Podiatry is a medical specialty devoted to the study of diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower extremity. A Podiatrist, or Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), is a medical specialist who diagnoses and treats conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and structures of the leg.
Why would I need to see a Podiatrist?
There are many reasons a person may need to see a Podiatrist. Our Board-Certified Podiatrists and Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner are frequently asked to evaluate the following problems:
| Arthritis of the foot or ankle joints |
Fractures of the toes / foot / ankle |
| Tendon pain or rupture |
Congenital abnormalities and deformities |
| Flat feet |
Tailor's Bunions |
| Heel Pain |
Discolored or yellow toenails |
| Ingrown toenails |
Soreness in toes |
| Open sores |
Discomfort with toenails |
| Hammer toes |
Pain in the pad of the foot |
| Bunions |
Irritation or discomfort on the bottom of the foot |
| Pain while walking or sleeping |
Gout flare up |
| Abnormal swelling or numbness |
Tendinitis |
| Haglund’s Deformity |
What should I do to prepare for my visit?
Whether it’s your first visit with us or your tenth, here are a few tips to help make the most of your time with our podiatrists.
Before your visit:
- Make a list of your symptoms and questions.
- Make a list of all medications and any previous surgeries.
- Gather and bring important medical records and laboratory test reports from other doctors or hospitals (including X-rays, MRIs, and lab results).
- Check with your insurance provider to see if a referral is needed.
- Call before your visit to tell the office if you have special needs.
- Bring a friend or family member if you think it will be helpful.
- If your problem involves walking and/or exercise, bring your walking/exercise shoes with you to the appointment.
During your visit:
- Go over your list of questions.
- If you do not understand an answer, be sure to ask for further explanation.
- Take notes and listen carefully.
- Discuss your symptoms and any recent changes you may have noticed.
- Talk about all new medications.
- Ask why it has been prescribed, and how to take it.
- Describe any allergies.
- Tell your podiatrist if you are pregnant or if you are trying to get pregnant.
- Let your podiatrist know if you are being treated by other doctors.
After your visit:
- Prepare for any tests your podiatrist orders.
- Ask about what you need to do to get ready, possible side effects, and when you can expect results.
- Ask when and how the test results will be made available to you.
- Schedule a follow-up appointment (if necessary) before you leave your podiatrist's office.
- Call your podiatrist's office and ask for your test results if you do not hear from the office when you are supposed to
References: http://www.apma.org/index.cfm
