What is a Podiatrist?

A podiatrist is a foot doctor. They are also known as a doctor of podiatric medicine or DPM. A podiatrist will be given the letters DPM after their name.

This type of physician or surgeon treats the foot, ankle, and connecting parts of the leg. An older name for a podiatrist is chiropodist, which is occasionally still used.

Medical training

Like other kinds of physicians and surgeons, podiatrists complete 4 years of study and training in podiatric medical school. Then they gain experience in at least 3 years of residency training in hospitals and clinics.

Eventually, after passing all the necessary exams, podiatrists are certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM). Some podiatrists might also complete more specialized fellowship training that concentrates on a specific area. That makes a podiatrist a specialist in foot health.

Podiatric surgeons

A podiatrist who specializes in foot surgery is known as a podiatric surgeon. They are certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS). A podiatric surgeon has passed unique exams in both general foot health and surgery for foot diseases and injuries.

Podiatrists must also be licensed to practice in the state where they work. They can’t practice without a license. Like all doctors, podiatrists are required to renew their licenses every few years. They might also need to keep up to date with their training by attending special yearly seminars.

Foot conditions

A podiatrist treats people of all ages. Most treat a range of normal foot conditions. This is similar to a family doctor or a general care physician.

Some podiatrists are specialized in different areas of foot medicine. They might be specialists in:

• Surgery
• Wound care
• Sports medicine
• Diabetes
• Pediatric (children)
• Other kinds of foot care

If your feet hurt you may need to see a podiatrist. Even if you do not have foot pain, it is a good idea to get your feet checked. A podiatrist could safely remove hard skin on your feet and clip your toenails correctly. They could also tell you what types of shoes are best for your feet.

Common foot problems

The most common foot problems include:

• Ingrown toenails
• Blisters
• Warts
• Corns
• Calluses
• Bunions
• Nail infections
• Foot infections
• Smelly feet
• Heel pain
• Heel spurs
• Dry or cracked heel skin
• Flat feet
• Hammertoes
• Neuromas
• Sprains
• Arthritis
• Foot injuries
• Foot ligament or muscle pain

Other podiatrists focus on specific feet issues, like:

• Bunion removal
• Fractures or broken bones
• Tumors
• Skin or nail diseases
• Wound care
• Ulcers
• Artery (blood flow) disease
• Walking patterns
• Corrective orthotics (foot braces and insoles)
• Flexible casts
• Amputations
• Foot prosthetics

Risk factors

Having specific health conditions could trigger foot issues in some people. Those include:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• High cholesterol
• Poor blood circulation
• Heart disease and stroke

People with diabetes are at greater risk of foot problems. Pay particular attention to every change in the way your feet feel. Keep a diary of all signs and symptoms relating to your feet. Treating an underlying condition can help relieve foot pain.

Let your podiatrist know if you have any symptoms of diabetic foot complications, such as:

• Dry or cracked skin
• Calluses or hard skin
• Cracked or dry toenails
• Discolored toenails
• A bad foot smells
• Sharp or burning pain
• Tenderness
• Numbness or tingling
• Sore or ulcer
• Pain in your calves (lower legs) when walking

Why see a podiatrist?

You may need to see both your family doctor and a podiatrist if you have pain or an injury in any part of the foot. You might also see other kinds of specialist doctors. Physical therapy might also help your symptoms.

Your family doctor or general care physician could examine your foot to find out what is causing your pain. Tests and scans for foot pain involve:

• Blood test
• Nail swab
• Ultrasound
• X-ray
• MRI scan

Here are a few reasons you might need to see your doctor or podiatrist for foot conditions:

• Nail infection - If your foot pain is caused by a general health condition your family doctor might be able to treat it with medication. For instance, you might require antifungal medication to treat nail infections.
• Gout and arthritis - These could cause pain in your feet and toes. Treatment is required to help lessen the symptoms of both gout and arthritis. Your family doctor or your podiatrist could treat these conditions.
• Flat feet - You might need to wear orthotics, like a foot brace or arch support, for flat feet and weak or injured foot ligaments. A podiatrist will take molds of your feet to make customized foot support braces for you.
• Diabetes could cause nerve damage in your feet and other areas. This could lead to numbness, pain, and ulcers on your feet and legs. If you have foot issues because of diabetes, you will need to see a podiatrist and other doctors. This might include your family physician, a vascular (blood vessel) surgeon, and a neurologist (nerve specialist).
• Ankle and knee problems - You might need to consult a podiatrist, orthopedic surgeon, and sports medicine doctor to help treat the cause of an ankle or knee problem. You might also require long-term physical therapy to strengthen the joints and muscles in your knee, ankle, and foot.

When to see a podiatrist?

The foot consists of 26 bones. This complex part of your body also includes a number of:

• Joints
• Tendons
• Ligaments
• Muscles

All of the parts of your feet are designed to sustain your weight and help you stand, walk, and run. Foot pain could limit your movement. Some health conditions could damage your feet if they are not treated properly. A podiatrist is a specialist on every part of the foot.

Consult a podiatrist if you have foot pain or injury. Seek urgent medical care if you have any of these symptoms for more than one or two days:

• Severe pain
• Swelling
• Numbness or tingling
• Open sore or wound
• Infection (redness, warmth, tenderness, or a fever)

Call your podiatrist or family doctor immediately if you are unable to walk or cannot put weight on your foot.

The bottom line

Have your feet checked by your podiatrist even if you have healthy feet. This could help prevent foot, toe, and nail problems. You could also learn what to look out for and what shoes and insoles are best for your feet.

A podiatrist could help diagnose your foot problem and find the best treatment plan for you. They are foot experts who have spent years of study and training to help keep your feet healthy.

Hill Regional (HRH) Hospital is here to assist all your medical needs with specialists and surgeons trained and experienced in the most advanced treatments. Our highly qualified doctors, nurses, and administrators are dedicated to caring for you with compassion in our state-of-the-art facilities.

Call us on 254-580-8500 to book an appointment with our specialist doctors.