Who is a podiatrist?
A podiatrist is an expert in treating foot, ankle, and lower leg problems. Podiatrists are doctors of podiatric medicine (DPM). They can facilitate proper limb function, lessen discomfort, and hasten recovery following an operation or injury.
What does a podiatrist do?
Podiatrists care for issues affecting the patient's foot or lower leg. They can perform surgery, prescribe medications, provide physical therapy, and set fractures when necessary. They can also help other doctors treat patients. In addition, podiatrists may do the following:
- Determine the existence of skin and nail conditions, congenital (present at birth) abnormalities such as tumors, and foot ulcers.
- Treat heel spurs, corns, shortened tendons, bone disorders, cysts, and arch issues.
- Stabilize foot and ankle injuries like sprains or fractures and create flexible casts.
- Discuss preventive foot care with patients.
- Refer patients to relevant medical professionals when they believe the foot complaints are related to various ailments in other body systems.
What training do podiatrists undergo?
Traditional medical school is not part of a podiatrist's curriculum. At a podiatric medical school, they usually participate in a 4-year program, followed by a residency. Podiatric medicine and surgery residency are required for podiatric medicine graduates (PMSR). To become board-certified, podiatrists must complete at least two years of residency. To obtain a license, podiatrists must graduate from one of the nine accredited (authorized) podiatric institutions and colleges and pass the National Board Exams. Additionally, podiatrists can obtain orthopedics, general practice, or surgery certification.
What are some diagnostic tools used by podiatrists?
Podiatrists employ various diagnostic tools to assess foot conditions. They initiate the diagnostic process by examining the individual's medical history and current symptoms. An elaborate physical examination of the foot follows, during which they observe signs of swelling and skin discoloration. They may request the person to walk or move their feet and toes in different directions.
Upon obtaining initial findings, podiatrists may suggest additional tests to refine their diagnosis. The diagnostic tools used by podiatrists include:
- Imaging tests: These encompass X-ray, ultrasound, bone scan, CT scan, and MRI scan. These tests are instrumental in revealing blocked or narrow blood vessels, bone fractures, and other structural issues.
- Blood tests: Healthcare professionals perform these tests to identify infections or inflammatory/autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Quantitative sensory testing: This involves a specialized computer system that records how well the nerves perceive changes in temperature and vibration. Podiatrists use this test to diagnose conditions like diabetic neuropathy, hypersensitivity, and other nerve disorders of the foot.
- Electromyography (EMG): This test measures how muscles respond to nerve impulses. During the test, thin needles (electrodes) are inserted into the muscle to detect electrical activity. Abnormal EMG results indicate nerve issues, aiding podiatrists in guiding treatment.
What treatments do podiatrists offer?
Once podiatrists diagnose a condition, they can prescribe treatment. Depending on the type and severity of the condition, the best podiatrist near you may collaborate with other specialists or a healthcare team.
Podiatrists can administer the following treatments:
- Setting fractured bones
- Prescribing medication, such as pain relievers, antibiotics, and antifungals
- Administering corticosteroid or cortisone joint injections
- Performing joint aspiration, which involves removing fluid from the space around a joint
- Recommending corrective footwear
- Providing orthotic devices, including insoles and braces
Podiatric surgeons carry out various surgical procedures to:
- Address inflamed or torn tendons and ligaments
- Set broken bones
- Remove bunions, bone spurs, and tumors
- Perform debridement of damaged, infected, or dead tissue
- Correct structural abnormalities, such as hammertoes and flat feet
Causes of foot pain and problems
Foot pain can result from trauma or diseases that cause inflammation in the foot's bones, ligaments, or tendons. There may be intense burning pain, numbness, or tingling in the feet after an injury to the nerves in the feet (peripheral neuropathy).
Some causes of foot pain include Achilles tendonitis, Achilles tendon rupture, avulsion fracture, bone spurs, hammertoe and mallet toe, broken toe, diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage caused by diabetes), bunions, bursitis (joint inflammation), corns and calluses, ingrown toenails, flat feet, gout (arthritis related to excess uric acid), osteomyelitis (a bone infection), rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease), Haglund's deformity, peripheral neuropathy, high heels or poorly fitting shoes, metatarsalgia, Morton's neuroma, osteoarthritis (disease causing the breakdown of joints), Paget's disease of bone, plantar fasciitis, plantar warts, psoriatic arthritis, Raynaud's disease, reactive arthritis, retrocalcaneal bursitis, septic arthritis, stress fractures, tarsal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and tumors.
Sub-specialties of podiatry
The following are the subspecialties of podiatry:
- Sports medicine: Podiatrists specializing in sports medicine assist patients who get injured while participating in sports or other physical activities.
- Radiology: Podiatric radiologists have a specialization in using the following imaging techniques and tools to assist in the diagnosis of conditions affecting the lower limbs:
- X-rays
- Ultrasounds
- MRI tests and CT scans
- Nuclear medicine
- Care for diabetic feet
Diabetes frequently harms several body parts, including your feet. In extreme circumstances, your doctor could have to amputate all your toes, other parts of your foot, or even your lower leg. However, podiatrists can assist people with diabetes in maintaining the condition of their feet and possibly averting this harm.
- Pediatrics: Pediatric podiatrists specialize in treating children. Your child's healthcare physician might advise you to take them to a pediatric podiatrist if they complain of pain in their legs or feet. Pediatric podiatrists frequently treat the following conditions:
- Plantar warts (lumps of skin on the bottom of your feet)
- Athlete's foot or Tinea pedis
- Crossover toes (a toe looking like it will cross over the big toe)
- Ingrown toenails
- Bunions
- Flat feet
- In-toed gait (turned-in toes)
- Ankle and foot growth plate injuries
How do your feet get affected by psoriatic arthritis?
