You probably don’t think about your feet unless they start to hurt — or worse, start to look weird. Here’s the thing about foot pain and/or foot deformity: You don’t have to suffer in silence. Instead of trying to forget about the pain or using your potent optimism to will away a deformity, you can go to a specialist in foot care treatment.
A podiatrist or foot doctor can diagnose and treat disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower extremity. The podiatrist is the only medical professional with the education and the training to exclusively treat your foot and ankle.
So when it concerns your feet, you need to seek a board-certified podiatrist. Laurel, MD residents have these four basic questions about feet that may help you gain better understanding of what a podiatrist can do.
1. Do I really need podiatric care?
According to podiatrists, most people will have some kind of foot problem, from smelly feet to corns or hammertoes. A foot problem has the potential to lead to other health issues affecting your knees, your hips, and your lower back.
People who experience sharp pain, numbness, or burning sensation in their toes, people who have skin problems like warts on the foot or discolored patches on a nail or foot, and people who have painful ingrown nails or black-and-blue nails due to injury will need to seek podiatric care. Sometimes, your general physician may recommend that you seek a podiatrist if a medical condition indicates critical foot issues.
2. What is a bunion and can it be treated?
A bunion is a localized enlargement of the inner part of the joint at the base of your big toe. Some cases reportedly present additional bone formation. The toe is then forced to bend towards the other toes, and this can cause a painful lump of the bone. If left untreated, it may cause extreme pain, so wearing shoes or walking can be difficult or nearly impossible.
Treatment will vary with the severity of the bunion, but the goal is to get early treatment options to relieve pressure and stop the deformity.
3. How do I wear high heels without damaging my feet?
Some podiatrists will recommend staying under two inches in height and choosing chunkier or wider heels because this design will give you a more stable base, putting less pressure on the front parts of your feet.
4. What can I do to improve my performance in marathons?
Choose the right shoes for your foot type (e.g., normal arch, high arch, or flat arch). There are different running shoes designed for different foot types. But before you head out to a sports shop, you need to check with your podiatrist because he or she can tell you your foot type. Then get proper advice on training for a 5K, half marathon, or a full marathon so you avoid usual foot injuries.
