Pain in your feet can be some of the most uncomfortable to endure. It can affect your mobility and your ability to enjoy life. In many cases, seeing a podiatrist can offer you many ways to manage (and sometimes even cure) your foot pain. Here are some common foot ailments and situations when podiatry can help you.
1. Diabetes – Diabetics are prone to foot problems. Some are as simple as dry skin, while others are very serious. Many diabetics experience pain and tingling in their feet. If you are diabetic, it’s a good idea to see a podiatrist once a year to ensure your feet are healthy and to address any potential problems early on.
2. Heel pain – Heel pain is another common problem. If you have heel pain that affects your ability to perform daily activities, see a podiatrist. The two most common causes of heel pain include:
• Bone spurs – this is a bone-like growth on your heel. You may not see it, but it can cause a great deal of pain.
• Plantar fasciitis – this is inflammation of one of the tendons in the foot connecting to the heel. Both of these problems can be treated or corrected by your podiatrist.
3. Stubborn ingrown toenail – If you have an ingrown toenail that will not heal despite soaking with Epsom salt, your podiatrist can help. If the toenail is infected, he can prescribe anti-biotics. In addition, he may cut out part of the toenail to fix the problem.
4. Bunions – A bunion is a large bump, which looks like a protruding bone at the base of your big toe. It is a result of the bone or joint of the toe becoming out of place, and can be quite painful. A podiatrist can suggest medications, as well as padding to help alleviate pain. In extreme cases, surgery may be required.
5. Painful corns and callouses – Corns and callouses are simply a buildup of thick, dead skin. Regular pedicures can keep these at bay. However, if a corn or callous gets too large, it can become painful and may make it difficult to find comfortable shoes. The podiatrist can provide options to both relieve the pain and reduce the size.
No one should have to live with pain in their feet. Podiatry is an area of medicine that offers many options for treatment or cure of your painful foot problems. An answer to your foot pain problem may be closer than you think.
Suburban Orthopedics offers a wide range of specialists, including those in podiatry. Our office can help manage many types of foot problems. You can follow them on Twitter for further news and updates!
