Feet and ankles are some of the vital body appendages that ensure an individual has mobility, weight bearing and the ability to go through normal daily activities. However, the foot care most often goes unnoticed unless an ailment or a complication develops in the feet area.
Understanding when to seek services of a podiatry specialist can assist one to seek the services early enough to prevent the situation from worsening or cause your feet to become non-functional.
Some of the general foot and ankle problems that would need podiatric physicians’ attention include the following;
Continuing Pain in the Foot or Ankle
Any kind of discomfort in your feet or ankles that persists even after you do not use them for quite some time and even if you apply ice and pop a few pills does seem suspicious. Other illnesses such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis or stress fractures may need the services of a podiatry specialist.
These specialists can identify the source of your pain and refer you to the right treatment; physical therapy, prescription of orthopedic shoes, or the surgical intervention where appropriate.
Diabetic Foot Complications
Foot care is an important factor for any person with Diabetes. Diabetes can also result in nerve disorders and poor circulation causing prospects of having ulcers, infected and getting amputated feet if not well controlled.
Podiatric care is very essential for constant check up to avoid complications that affect the feet, especially for those with diabetes, surgery patients, and chronic foot ulcers. It is also important to know that podiatrists can recommend purpose-made diabetic shoes and insoles for your feet protection.
Bunions and Hammertoes
What do bunions and hammertoes cause? These are deformities that are relatively frequent and that may result in impaired mobility due to the pain they cause. These diseases get aggravated as time passes and one might need a podiatrist. The deformities are treated in a hierarchical fashion with the most minimally invasive procedures such as modifications and padding to surgery.
Sports Injuries
Due to the physical demands, athletes and other active persons are susceptible to foot and ankle injuries including sprains, fractures and tendinitis among others. When taken to a podiatry specialist, one is likely to receive custom treatment that will enable him or her to recover without much lost time.
They should also be able to give information on ways to avoid injures, correct shoes to wear and other recommended ways to increase performance while not harming your feet.
Skin changes or nail Changes
If there are changes in skin or nails of your feet like; change in color, thick skin, warts etc., you should consult a podiatrist. Such changes may mean the presence of some diseases like fungal infections, psoriasis, skin cancer, among others. Preventive care is something that should be done as soon as possible and it has effects for avoiding more severe health problems.
A close look on Early Intervention
This must be done especially for matters pertaining to the feet and ankles since visiting a podiatry specialist once complications arise is disadvantageous for your movement. Podiatrists’ specialization means that they are able to identify and treat all kinds of problems that can happen with the feet and ankles, and offer short-term and long-term solutions that a GP can never do.
If you treat issues that you experience at its proper time, you do not have to use invasive procedures and you can rest assured that your feet will be in good condition and you will no longer feel the pain that you used to feel.
