Who is a podiatrist?
Podiatrists are medical professionals who can diagnose and treat pain and other problems in your lower legs and feet. Lower leg conditions can be a bane for people, especially for those who need to travel for work and cannot afford to have a disease that restricts their mobility. In such cases and others, podiatric medicine can be of great assistance, particularly in helping people get the best treatment for their legs and feet.
Are podiatrists medical doctors like OB-GYNs or neurologists? Podiatrists must complete a Doctorate program in Podiatric Medicine (DPM), not a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. They don't attend traditional medical schools but have separate institutions and schools.
While every state in the US allows licensed podiatrists to conduct their practice, the requirements for getting a license vary from state to state. Depending on where a podiatrist wants to practice, they may have to fulfill a different set of criteria.
To become a podiatrist, students must go to a podiatry school after graduation for a four-year program. After this, they must attend a residency program. During their residency, future podiatrists learn hands-on how to diagnose and treat actual patients.
What do podiatrists do?
Podiatric medicine can cover a range of conditions and diseases in the lower legs and feet. Here are some of the common conditions that podiatrists treat.
- Fractures and sprains: These are common causes of pain in the lower legs and feet. Whether they develop over time due to stress on the lower leg muscles or occur during an accident, they can severely affect mobility. Podiatrists can help treat such injuries and set you on the right track for pain relief and improvement in mobility.
- Diabetes: Diabetes can significantly cause pain in your lower legs and feet. According to WebMD, 65,000 people in the country get one of their feet amputated due to damaged nerves in the area. Podiatric medicine can prevent diabetic patients from such scenarios.
- Arthritis: Arthritis is among the most common conditions associated with chronic pain. It refers to inflammation in your joints caused by wear and tear. Podiatrists can treat arthritis in your lower leg and feet with surgical procedures, medication, and special shoes.
- Bunions and hammertoes: Bunions and hammertoes cause your toes to bend abnormally, which can naturally cause pain while walking. Podiatrists can prescribe the proper surgical treatment or medication to help correct these conditions.
When should you visit a podiatrist?
Deciding whether to consult a podiatrist near you is a valid concern. Making an appointment with one may seem complicated, and you want to be confident that consultation is essential.
Here are a few symptoms that necessitate making an appointment with a podiatrist.
- Foot pain: Pain in the foot may be a sign of a sprain. Podiatrists can prescribe the proper medication to ease your pain and set you on the best possible recovery path.
- Diabetes: Diabetes coupled with leg and foot pain is a valid reason to visit a podiatrist. Routine visits help ensure blood flow to your lower leg remains normal and healthy.
- Toe-related issues: If your toes bend abnormally, the cause could be bunions or hammertoes. Podiatric treatment can help you stave off the pain and expedite recovery.
- Ingrown toenails: Nail growth within your toenails can be a source of great pain. Instead of removing these growths alone, seeing a podiatrist is the best way to do it.
- Other toenail-related problems: If your toenails appear thicker or discolored, they could be caused by nail fungus. A podiatrist appointment is essential for such cases.
Standard surgical procedures carried out by podiatrists near you
When conservative treatments fail to resolve severe foot problems, podiatrists often turn to surgery to restore mobility and alleviate pain. Here are some standard podiatric surgical procedures:
- Hammer toe surgery: Hammer toes occur when joints in the lesser toes (excluding the big toe) contract. While changing footwear, using protective padding, and reducing calluses can help, persistent cases may require surgical intervention. Podiatrists might remove a small portion of the affected toe bone to realign it or fuse the toe joint.
- Heel surgery: Plantar fasciitis can cause painful heel spurs and calcium deposits forming bony protrusions on the heel bone. While treatments like exercise, custom orthotics, anti-inflammatory medications, or cortisone injections can be effective, podiatrists may perform surgery to release the plantar fascia or excise the heel spur, alleviating pain and restoring mobility.
- Bunion surgery: Bunions form at the base of the big toe due to a misaligned joint. To correct this, podiatrists perform surgery to remove or realign the affected soft tissue and bone, restoring proper joint alignment. This procedure may involve the insertion of small screws, plates, or wires to keep the bones in place.
- Metatarsal surgery: Podiatrists often perform metatarsal surgery on the first metatarsal to correct bunion deformities. They may also address issues with the bottom or ball of the foot by operating on the lesser metatarsals to redistribute weight-bearing pressure.
- Neuroma surgery: This surgery involves removing a benign nerve enlargement, typically found between the metatarsal heads in the football. Inflamed and painful nerves between the toes can result from genetics or external factors like improper footwear or excessive pressure. Podiatrists perform surgery to remove these benign nerve enlargements, providing relief from pain.
How can diabetes affect our feet?
Suffering from diabetes for a long time can lead to nerve damage, which is also known as diabetic neuropathy, which may cause tingling, pain, or a loss of sensation in the feet. This numbness can make it difficult to notice small injuries, like a pebble in your shoe or a blister, increasing the risk of cuts and sores. If these wounds go unnoticed, they can become infected.
Diabetes can also reduce blood circulation in the feet, making it harder for wounds to heal properly. In some cases, severe infections may not heal at all, potentially leading to gangrene. If an infection becomes severe and does not improve with treatment, amputation of a toe, foot, or a part of the leg may be necessary to prevent the infection from spreading. Proper foot care is essential to avoid serious infections and complications like gangrene.
