Who is a podiatrist?
Podiatrists are medical experts who specialize in problems related to the foot or lower legs. They treat medical difficulties ranging from common injuries to diabetes-related complications. They are also known as podiatric physicians or doctors of podiatric medicine (DPM). Earlier, these medical professionals were known as chiropodists.
Medical training of a podiatrist
Podiatrists are reliable medical specialists, but their training is different from that of doctors. They do not attend a traditional medical school. An aspiring podiatrist must complete their training at a recognized podiatric school. After that, the student has to gain professional experience with three years of residency training in a clinic or hospital. Subsequently, the American Board of Podiatric Medicine will recognize them once they clear all exams.
A podiatrist must complete specialized fellowship training to be an expert in a specific area. A podiatrist who practices in a state must earn their license first. Every few years, they must renew this license. This practice ensures that the podiatrist stays current with the medicinal knowledge required by attending annual special training seminars.
Many podiatrists run general practices on their own or with other doctors and health professionals. However, some choose to specialize in specific areas of podiatry, including:
- Forensic podiatry: Studies footprints and shoe prints for crime scene investigations.
- Gerontological podiatry: Deals with foot conditions in older adults.
- Dermatological podiatry: Focuses on skin disorders affecting the feet.
- Diagnostic podoradiology: Specializes in foot and ankle radiology.
- Podiatric orthopedics: Addresses foot abnormalities using orthotics, prosthetics, and specialized footwear.
People see a podiatrist if they feel pain or have injuries in any part of their feet. If your family physician thinks your condition needs to be examined by a specialist, they may recommend you see a podiatrist. To form a diagnosis, a podiatrist can recommend multiple tests, such as blood tests, nail swabs, ultrasounds, X-rays, and MRI scans.
A podiatrist can attend to a myriad of conditions. If you or your family experiences the following, you will benefit from a podiatrist appointment.
- Nail infection: Fungal nail infections are relatively common, and the podiatrist generally gives antifungal medication to start treatment.
- Gout and arthritis: These conditions can cause severe pain in your foot and toes. Once either develops, one needs proper treatment to help ease the pain.
- Flat feet: In this condition, the entire sole touches the floor while a person is standing up. Depending on the seriousness of your condition, you may need to wear foot braces or arch support. A podiatrist's primary role is to measure your feet by taking molds of them. Based on the measurements, they will make custom foot braces for you. If you believe you have flat feet, you can eliminate the uncertainty by meeting a podiatrist.
- Diabetes: Diabetes can result in nerve damage in the feet. It leads to numbness, pain, ulcers, and other problems in your leg and foot. If you have diabetes and have noticed foot problems, you should visit a podiatrist. According to your records, they will provide medication to control the symptoms. After seeing a podiatrist, you should also book an appointment with your diabetologist to inform them of your symptoms.
- Ankle and knee-related issues: If you have any other ankle or knee injury, you may see a podiatrist for relief. The podiatrist decides which route to take for healing you, depending on your injury. Sometimes, physical therapy is enough for recovery, and when it isn't, surgical interventions become necessary.
Foot pain can limit your movement and overall well-being. It is time to see a podiatrist near you if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Pain in the leg
- Swollen foot
- Numbness or tingling in the legs
- An open wound in the foot
- An infected foot
- Difficulties in walking or putting weight on the leg
What diagnostic tools does a podiatrist use?
Podiatrists use various tools and techniques to diagnose, treat, manage, and prevent foot, ankle, and lower extremity issues. When diagnosing foot or ankle problems, a podiatrist will first consider your medical history and symptoms. Depending on the initial exam, they might use the following diagnostic tools:
1. Doppler ultrasound: Uses high-frequency sound waves to detect blockages in the blood vessels of your legs.
2. Electromyography (EMG): Records and analyzes electrical activity in your muscles to identify muscle or nerve disorders.
3. Bone scans: Techniques such as DEXA scans and dual-photon absorptiometry can identify bone fractures or areas of active bone formation.
4. Computed Tomography (CT): Combines X-rays with computer technology and provides detailed cross-sectional images of the lower extremities.
5. Joint spiration: Collects fluid from the joint space for diagnosing infections or inflammatory conditions like gout.
6. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Uses powerful magnetic fields to visualize issues such as joint and soft tissue injuries.
7. Arthrography: An imaging method that uses an injected contrast iodine solution to find the cause of cartilage, ligament, or tendon pain on an X-ray.
8. Blood tests: These can detect blood clots (D-dimer), inflammation (ESR and C-reactive protein), or identify autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
9. Flexibility and reflex tests: Measure the range of motion in a joint. They also assess neuromuscular function.
If you have foot problems, seeing the best podiatrist near you is essential. However, it is understandable that this can be intimidating and uncomfortable, mainly if you have never visited one. You need not hesitate to communicate your problems openly, as podiatrists are experienced professionals who can effectively guide you.
Here are some dos and don'ts to help you make the most of your session and enable your provider to prepare an appropriate treatment plan for you to achieve the best possible health outcomes:
- Prepare a note of your symptoms, including when they started, what makes them better or worse, and how they affect your daily life.
- Carry your medical reports, including medical history, lab and imaging test results, medications, allergies, and surgeries.
