Who are podiatrists?
A podiatrist is a foot doctor and a medical expert with the knowledge and experience to care for problems affecting the feet or lower legs. Their practice also includes treating injuries and complications from health issues such as diabetes. You can visit a podiatrist near you if you experience foot pain, have cracks or cuts in the skin, thick or discolored toenails, growth like warts, etc.
Typically, a visit to the podiatrist begins with the practitioner noting down your medical, surgical, and family history, ongoing medications, etc. They will observe how you are standing and walking while also keeping an eye out for the range of motion in your joints, how your shoes fit your feet, etc. They also look for swelling or skin discoloration. Depending on the preliminary assessment, they may begin treatment immediately or suggest padding, orthotics, or physical therapy to address your lower limb health concerns.
Podiatrists are also skilled in using equipment and tools such as syringes (for pain medication), nail anvils (for removing ingrown toenails), or scalpels (to remove parts of calluses or corns). Many podiatry specialists also use cryotherapy, i.e., liquid nitrogen, to freeze off warts.
Are podiatrists doctors?
Podiatrists are licensed doctors even though they do not attend traditional medical school. Podiatry schools and professional associations are different from medical schools. For this reason, they cannot add an M.D. (medical doctor) prefix to their name and have DPM (doctor of podiatric medicine) instead. DPMs are specialists in preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and other leg parts. Medically, these body parts are also known as the lower extremity.
Additionally, DPMs are licensed to practice in all 50 states of the US, along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Their practice areas can be wide-ranging, spanning private or group medical practice, hospitals, extended care facilities, armed forces, municipal health departments, health maintenance organizations, etc.
To become a podiatrist in the United States, one must complete a bachelor's degree and then attain a four-year DPM degree. Subsequently, after completing their three-year residency training, they can acquire their national board certification and state license to practice. To specialize in a field, they must complete a fellowship program after their residency.
Podiatrists can perform surgeries independently, order laboratory tests or X-rays, prescribe medications, reset broken bones, etc. To address problems related to their patients' lower legs or feet, podiatrists often collaborate closely with other specialists in healthcare teams. Podiatrists can also specialize in sports medicine, pediatrics, radiology, geriatrics, dermatology, etc.
Podiatrists are the only medical practitioners with specialized medical and surgical training and board certification to care for the lower extremities. Their unique positioning in the healthcare system allows podiatrists to employ innovative methods while treating issues such as bunions, corns, calluses, athlete's foot, ingrown toenails, etc.
How does diabetes affect your foot health?
Diabetes can lead to nerve damage, which is also known as diabetic neuropathy. The nerve damage may result in tingling, pain, and loss of sensation in the feet; this loss of feeling makes it difficult to notice things like a pebble in your shoe or a developing blister, which can lead to cuts and sores. These minor injuries can become infected if not addressed promptly.
Additionally, diabetes can reduce blood circulation to the feet. Poor blood flow makes it harder for wounds or infections to heal, and in severe cases, infections may persist without improvement. This can sometimes lead to gangrene.
Foot ulcers or gangrene that don't respond to treatment might require the surgical removal of a toe, foot, or part of the leg. Amputation may eventually be a necessary step to stop the spread of infection and protect overall health. Proper foot care is essential to avoid such complications.
In rare cases, diabetes-related nerve damage can alter the shape of the feet, leading to conditions like Charcot's foot. This condition often begins with symptoms such as redness, warmth, and swelling. Over time, the bones in the foot or toes may shift or break, potentially causing deformities like a "rocker bottom" appearance.
You must collaborate with a podiatrist near you to develop a diabetes self-care plan that outlines how to effectively manage your condition. Be sure to include foot care as an essential component of this plan. Your healthcare team may involve a podiatrist (a foot specialist) and other experts.
Here are some key steps to incorporate into your foot care routine:
- Inspect your feet daily.
- Wash your feet thoroughly each day.
- Gently file corns and calluses.
- Cut toenails straight across.
- Always wear socks and shoes for protection.
- Shield your feet from extreme heat and cold.
- Encourage proper blood circulation to your feet.
- Have your feet examined during every healthcare visit.
What tests can a podiatrist prescribe?
To enhance the quality of treatment and its effectiveness, podiatrists may order a variety of diagnostic tests, including:
- Blood tests can help detect infection or inflammatory and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
- Imaging tests: Podiatrists may order X-rays, bone scans, C.T. scans, MRI scans, ultrasounds, etc., to identify bone fractures, narrow or blocked blood vessels, and other parts that may not be structurally right in the lower extremity.
- Electromyography (EMG): This test measures muscle response to nerve impulses. It requires inserting thin needles, called electrodes, into the patient's muscles. Practitioners then pick up electrical activity from the tissues in the muscle.
- Quantitative sensory testing: In this test, a specialized computer system records nerve perception of alterations in vibration and temperature. It helps detect hypersensitivity, diabetic neuropathy, and other nervous disorders that affect the foot.
What can one expect during a visit to a podiatrist near you?
When you visit a foot doctor, you must complete a medical history report upon arrival. This report will discuss your foot issues, medical conditions, medication usage, and prior surgeries. Additionally, it will ask questions regarding your foot-related habits and your family's medical history.
