Who is a podiatrist?
Podiatrists specialize in diagnosing and treating the ankle, foot, and connecting parts of the legs. They provide individual consultations to patients regarding preventive foot care and ongoing disorders.
They receive doctorate degrees from accredited institutions for podiatric medicine and gain hands-on experience during residency programs in clinics or hospitals. After completing their training, all podiatrists must pass the requirements for board certification. A fully licensed podiatrist has "DPM" after their name, suggesting they are a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine.
Podiatrists often tend to general foot conditions, like a primary care provider. However, they can also subspecialize in specific issues or areas of care, such as:
- autoimmune and inflammatory conditions
- circulatory food conditions
- diabetes
- dermatology
- general or reconstructive surgery
- geriatric care
- neurological foot conditions
- orthotics
- pediatric care
How do orthopedists and podiatrists differ?
Podiatrists and orthopedists can both address similar problems arising in the feet. This, however, does not mean that their professions are the same. While an orthopedist or orthopedic surgeon treats issues affecting the musculoskeletal system, a podiatrist can only treat disorders of the foot and, in some cases, the ankle and lower leg.
Orthopedists treat musculoskeletal conditions, including arthritis, bursitis, fractures, ligament and tendon injuries, neck and back pain, hand and wrist injuries, and sports injuries. They may also specialize in caring for specific body parts, like the spine or hip. Orthopedists can also become experts in particular types of treatment, like sports medicine and total joint reconstruction. While orthopedic surgeons treat foot and ankle conditions, patients often seek initial care from podiatrists.
What foot conditions can a podiatrist treat?
Podiatrists usually treat patients of all ages, helping manage conditions such as:
- Morton's neuroma: Nerve problems between your foot's third and fourth bones can result in pain, burning, and the sensation of something inside your shoe, usually impacting runners. Tight shoes and overpronation make matters worse. A podiatrist can administer pain and inflammation-relieving medications and assist you with choosing an orthotic. In some cases, you may need to undergo surgery to treat this condition.
- Arthritis: This is the outcome of inflammation, edema, and joint wear and tear. A podiatrist may offer physical therapy, medications, special shoes, or inserts to treat your arthritis. If other treatments prove ineffective, they may also recommend surgery.
- Nail infections: These include fungus-related nail infections and ingrown toenails. They occur when a nail's corner or side grows into your toe rather than straight out.
- Growing pains: If your child's feet point inward or appear flat, or their toes do not line up correctly, a podiatrist may be able to help. They may recommend workouts, orthotics, or braces. Alternatively, they may suggest surgery.
What diagnostic procedures do podiatrists perform?
When you visit a podiatrist near you, they may perform some tests to diagnose your condition. Diagnosis is crucial for treating, managing, or preventing foot, ankle, and lower limb problems. Following are some diagnostic procedures that podiatrists generally perform:
- Arthrography: This imaging procedure uses injected contrast iodine solution to identify the cause of cartilage, ligament, or tendon pain.
- Bone scans: A Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan is a type of bone scan that detects weak or brittle bones. Some other bone scans can spot fractures or regions with exceptionally active bone growth.
- Computed tomography (CT) scans: Podiatrists look at the lower extremities for injury or growth from different angles. CT scans are non-invasive and painless and help make more insightful analyses.
- Electromyography (EMG): It records and examines your muscles' electrical activity to look for nerve or muscle disease signs.
- Doppler ultrasound: It is a device that uses high-frequency sound waves that podiatrists use to identify blockages in the blood vessels of your legs.
- Joint aspiration: In this procedure, podiatrists take fluid from the joint area to identify infections or inflammatory diseases like gout.
What treatment options do podiatrists offer?
While offering treatment options, your podiatrist may work with other specialists or a team of doctors who can help you with your condition. Podiatrists provide treatments such as:
- Setting fractured bones
- Prescribing antibiotics, pain relievers, and antifungals
- Administering corticosteroid or cortisone, joint injections
- Suggesting corrective footwear, insoles, braces, or other orthotic devices.
