Who are podiatrists?
Podiatrists are medical care professionals who specialize in treating, diagnosing, and preventing foot, ankle, and lower leg disorders. They are also known as doctors of podiatric medicine (DPM). Training enables podiatrists to treat various conditions that affect the feet, including injuries, infections, deformities, and chronic diseases such as diabetes.
Podiatrists typically complete four years of undergraduate education, four years of podiatric medical school, and a minimum of three years of residency training. They must also pass national and state licensing exams to practice podiatry.
Podiatrists work in various settings, including private practices, hospitals, and clinics. They may work independently or as part of a healthcare team, collaborating with other health professionals such as orthopedic surgeons, primary care physicians, and physical therapists to provide holistic care to their patients.
How do podiatrists help with foot problems?
Podiatrists help with foot problems by providing their patients with various diagnostic, treatment, and preventive services. They can identify the underlying causes of foot and ankle conditions and develop customized treatment plans to address them. Here are some ways podiatrists can help with foot problems:
- Diagnosing conditions- Training enables podiatrists to identify various foot and ankle conditions, ranging from common problems like bunions and corns to more complex issues like nerve damage and infections. They use various diagnostic tools, including X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds, to help them diagnose conditions accurately.
- Providing treatments- Podiatrists can offer a range of treatments to help manage symptoms and promote healing once they have diagnosed a condition. These may include prescribing medications, physical therapy, orthotics, and other supportive devices or performing surgical procedures if necessary.
- Preventing future problems- Podiatrists also help their patients prevent future foot problems by providing education on foot care, recommending appropriate footwear, and identifying lifestyle alterations that may help reduce the risk of injury or infection.
Foot problems, if not treated timely, can lead to restricted movement, limited activity, or even disability. Thus, seeking appropriate and specialized foot care is crucial to overall body health.
What is the difference between an orthopedist and a podiatrist?
Many people often need clarification about the difference between a podiatrist and an orthopedist. Although both professionals are medical specialists, their specific areas of expertise differ. If you are still determining which one you need to see, it is important first to understand what each of them does.
An orthopedist, or orthopedic doctor, is a specialized physician proficient in identifying, addressing, and averting ailments and injuries related to the musculoskeletal system. If you experience an injury or have a condition impacting muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, or other connective tissues, an orthopedic doctor can provide the necessary treatment.
Typical problems orthopedic doctors handle include fractures, sprains, strains, ligament tears, spinal disc injuries, arthritic damage in joints, and sports injuries. Orthopedic specialists may specialize in areas like pediatrics, sports medicine, spine, upper extremity, and more. Some orthopedic professionals undergo additional training to become surgeons, performing various procedures to address issues that conservative treatments cannot resolve.
On the other hand, a podiatrist specializes in addressing various orthopedic issues and injuries that impact the foot and ankle. Whether you are dealing with plantar fasciitis, bone spurs, a sprained ankle, or other foot conditions like corns, calluses, heel spurs, fallen arches, or biomechanical problems, a podiatrist is trained to provide effective treatment. They also play a crucial role in diabetic foot care.
So, which medical professional to choose for your needs? Both use non-surgical, minimally invasive, and surgical therapies. If you are dealing with foot or ankle issues, it is wise to consult a podiatrist. For injuries or conditions involving other parts of your musculoskeletal system, seek consultation from an orthopedic physician. Specifically, if foot or ankle surgery is on the table, opt for a podiatrist. Although some orthopedic physicians can handle these procedures, a podiatrist excels in foot and ankle health.
How does diabetes affect the feet?
Having diabetes for an extended period can cause several complications, including problems related to the feet. Diabetes can cause problems like diabetic neuropathy and peripheral vascular diseases.
- Diabetic neuropathy- A condition where excessive diabetes causes damaged nerves in the legs and feet. There's a lack of feeling known as "sensory diabetic neuropathy." The muscles stop working correctly and cause misalignments in the feet, causing uneven pressure on the feet.
- Peripheral vascular disease- Diabetes can also affect the blood flow in the arms and legs. Poor blood flow causes the sores or cuts to heal slowly. This condition also raises the risk of developing ulcers or gangrene.
Foot complications from diabetes
If diabetes patients do not take proper care of their feet, any sores and cuts can cause severe problems affecting the function of the legs and feet. A few such complications are:
- Skin and bone infections- The nerve and blood vessel damage and immune system problems can cause minor cuts or wounds to take longer to heal and develop infections. The infections can be cured with antibiotics but might also require hospitalization in severe cases.
- Abscess- Abscesses are pockets of pus that form due to bone and tissue infections. They treat the abscess by draining it. It might also require the removal of some bone or tissue; however, there is a new treatment, like oxygen therapy, that can treat the condition and is less invasive.
- Gangrene- Excessive diabetes or diabetes for an extended period can cause the blood flow to be affected. Cutting off the blood flow damages the nerves and tissues. Doctors treat the condition with oxygen therapy, or they have to cut off the affected area as the only solution.
- Deformities- Deformities like hammertoes, claw feet, prominent metatarsal heads, or a high arch in the feet that won't flatten can develop due to weak muscle caused by nerve damage.
- Charcot's foot- Along with the nerves, prolonged diabetes can also weaken the bones in the body so much that they become brittle. Nerve damage can prevent you from feeling the pain of a broken bone. As you keep walking with the fractured feet, the feet will change their shape, making the arch of your feet collapse.
- Amputation- As people lack sensation due to issues with the blood flow to the feet, the wounds and cuts go unnoticed and develop an infection due to lack of care. If one doesn't attend to them on time, they may be unable to cure complications like abscesses and gangrene. After these stages, amputation is the only way of treating the difficulty.
How to find the best foot doctor near you in San Antonio?
Conditions related to the foot can quickly go from bad to worse, especially if one suffers from long-term medical conditions like diabetes. Taking proper care of your feet and having regular checkups with a podiatrist are essential. Zocdoc provides a platform that helps you find the best podiatrists near you, looks after your appointments, and provides quality treatment through the top-rated podiatrists it has on board.
You can easily find podiatrists anywhere in the U.S. by entering the condition or symptoms you are suffering from, specialist type, city or area zip code, and appointment date. Once you confirm your preferences, Zocdoc will display a list of matching provider profiles. You can also enter your insurance details to filter out the in-network providers.
The Zocdoc provider profile gives a comprehensive bio on each doctor, including their educational background, certification, and experience. It also includes the patient ratings and reviews of the provider to give you an idea of their working and help you make an informed decision.
Now, you can book a consultation with the best foot doctor near you on Zocdoc. It's easy, secure, and completely free!
Diabetes statistics in San Antonio
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every 1 in 10 adults in the USA, i.e., about 37.3 million, have diabetes. It also states that every 1 in 4 adults in the country is pre-diabetic. In 2019 alone, medical professionals reported over 1.4 million new cases of diabetes. It is also the seventh leading cause of fatalities in the U.S.
The government statistics of San Antonio estimate that approximately 15.5% of the adult population in Bexar County has been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. According to the CDC, type-2 diabetes can increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Sources
American Podiatric Medical Association
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
WebMD
Government of San Antonio
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care
Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence
Advanced Bone & Joint
