Seeking the Right Professional Care for Foot Problems

There are many physicians who do not understand the foot’s anatomy, physiology, or function. Regardless of your foot problem, when you make an appointment for care, ask yourself, “Will my physician know what my foot problem is, and can he or she treat it?” While some problems are uncommon and rarely seen in the foot, such as a primary malignancy or cancer, others are very common. Many people have never heard of a podiatrist, so they do not know about the education, training, and services that are offered. On top of that, many people feel that a deformed or painful foot is “normal” and fail to seek care at all.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Regardless of the foot problem that brings a patient to my office, there usually is some treatment that can be done to resolve it and relieve their foot pain—even if only on a temporary basis. The two most motivating forces that bring patients into the office are pain and fear. I believe there should be a third and more positive reason why patients come to visit a podiatrist: for preventive foot care and education. Read about foot care in Keep The Legs You Stand On.

-drhinkes