Is foot or ankle pain stopping you from living your life to the fullest?
Perhaps you can’t get out and about to buy groceries, or you’re struggling to make it through a day on your job.
Standing up and trying to walk around for long periods of time is leaving you in pain and frustrated.
If you have some type of foot or ankle pain, it’s always best to seek the help of a professional who can get you back to feeling great again…
…but the question is: Do you need a podiatrist or an orthopedist for your condition?
The answer to this very common question lies in what your specific problem is and what type of treatment would be best for you.
In simple terms, a podiatrist focuses solely on conditions of the foot and ankle while an orthopedist focuses on the entire musculoskeletal system.
Many orthopedists specialize in specific areas of the body such as the:
But let’s break down both types of doctors a bit more, and get into the specifics of each specialty.
A podiatrist is a doctor of podiatric medicine, or a DPM.
Podiatrists diagnose, treat and help to prevent foot and ankle disorders, diseases and injuries.
Many times, leg injuries that occur as a result of foot and ankle conditions are treated by podiatrists.
Podiatrists are able to perform surgery and can also prescribe medicine and physical therapy sessions.
There are many podiatrists who are also specialists in dermatology, as they must often deal with skin conditions around the foot and ankle.
Arthritis, kidney disease and diabetes are just a few of the diseases with symptoms that manifest in the areas around the foot and ankle.
Because podiatrists have specialized training with the foot, they are typically the first in line to detect and diagnose these diseases.
Additionally, podiatrists treat conditions such as:
Next, let’s take a more in-depth look at what orthopedists do. An orthopedist is a medical doctor (MD).
He or she is able to diagnose, treat and help prevent diseases and injuries associated with the body’s musculoskeletal system.
The musculoskeletal system consists of the:
As mentioned above, most orthopedists specialize in a certain area of the body.
Orthopedists can prescribe medicine and physical therapy as well as perform surgery.
Those who specialize in the foot and ankle are usually able to link conditions in these areas to issues elsewhere in the musculoskeletal system.
Podiatrists and orthopedists both complete extensive schooling and training.
It’s standard for podiatrists to complete 4 years at a pediatric medical school followed by a three year residency.
On the other hand, orthopedists typically complete four years of medical school followed by a five year residency in their specialized field.
The main difference between training in the two fields is that podiatrists focus on the foot and ankle throughout their entire training…
…while orthopedists study the bones and joints in the entire body throughout most of their education, and then study a chosen field in their residency.
If your condition is related to the foot and/or ankle it is best to see a podiatrist first.
This is because podiatrists specialize in treating only the foot and ankle.
Their offices are specifically equipped and setup to treat these areas of the body.
When deciding which podiatrist is best for you, make sure that you take the time to review their educational background, their experience, and any patient testimonials you can find online.
After all, an informed choice is always the best choice!
Once you meet with your chosen podiatrist, make sure that you feel comfortable and confident with him or her.
When professional athletes get injured, they are sent by the team doctors to see an expert who specializes in the area of the body in which the injury occurred.
You should take this professional advice and do the same thing for yourself.
If once you see your podiatrist and they determine that your foot and/or ankle pain is being caused by another part of your body – such as your back – then it would be best to see an orthopedist that specializes in the back.
It is always best to start where the pain/injury/condition is and then go from there.
Your podiatrist should be able to refer you to a reputable orthopedist and also effectively communicate their findings to the orthopedic doctor.
This will enable you to get the proper diagnosis as quickly as possible so that you can begin effective treatment right away.
Following these steps that the pros use will help you get the proper treatment you need and get you “back on your feet” and feeling better.
If you have a foot and/or ankle injury and you’re experiencing pain, give us a call today or schedule an appointment online.
That way, we can determine the best course of action to treat your condition and help to relieve your pain as quickly as possible.
