Pain in the foot can be caused by a number of different conditions, including sports injuries, arthritis, bunions, calluses, and ingrown toenails. The severity of pain can range from mild to severe, and it can make it difficult to walk or stand for long periods of time.
If you do not want foot pain to limit your mobility any longer, the best thing to do is to see a doctor that specializes in treating foot injuries and conditions – a podiatrist. Not everyone is aware of the option to see a podiatrist for expert foot pain treatment. Let’s learn more.
What Can a Podiatrist Do For Foot Pain?
It can be very difficult to effectively treat foot pain if you do not know what is causing it. A podiatrist uses a combination of specialized knowledge and diagnostic tools to determine the cause of foot pain. An accurate diagnosis is critical to effective foot pain treatment, as it is the basis of every individualized treatment plan.
Foot pain can be due to the following causes:
A podiatrist can prescribe treatments such as in-office procedures, custom orthotics, physical therapy, and surgery, as needed. Lifestyle changes are also helpful in easing foot pain. Podiatrists customize their recommendations according to their patient’s unique needs. They can also give you advice on how to improve foot and ankle health, which increases your chances of living pain-free and having fully-functional feet and ankles well into the future.
Why a Podiatrist and Not an Orthopedic Doctor?
Unlike a general orthopedist, who treats the entire body, a podiatrist is solely focused on treatments for foot and ankle conditions and injuries. They can thoroughly check your feet and ankles and identify potential issues, such as structural issues that can increase your risk for many foot problems, including foot pain. Why not see a specialist who has substantial experience in the specific body part that’s ailing you?
You are more likely to get a speedy diagnosis and treatment for foot pain from a podiatrist, since their main focus is on foot and ankle health, and they have spent their entire training and career diagnosing, treating, and preventing podiatric issues.
As a general rule, if foot pain is your only issue, a podiatrist is a great choice. If you have pain all throughout your body, such as the neck and back, you should see an orthopedic doctor. If you can find a doctor that is trained in both orthopedics and podiatry, that is much better in the long run.
Foot Doctor in Naples, FL
Dr. H. Kurtis Biggs at The Joint Replacement Institute provides superior foot and ankle services, regularly treating patients who visit us because of foot pain. Dr. Briggs is board-certified and fellowship-trained and is trained in orthopedics and podiatry. You no longer need to choose between an orthopedic doctor and a podiatrist, since he fulfills both roles.
For top-notch podiatry care, schedule an appointment with Dr. Biggs. Call our office today at (239) 261-2663 or use our convenient appointment request form.
FAQs
A surgically trained podiatrist or a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon are both excellent choices.
What type of doctor is best for foot surgery? ›
Both podiatrists and orthopaedic surgeons are qualified to treat foot and ankle conditions, surgically and non-surgically. In general, the best bet is to choose the doctor you feel the most comfortable with, or who has the most experience treating your particular condition.
Which Dr is best for foot pain? ›
If you are experiencing foot pain, it is best to see a podiatrist. Podiatrists and orthopaedic surgeons are both qualified to diagnose and treat surgical and non-surgical foot and ankle conditions.
What is the difference between a podiatrist and an orthopedic foot doctor? ›
There is one big difference, though: podiatrists and orthopedic doctors treat different body systems. An orthopedic doctor treats issues with bones, muscles, and ligaments all throughout the body, including the knees, hips, and feet, whereas a podiatrist treats foot, ankle, and heel problems exclusively.
Which specialist is consulted for foot conditions? ›
Podiatrists are medical specialists who help with problems that affect your feet or lower legs. They can treat injuries as well as complications from ongoing health issues like diabetes. You might hear them called a podiatric physician or doctor of podiatric medicine.
What is the downside to foot surgery? ›
Complications of foot and ankle surgery can include infections, swelling and stiffness, and wound haematoma (bleeding). If you're generally healthy the risk of a serious complication from an operation is very small. Every possible care is taken to prevent complications, but in a few cases these do happen.
Who is the best foot surgeon in the United States? ›
Dr. Vladimir Zeetser is a board certified podiatric physician and surgeon specializing in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery.
What is higher than a podiatrist? ›
The truth is that foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons have the most comprehensive training available for nonsurgical treatment options and have the highest level of qualifications to diagnose the root cause of any foot or ankle problem.
Should I see a podiatrist or orthotist? ›
While podiatrists focus on lower limb health, orthotics cover the entire body. Orthotics involves devices such as braces, compression garments, insoles, custom orthotic devices and orthotic footwear. People with medical conditions, disabilities, and injuries benefit greatly from orthoses.
What kind of doctor is best for bunion surgery? ›
Although bunions can also be addressed by an orthopedic doctor, your best course of action is to see a podiatrist, who specializes in the treatment of conditions or injuries involving the foot or ankle.
Podiatrists treat everything from bunions to infected toenails, and patients are guaranteed to receive the best answer for their foot problems from a podiatrist. But there is another term that many people – particularly older patients – still use for foot doctors: chiropodist.
What professionals can help with foot care? ›
A podiatrist (chiropodist) can help you with common foot problems, including ingrown toenails and bunions. What does a podiatrist do? Podiatrists are healthcare professionals who have been trained to diagnose and treat abnormal conditions of the feet and lower limbs.
What is the medical term for a specialist who treats and diagnoses foot diseases and disorders such as corns? ›
A podiatrist, also called a doctor of podiatric medicine, is a specialist who provides medical diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle problems, such as bunions, heel pain, spurs, hammertoes, neuromas, ingrown toenails, warts, corns and calluses.
Is foot surgery considered orthopedic surgery? ›
Podiatrists specialize in foot and ankle care. Conversely, orthopedists cater to general musculoskeletal problems. Although an orthopedist technically has studied foot and ankle problems, a podiatrist specializes in them.
Is it worth having foot surgery? ›
Early detection and treatment can help avoid surgery but if the condition does not respond to conservative treatment, gets worse, or affects the quality of life, reconstructive foot surgery should be considered. A good podiatrist will provide an expert treatment plan for your foot condition.
What is another name for a podiatrist or foot doctor? ›
Podiatrists treat everything from bunions to infected toenails, and patients are guaranteed to receive the best answer for their foot problems from a podiatrist. But there is another term that many people – particularly older patients – still use for foot doctors: chiropodist.
What is the difference between a podiatrist and an orthotist? ›
Podiatrists specialise in assessing and treating various foot-related conditions to promote overall lower limb health. On the other hand, orthotists are trained experts in orthotics, which involves using external devices to correct bone and muscle alignment in the body.
