link on our site to locate a highly skilled foot doctor near you.

Below are some symptoms that indicate it is time to call the podiatrist:

·         Pain of any sort or duration. It’s obvious that you need to seek medical help if you have intense, constant pain but dull aches, soreness and pain that comes and goes may all be indicators of a developing or chronic foot problem.

·         Numbness, burning or tingling sensation in your feet. There are several diseases, such as diabetes and peripheral vascular disease, that can show symptoms of neuropathy or lack of sensation in your feet.

·         Swelling. This is often the sign of a break, sprain or inflammation in the foot.

·         Changes in skin or nails. Discoloration, redness, dry or flaky skin and blisters can signal athlete’s foot or another fungal infection. Moles and freckles on the feet should be monitored the same as anywhere else on the body.

·         Unusual lumps or bumps or changes in the shape of your feet.

·         The appearance of a toe moving out of position or becoming deformed—whether it is causing pain or not this should be evaluated by the podiatrist.

At NY Foot Health we believe that educated patients make the best choices about the care and treatment of their feet and ankles. To learn more about issues that affect the health of your feet, sign up for our e-newsletter or contact us today.