- Performing joint aspiration or removing fluid from the space around a joint
Podiatric surgeons perform different surgical procedures to
- Set broken toes
- Remove bunions, tumors, or bone spurs.
- Treat inflamed or torn tendons and ligaments.
- Debride damaged, infected, or dead tissue.
- Correct structural abnormalities, such as hammertoes and flat feet
When should you see a podiatrist?
If you have arthritis or gout, your feet and toes may hurt. In such a case, you should book an appointment with a foot doctor to ease the symptoms. It is also advisable to see them if you have flat feet or injured foot ligaments because you may need to wear orthotics. They will create custom foot support braces for you by taking molds off your feet.
You can also consult podiatrists near you if you have diabetes and are experiencing numbness or pain in your legs or feet. If you have skin and nail problems, tumors, congenital (at birth) deformities, or ulcers, visiting a podiatrist may also help.
Calluses are one of the most common reasons people visit a podiatrist. It is a hard skin patch that does not bleed when superficial skin is scraped off but reveals dead skin. You should see a podiatrist even for acute injury with swelling and sudden pain or if the pain lasts more than a week.
What to expect at your podiatrist appointment and how to prepare?
No matter what your age, you can benefit from having a podiatrist as a part of your healthcare team. Podiatrists see infants or children with structural changes in their feet or those who have imbalances in the way they walk (gait imbalance). They also treat older adults who experience issues with balance and foot structure changes that affect mobility. If you have persistent pain, swelling, or discomfort in your ankles and feet that does not improve over time with over-the-counter medications, it may be time to ask your primary care provider for a referral to a podiatrist. Such symptoms tend to worsen over time; therefore, you should get a referral or speak directly to a podiatrist soon.
During the visit, your podiatrist will first want to understand your symptoms and medical history. They will check for tenderness, test the range of motion in your joints, and conduct a gait assessment, i.e., examine the way you stand or walk. They may also ask you about the kind of shoes you wear most often and how they fit. During their examination, your podiatrist will check for conditions like flat feet, fractures, ingrown toenails, deformities, and joint issues. They will also check the circulation in your feet and determine if you have diabetes or vascular disease.
Depending on your symptoms, your treatment can range from pain medications to custom orthotics or physical therapy. Your podiatrist might treat some issues in their clinic or office. If non-surgical treatments do not work, your podiatrist may recommend surgery after a thorough evaluation. Podiatrists can perform arthroscopy, correction of hammertoe, bunion removal, and repair of torn tendons or ligaments. In cases of severe arthritis, joint replacement or fusion may be necessary.
Preparing for your podiatrist appointment can help you get the most out of your consultation. Here are some tips that may help you prepare for your upcoming podiatry appointment:
- Note down all the symptoms you have been experiencing and any recent changes or patterns that you have observed. Also, note the frequency, intensity, and duration of the symptoms.
- Remember to carry all your previous health records. This includes your personal and family medical history, allergies, any prescription or over-the-counter medications you have been taking (including vitamins or supplements), and if you have had any tests (X-rays, MRI scans, and lab reports) or surgeries done in the past.
- If you are facing issues walking or running, carry your walking or exercising shoes to your podiatrist. Your doctor can also review previously prescribed inserts or orthotics if you have any.
- If you have any concerns or questions regarding treatment, diagnostic procedures, or medications, ensure you carry a list of those questions with you to your appointment.
- If you have special needs, inform your podiatrist’s office before going and take a friend or family member along with you if required.
- If you are virtually consulting your podiatrist, ensure there is a camera and adequate lighting. You may also send pictures or videos ahead of time so that your podiatrist can take a look at them before your appointment. In case your podiatrist wants to conduct a gait assessment, set your camera up in a space like a hallway so your doctor can examine you.
How do podiatrists contribute to diabetes-related foot care?
People with diabetes are at greater risk of foot ulcers and infections. Typically, discomfort in your feet is the first sign of diabetes-related neuropathy.
A podiatrist can be a crucial member of your diabetes care team. They will examine your feet for evidence of diabetes-related foot problems. Additionally, the podiatrists will:
- Ask if you are experiencing any symptoms and how you are controlling your blood glucose.