Joint discomfort, edema, and stiffness are common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). People can be affected by the illness slightly differently, although foot issues are particularly prevalent.
Your immune system causes inflammation in PsA, which damages your joints. The areas where tendons and ligaments join the bone are also affected by this inflammation.
Your feet have 30 joints, 28 bones, and over 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments; this gives PsA a ton of potential targets. However, some parts of the foot are more commonly affected by the disease than others.
- Pain in the metatarsophalangeal joint: Your foot also has a metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP), which PsA frequently targets. If you have PsA, a few factors raise your risk of MTP joint pain. These consist of the following:
- Higher than average BMI
- Partial joint dislocation
- Inflammation of the joint's lining; t
- The erosion of joints
- Bottom-of-foot and heel pain: PsA-related foot issues can be challenging to diagnose. In addition to dactylitis, there is enthesitis, an inflammation of the entheses, the points on bones where tendons or ligaments join. PsA frequently targets the connecting points in the following places:
- Soles of your feet
- Back of your feet (Achilles' tendons)
- Ribs/Spine/Pelvis
The medical word for this is fibrosis, and the damaged tissue may start to look ropey. It may also harden, a condition that medical professionals call ossification or calcification.
- Sausage toes: PsA is known to cause swollen, painful toes, significantly when the entire toe (or finger) swells and appears like a sausage. Doctors refer to this as sausage digits or dactylitis. Dactylitis in PsA is more common in feet than in hands, and toes in both feet are usually affected. It occurs in fewer than 50% of those who have the condition and occurs more frequently with more severe PsA. It can be months before there is other evidence of PsA.
Never assume that PsA is the cause of your painful and swollen toe; there can be other factors. For instance, the tiny joints in the feet are frequently affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory form of arthritis related to PsA. The big toe may swell and experience excruciating pain due to gout. The big toe is also the most typical location for foot osteoarthritis (OA), which causes pain and stiffness.
How to prepare for your first podiatrist visit
After making an appointment with the best podiatrist near you, do the following to prepare for the visit:
- List the symptoms and inquiries you have.
- Make a note of all your prescription drugs and any previous operations.
- Assemble and bring vital medical records and lab test data from additional physicians or hospitals (including X-rays, MRIs, and lab results).
- Check with your insurance company to find out if a reference is required.
- Call the office beforehand and let them know if you have any specific needs.
- Bring a friend or family member if it is beneficial.
What are the different types of arthritis?
The different types of arthritis are listed below:
- Gout is a condition resulting from the overproduction of uric acid, which sets off an autoimmune reaction and a gout attack. These attacks can occur suddenly and can be extremely painful. The big toe is typically the focus but can affect other foot parts if ignored. Swelling and redness are its symptoms.
- Osteoarthritis: It is also known as "wear-and-tear" arthritis. Osteoarthritis is characterized by the gradual degeneration of your bones' cartilage, mainly the cartilage that cushions your joints. Therefore, if it is damaged, the bones will rub against one another and hurt the foot.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: It is a chronic autoimmune condition that leads to excessive swelling and inflammation in your joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect younger people. Curled toes and bunions can result from this type of arthritis. Additional signs include swollen or enlarged joints, flare-ups, and problems standing or walking.
- Post-traumatic arthritis: Your joints may weaken due to a foot injury, increasing your risk of developing osteoarthritis. Your feet may experience additional strain due to joint weakness, which hastens with age. Welling, fluid buildup in the affected joint, and difficulty walking are all symptoms of post-traumatic arthritis.
Ways to maintain foot hygiene
Proper personal hygiene and foot care can prevent many diseases and foot issues. Foot hygiene practices call for toenail trimming, protective footwear, and clean, comfortable socks. Some other ways through which you can maintain foot hygiene are:
- Make sure you wash your feet every day and dry them thoroughly.
- Keep your toenails short and clean.
- Make sure you change your socks every day.
- Checking your feet regularly for cuts, sores, swelling, dryness, and infected toenails.
- Choose a clean and licensed salon for foot care. After each use, sterilize all tools (scissors, nail clippers, and other devices).
How to find the best podiatrist near you
It can be challenging to locate a licensed and reliable healthcare provider. But now, thanks to Zocdoc, you can easily find the best specialists from the comfort of your home. You can find the top-rated podiatrists in Atlanta, Georgia, by accessing the Zocdoc website and entering your illness, location, insurance carrier, and plan.
In addition to showing you a list of practitioners in your area, Zocdoc also helps you know the practitioners better before scheduling an appointment. Every podiatrist listed on Zocdoc has a detailed profile about their education, training, experience, specialty, timing, affiliations, and even the languages they speak.
With Zocdoc, you can book an in-person or online consultation with just a few clicks. Moreover, depending on the practitioner's availability, you can schedule appointments on weekends and after 5 pm.
All bookings on Zocdoc are fast, free, and secure!
Statistics for podiatrists and arthritis in Georgia
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2022, 150 licensed podiatrists were legally practicing in Georgia.
According to America's Health Rankings, in 2022, 25.5% of adults in Georgia had arthritis. The highest numbers were seen among adults over 65 (55.5%) and the lowest among adults between 18 and 44 years (8.2%). The diagnosis of arthritis was seen more among women in the state (29.8%) than men (20.9%).
According to the Georgia Council on Lupus Education and Awareness, the prevalence rate of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in 2019 was 92.1 for every 100,000 people in Georgia. The report also stated that the rate was the highest in the U.S. The disease was mainly seen among women between 15 and 45, who constituted 90% of the lupus population
Sources
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
Medical News Today
American Podiatric Medical Association
River Podiatry
Mayo Clinic
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
America’s Health Rankings
Georgia Council on Lupus Education and Awareness