Once you meet with the podiatrist, they will inquire about any foot problems you are currently experiencing and the duration of these issues. This interaction allows you and the provider to establish a rapport. Next, your podiatrist will conduct a physical examination, where they will carefully examine your feet for signs of fungus, warts, corns, bunions, and other similar foot problems. The podiatrist will also inspect your toenails for any discoloration or brittleness.
Subsequently, the doctor will assess your lower legs for indications of poor circulation. They will ask you to walk to evaluate any gait abnormalities. If the podiatrist deems it necessary, further testing may follow. Scans such as an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound, or bone scan may be required to identify structural issues, blood vessel blockages, or narrowing.
Additionally, the podiatrist may prescribe blood work to check for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (R.A.) or other underlying conditions that could induce foot pain. They may collect a sample for testing if they suspect any infection. In patients where excess weight contributes to foot issues, the doctor may suggest modifying your diet and exercise routine to alleviate the condition, as losing weight can aid in relieving pressure off your feet.
Furthermore, the podiatrist may prescribe medication to treat the foot problem. For instance, the doctor might prescribe topical or oral antifungal medication for fungal infections or treatment for neuropathy. In patients with fallen arches, the doctor may suggest orthotics for additional support or a boot for those with supination or pronation. Pronation can occur when weight is more on one side of the foot during standing or walking.
What are the differences and similarities between a podiatrist and an orthopedist?
Have you lately been injured, or are you having pain in your ankles and feet? If so, ask which type of doctor you should see to treat your symptoms. You can consult a podiatrist or an orthopedist if you have an issue with your feet or ankles.
Either can provide a remedy to manage your issue, but understanding their key differences may help you determine the best fit.
A podiatrist is well-versed in all things ankle and foot. Their specialized training allows them to analyze foot biomechanics, including mechanical abnormalities that affect balance. They can also prescribe orthotics, braces, and corrective footwear as needed.
Orthopedic surgeons, or orthopedists, are medical professionals who specialize in musculoskeletal problems. They get the title MD or DO, which stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Some orthopedists perform general orthopedics for the entire body, while others specialize in specialized areas, such as the spine, shoulders, hands, hips, knee, foot, and ankle.
Orthopedists are trained to treat various orthopedic issues that arise throughout the body. However, they are equally qualified to treat orthopedic problems in the foot, and their training is not confined to foot and ankle issues.
Both podiatrists and orthopedic surgeons can identify and treat foot and ankle problems and injuries. Both use conservative, minimally invasive, and surgical treatment options. Choosing the best type of physician for you may be based on personal preferences.
For example, suppose you have several orthopedic issues, such as knee or hip arthritis, a herniated disc, or a rotator cuff ailment. In that case, you may want to seek foot and ankle therapy from an orthopedic doctor who can treat all of them.
Alternatively, you can consult a podiatrist if you want an expert physician specializing in diagnosing and treating foot and ankle conditions and injuries.
Finding a podiatrist near you in Fort Myers, FL
Are you having trouble finding a foot doctor in Fort Myers that suits your needs? Fret no more! Zocdoc helps you find the best podiatrists with its convenient and easy-to-navigate user interface. Enter information about your symptoms or other details. Zocdoc will display a list of podiatrists in your vicinity.
The list consists of dedicated provider profiles that contain relevant information about the doctor's educational qualifications, expertise, experience, and licensure. You can also learn about their awards, accreditations, ratings, and whether they accept your insurance plan. If your insurance plan isn’t available on Zocdoc, you have the option to upload a photo of your medical insurance card (this feature is not applicable for vision or dental cards). Zocdoc will analyze the image to identify your likely plan. Should you experience any difficulties uploading the card, the dedicated Zocdoc service team is ready to provide assistance, ensuring a seamless experience.
To further help you streamline your search, Zocdoc lets you apply filters like practitioner age, gender, etc.
After browsing and making a shortlist, you can make your final pick by reviewing previous patients' reviews. Zocdoc constantly verifies these reviews, so you can rely on them to help you make an informed decision. You can then book an in-person or virtual consultation with a podiatrist near you on Zocdoc at no extra cost.
Podiatrist statistics in Fort Myers, Florida
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in May 2022, there were around 790 active podiatrists in Florida; this implies that per 1,000 jobs that Floridians held, almost 0.09 were that of podiatry specialists. The location quotient for podiatrists in the state, the ratio between the number of foot and ankle specialists in Florida versus the whole of the U.S., was 1.35, higher than the national average. Florida has the country's third highest employment levels of podiatrists; only New York and California have higher numbers.
Residents of hot locations such as Florida are more prone to developing an athlete's foot than those in cooler states. As per the American Podiatric Medical Association, in 2012, diabetes affected nearly 425,000 citizens of Florida. Their research also shows that diabetes was responsible for the most non-traumatic lower limb amputations.
According to the Amputee Coalition findings, in 2014, approximately 11,173 amputations were performed in Florida for reasons ranging from diabetes to peripheral arterial disease complexities. Lower leg amputations in the state saw an overall increase of almost 32.24% between 1997 and 2014. The lowest recorded number of amputations took place in 1997, being roughly 8,449.
More individuals underwent amputation between the ages of 45 and 64. The amputation rate in male patients was almost 2.5 times more than in female patients.
Sources
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Foot First Podiatry
American Podiatric Medical Association
Amputee Coalition
WebMD
American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine
MedicalNewsToday
The Podiatry Group of South Texas
Advanced Bone & Joint
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