In rare cases, diabetes-related nerve damage can alter the shape of the feet, a condition known as Charcot's foot. Early symptoms may include redness, warmth, and swelling. As the condition progresses, bones in the feet and toes may shift or break, leading to deformities such as a "rocker bottom" foot.
You can also develop a self-care plan to maintain your foot health with the help of a podiatrist near you.
Essential foot care tips:
- Inspect your feet daily
- Wash your feet every day
- Gently smoothen corns and calluses
- Trim toenails straight across
- Always wear shoes and socks
- Protect your feet from extreme temperatures
- Encourage proper circulation
- Get your feet checked at every medical visit
Since nerve damage can reduce pain sensation, daily foot checks are crucial to identify problems early. Make sure to check between your toes as well. If reaching for your feet is difficult, you can use a mirror to help.
When inspecting your feet, look for:
- Cuts, sores, or red spots
- Swelling or blisters
- Ingrown toenails
- Corns or calluses caused by friction or pressure
- Plantar warts (flesh-colored growths on the soles)
- Athlete's foot (a fungal infection)
- Unusual warmth, which may indicate an early sign of infection
By taking these preventive steps, individuals with diabetes can reduce the risk of foot diseases and maintain overall health.
What can you expect from your podiatrist during the first visit?
If you have concerning foot symptoms and have decided to consult a podiatrist or foot doctor near you, you may want to know what will happen during the appointment so that you can prepare beforehand. While every provider's process may vary slightly, you can expect a few common steps in care.
Your podiatrist will begin by discussing your reason for the visit and the symptoms you are facing. You can make notes before the appointment based on the following common questions they may ask:
- When did you first notice your symptoms?
- What worsens your symptoms?
- What strategies have you used to manage your symptoms?
They may also want to review your medical records, including your personal and family history, to check for potential connections with your foot problems. Hence, carry information about your past and ongoing health conditions, medications, and previous surgeries so that you can inform the healthcare provider of such details if needed.
After a brief discussion, the podiatrist will examine your feet, ankles, and lower legs for the symptoms you mentioned. They will also check for other signs such as poor circulation, toenail discoloration, fungal infections, warts, and corns. You can expect them to apply pressure at different foot regions to assess pain and its severity. They may also ask you to stand and walk to check for structural abnormalities and gait problems. For some cases, further diagnostic tests such as blood work, ultrasound, bone scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be necessary.
Once the evaluation is complete, they will discuss the results with you and suggest a personalized treatment plan. They will also recommend lifestyle and diet modifications to improve your foot health. At this point, feel free to ask your queries related to your condition, prescription, and follow-up appointments.
Find the best foot doctor near you in Oakland, CA.
Finding a specialist can be difficult if you're looking for a podiatrist and need medical assistance at short notice in Oakland. First, you need to look for a podiatrist who has a good record. It is easier to find one if you can get a recommendation from friends or family.
Second, the podiatrist should be easily accessible in a convenient location. Traveling across half the state to see a podiatrist is not ideal if you're already in stress or pain due to a condition in your lower leg.
Lastly, the most important thing you want to ensure is that the podiatrist you find is available within your medical insurance plan. After all, you don't want to spend thousands of dollars from your pocket when your insurance plan should cover the treatment.
This is the story for most cities and counties in America, not just Oakland. The easiest way to avoid these complications and book a podiatrist appointment in minutes is Zocdoc.
So, what is Zocdoc? It is an online platform that lets you book physician appointments in minutes. During the booking process, you can ensure that the doctor meets your requirements regarding vicinity and medical insurance plan coverage. If you can't find your insurance plan on Zocdoc, you can submit a photo of your insurance card and have Zocdoc scan it to show you your likely plan. Please remember that this service is only available to holders of medical insurance cards. Insurance cards for dental and optical care are excluded. If you need help uploading your medical insurance card, contact Zocdoc's service team for any concerns or questions about the platform. For additional insurance-related information, visit Zocdoc's patient help center.
You can enter your location and specific medical insurance plan when searching for a foot doctor near you on Zocdoc. Zocdoc will present you with a comprehensive list of providers who accept your insurance plan. Other filters such as languages spoken, time slot availability, and gender make doctor discovery even more personalized and relevant.
Manage your health appointments seamlessly with Zocdoc, the best online healthcare platform in the United States. Bookings on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and 100% free.
Lower leg conditions in Oakland and California
Fractures and sprains are the most common conditions that podiatrists treat. Since many fractures occur during accidents, analyzing Oakland accident statistics can help us better understand the causes. Statewide crash and injury data suggest Oakland is one of California's most dangerous cities for drivers and pedestrians. More accidents mean more patients are likely to have fractures, underlining the importance of podiatrists for treatment and pain relief.
According to a 2022 report by the CDC, around 19.4% of the adult population in Alameda County (the district to which Oakland belongs) had arthritis. Based on the same report, the number is lower than the national average of 26.6%.
High diabetes is often associated with lower leg conditions. The 2022 California Health Interview Survey shows that around 9.2% of adults had diabetes, which is close to the national average of nearly 11.5% and the state average of about 11.2%.
Sources
WebMD
The Oakland side
Healthy Alameda County[1]
Healthy Alameda County[2]
The Podiatry Group of South Texas
Foot & Ankle Institute of New England
Jaws Podiatry
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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