Most of the time people ask questions about their foot conditions; the more commonly asked questions are how to prevent arthritis and other problems, what is a podiatrist and how to get rid of plantar fasciitis. Other questions people ask a st ives podiatrist is what are the risks involved with walking on a cracked heel, what are the best methods of treatment for bunions, and how do I avoid having hammer toes. Some of the most common questions that I receive are how to prevent a nerve injury, what are the best types of shoes to wear, do I need surgery, and will my feet ever look normal again. While these are all excellent questions, most people do not have a clear picture of what the typical podiatrist office will entail. Below I have listed some of the common questions people ask podiatrists.
The most common question people have is, what exactly is a podiatrist. A podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in the foot. They see over one hundred patients a year and keep all sorts of books on the foot. There is another common question that I receive and it’s the why of getting creams, orthotics, and taking x-rays. The common question I get is, “Why do I need all this?” A simple explanation is if your foot hurts when you walk or run, it is not good.
The most common reason that people visit a podiatrist is because they are suffering from pain. Let me give an example of this, many people think that running will cause them to feel a lot of pain, but actually running usually causes them to feel nothing. The problem is that a runner is doing hundreds of miles per day, and the feet will start to hurt after a while. The podiatrist will prescribe pain killers that are non-steroidal. I have some people that actually do not feel much of the pain from their run so they go to a chiropractor instead.
Another common question that people ask is, “How do I find out if I have Foot Pain?” My answer to this question is actually quite simple. Many podiatrists will have a table at the practice where you can write down any symptoms that you may be experiencing. After seeing a podiatrist for foot pain, many times they will write down X-rays as well. If the pain persists after a couple of days of seeing the podiatrist, many times they will prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication such as asrognathium, indomethacin, or ibuprofen to help relieve the pain.
One more common question that people have is, “Do I need surgery?” Surgery is used as a last resort when everything else has failed. There are many different types of surgery that a podiatrist can perform. Some of these surgeries are; arthroscopy, joint replacement, microphlebectomy, metatarsal osteotomy, plantar wart removal, hammer toes removal, metatarsus release, metatarsus tibialis insertions, and patellar tendonitis.
These are just a few of the many questions that are asked by many people who visit a podiatrist to treat their foot pain. The most important thing to remember is that a podiatrist will always be willing to help you find relief for your foot pain. The most important thing for you to do is to take the time to sit down with your podiatrist and find out what the best course of action is for your type of foot pain. Remember, no one has all the answers but you.