Pain in the foot can be caused by a number of different conditions, including sports injuries, arthritis, bunions, calluses, and ingrown toenails. The severity of pain can range from mild to severe, and it can make it difficult to walk or stand for long periods of time.
If you do not want foot pain to limit your mobility any longer, the best thing to do is to see a doctor that specializes in treating foot injuries and conditions – a podiatrist. Not everyone is aware of the option to see a podiatrist for expert foot pain treatment. Let’s learn more.
What Can a Podiatrist Do For Foot Pain?
It can be very difficult to effectively treat foot pain if you do not know what is causing it. A podiatrist uses a combination of specialized knowledge and diagnostic tools to determine the cause of foot pain. An accurate diagnosis is critical to effective foot pain treatment, as it is the basis of every individualized treatment plan.
Foot pain can be due to the following causes:
- Arthritis
- Achilles tendon rupture
- Bone spurs
- Fracture
- Corns and calluses
- Bunions
- Plantar fasciitis
- Bursitis
- Gout
- Tendonitis
A podiatrist can prescribe treatments such as in-office procedures, custom orthotics, physical therapy, and surgery, as needed. Lifestyle changes are also helpful in easing foot pain. Podiatrists customize their recommendations according to their patient’s unique needs. They can also give you advice on how to improve foot and ankle health, which increases your chances of living pain-free and having fully-functional feet and ankles well into the future.
Why a Podiatrist and Not an Orthopedic Doctor?
Unlike a general orthopedist, who treats the entire body, a podiatrist is solely focused on treatments for foot and ankle conditions and injuries. They can thoroughly check your feet and ankles and identify potential issues, such as structural issues that can increase your risk for many foot problems, including foot pain. Why not see a specialist who has substantial experience in the specific body part that’s ailing you?
You are more likely to get a speedy diagnosis and treatment for foot pain from a podiatrist, since their main focus is on foot and ankle health, and they have spent their entire training and career diagnosing, treating, and preventing podiatric issues.
As a general rule, if foot pain is your only issue, a podiatrist is a great choice. If you have pain all throughout your body, such as the neck and back, you should see an orthopedic doctor. If you can find a doctor that is trained in both orthopedics and podiatry, that is much better in the long run.
Foot Doctor in Naples, FL
Dr. H. Kurtis Biggs at The Joint Replacement Institute provides superior foot and ankle services, regularly treating patients who visit us because of foot pain. Dr. Briggs is board-certified and fellowship-trained and is trained in orthopedics and podiatry. You no longer need to choose between an orthopedic doctor and a podiatrist, since he fulfills both roles.
For top-notch podiatry care, schedule an appointment with Dr. Biggs. Call our office today at (239) 261-2663 or use our convenient appointment request form.