- Examine your toes, feet, and legs.
- Touch your toes, feet, and legs using various tools to assess for numbness and loss of feeling.
If they detect a diabetes-related blister or ulcer, the podiatrist will:
- Examine it for symptoms of infection, such as swelling, discoloration, warmth, or discharge.
- Order tests that generate images deeper than your skin, such as X-rays.
- Collect a sample of the discharge or skin to check for infections.
How do you maintain foot hygiene?
Maintaining good hygiene and caring for your feet will help avoid many diseases and problems. Examine your feet daily for cuts, bruising, sores, and infected toenails. Ensure you clean them thoroughly in warm water, but avoid soaking them as this may cause them to dry out. Every day, moisturize them with cream, lotion, or petroleum jelly. Avoid applying moisturizer between your toes to keep your skin dry and bacteria-free.
Your shoes should not cause pain in your feet. Hence, avoid wearing shoes that are too tight. Also, steer clear of flats or flip-flops as they do not adequately support the arches of the feet. It is recommended to refrain from wearing the same pair of shoes daily. Avoid wearing socks that are too restrictive or tight while sleeping.
Cut the entire length of your nails with a nail clipper. Then, round the corners of the nail with a nail file or an emery board to prevent it from penetrating your skin. Avoid using polish to cover up stains on your nails. Allow them some space while you address the underlying issue. Do not treat ingrown nails with "do-it-yourself (DIY)" surgery. Leave calluses untrimmed.
You can also try the yoga "legs up the wall" after a long day or a challenging workout. Schedule a reflexology session or have your feet massaged. If possible, roll a tennis ball under your feet.
How to find the best podiatrist near you in White Plains, NY?
Always taking good care of your feet is advisable. Neglecting them can harm your overall health and lead to more severe problems. Even if your feet are healthy, get them examined by a podiatrist. However, finding the best podiatrist in White Plains, New York, may be challenging, delaying the visit. Zocdoc aims to match patients with the best providers possible.
You can look for providers using your Zocdoc account and enter your symptoms. You can also choose your time, location, and date. Additionally, you may use the built-in tool to narrow down your search to locate podiatrists depending on the languages they speak, affiliations with hospitals, gender, and whether or not they treat children. Each provider's qualifications, affiliations, honors, certifications, experience, areas of expertise, licensure, and other details appear on Zocdoc.
Find the top podiatrist in your area by looking through this information. Zocdoc is constantly gathering and updating patient feedback and ratings. You can book in-person or online appointments with a podiatrist who accepts your insurance plan. Use Zocdoc's insurance checker if you need clarification on your insurance plan. If you aren't able to find your specific plan manually from the drop-down menu, you can try uploading a photo of your insurance card. Allow Zocdoc to scan the image of your insurance card and display an insurance plan that matches your card. Note you can do this for medical insurance cards only. Dental and vision insurance cards are excluded. If you are having trouble uploading your insurance card, reach out to Zocdoc's service team, available 365 days a year via email or chat. To get more insurance-related information, check out Zocdoc's patient help center.
All appointments with Zocdoc are easy, secure, and free.
Podiatric health statistics in White Plains, New York
Over 3 million New York State adults live with arthritis pain, according to the 2020 New York State Department of Health dataset. Key findings from the 2021-22 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) by the New York State Department of Health show that around 3.4 million New Yorkers were diagnosed with arthritis in 2019. The American Podiatric Medical Association states that arthritis can impact the structure of feet. Hence, it is essential to see podiatrists. They control inflammation and preserve joint function through their treatment.
According to the Diabetes in New York State October 2015 data by the Office of the New York State Comptroller, there were approximately 4,035 diabetes deaths in New York in 2013. The 2021 American Diabetes Association report shows that about 139,389 people in New York are diagnosed with diabetes yearly. Furthermore, approximately 1,717,067 people in New York will be diagnosed with diabetes by 2021. An additional 456,000 people in New York have diabetes, which puts their health at risk.
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