- Wear everyday shoes to the appointment to help your doctor assess your gait, weight distribution, fitting, and other factors contributing to your foot problems.
- Wash and dry your feet before the appointment, as your provider will examine them up close.
- Make and carry a list of questions about your foot health.
- Skip getting a pedicure and painting your nails, as that makes it difficult to check for signs of foot problems and collect samples for testing.
What questions should you ask your podiatrist?
Being aware of your issues and the course of treatment can help you prepare for the journey ahead. As mentioned earlier, you can discuss your foot health concerns and treatment plans with your podiatrist, among other things. Here are a few questions you can consider asking:
- What caused my foot problem?
- Can you explain my treatment plan?
- Are there any side effects of the prescribed medications?
- Are there any treatment alternatives?
- How can I prevent my condition from recurring?
- What are the best ways to keep my feet healthy?
- Can any diet changes help my foot condition?
- Can you recommend a daily foot care routine?
- Do I need follow-up appointments?
A visit to the podiatrist near you is not very different from a visit to a physician. They will seek information about your past injuries, family, and medical history. The podiatrist will examine your motion and posture. The most common conditions the podiatrist addresses are bunions, ingrown toenails, heel pain, diabetic foot problems, etc.
While medication can treat some conditions, others may benefit from physical therapy or orthotics. The quality of care they use depends on your situation. Once you've visited them, they'll let you know how long you need to recover and set a follow-up appointment.
Protecting your feet when you have diabetes
If you have diabetes, you can significantly lower your risk of podiatric diseases by taking care of your feet every day. Managing your blood sugar levels also plays a major role in ensuring that your feet are healthy and thereby preventing complications.
Over time, consistently high blood sugar can significantly damage your nerves. This condition is called diabetic neuropathy. It can cause tingling, pain, or even numbness in your feet. If you lose feeling, you might not notice a minor injury - like a blister or a pebble in your shoe - until it becomes a bigger problem, like an infected wound.
Additionally, diabetes can also reduce blood flow to your feet, making it harder for cuts or sores to heal. In severe cases, untreated infections can even lead to gangrene, which may require amputation to prevent the disease from spreading. While this sounds scary, proper foot care can help prevent these serious complications.
In rare cases, nerve damage can also change the shape of your feet, a condition called Charcot's foot. It often starts with swelling, warmth, and redness. Over time, bones can shift or break, leading to a misshapen foot, sometimes described as a "rocker bottom."
The best way to protect your feet is to check them daily, keep your blood sugar under control, and see a podiatrist near you if you notice anything unusual. A little care goes a long way in keeping your feet and yourself healthy.
Find the best podiatrists near you in East Brunswick, NJ
You do not have to look far to find a decent podiatrist who fits your budget. With the help of Zocdoc, you can consult a podiatrist who understands your concerns and can treat you immediately. Download the Zocdoc app or visit their website to begin your search.
You have to enter the medical specialist you are looking for in the search bar, which will be a podiatrist. Then, enter your location as "East Brunswick, New Jersey," schedule the appointment date, and select your insurance plan to begin. Zocdoc has almost all insurance carriers available for your appointment, but you can also choose the insurance later.
When you book an appointment on Zocdoc, you'll need to either provide your insurance details or confirm that you're paying out of pocket. Some providers require insurance information to schedule an appointment. If you don't have insurance or prefer not to use it, you can look for a different provider on Zocdoc.
However, if you need assistance finding a podiatrist near you who accept your insurance, our online patient help center can help. On Zocdoc, you can link your medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your account. However, note that you can only connect one insurance plan per appointment.
If you have multiple insurance plans, don't worry. You can add your secondary insurance information in the appointment notes. Additionally, if your provider uses Zocdoc's Intake forms, you can enter your secondary insurance details here for easy reference.
After selecting the parameters, you will get results from all the podiatrists available. Most of these podiatrists are just a few miles from your home. You can see the podiatrist's ratings and the date on which they are free. You can also read reviews by past patients in detail when you click on their profile. You can apply additional filters like distance, availability, specialty, gender, language, hospital affiliation, time of the day, and pediatric care.
Once you have found the best foot doctor near you, book an in-person or online appointment via Zocdoc without further delay. Booking appointments with podiatrists near you on Zocdoc is easy, secure, and 100% free.
Podiatry-related statistics in East Brunswick, NJ
According to America's Health Rankings, about 20.9% of the New Jersey population had arthritis in 2020. Nearly 24.6% of the population suffering from arthritis was female, and around 17% was male. Approximately 44.8% of people diagnosed with the disease belonged to the age group of 65+. About 81.1% of the New Jersey population had a dedicated healthcare provider.
In New Jersey, arthritis is a prevalent health problem. According to the New Jersey Department of Human Services, over 1.5 million people in the state are affected by arthritis, which is the state's most common cause of disability. However, nearly 78% have obtained diagnoses but have not received treatment. Age directly correlates with an increase in arthritis prevalence. Therefore, while just over 9% of people between 18 and 44 have arthritis, about 53% of people over 65 have it.
Sources
WebMD
Healthline
America's Health Rankings
Department of Human Services
Greater Washington Advanced Podiatry
Footfiles
Berkshire Podiatry Center
Ambulatory Foot & Ankle Clinic
Verywell Health
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
