A podiatrist is a foot doctor who specializes in conditions, injuries, and disorders of the feet and ankles. They have the education and medical training needed to evaluate, diagnose, and treat problems with the foot and ankle.
A foot doctor can treat a wide range of foot and ankle conditions, and they can often also perform surgery as necessary – as in the case of broken bones, torn ligaments, torn tendons, or other internal injuries of the ankles or feet. They are also specialists who diagnose and treat diabetic foot, peripheral neuropathy, and arthritis.
Conditions Treated by a Podiatrist
Some of the most common health conditions a foot doctor can treat include the following:
Foot and Heel Pain
If you have chronic or intermittent pain in your foot area, it could indicate an injury. Conditions that cause foot and heel pain include plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, hammertoe, and bunions.
Skin Growths
Growths such as corns, calluses, and warts may cause foot pain. Calluses and corns are thickened areas of the skin, thereby making it difficult and painful to wear your shoes. Warts are skin lesions that are due to a viral infection, and they do hurt when you wear your shoes and walk or stand.
Arch Disorders
Foot arches that are too high, too low, or flat can lead to a host of other problems. An arch problem can often be fixed by having a podiatrist have you fitted for customized arch supports.
Without custom orthotics, arch disorders can cause plantar fasciitis (which causes heel pain), hip problems, and back pain. That is why people with arch disorders need proper support for their feet.
Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle
Arthritis can cause pain, tenderness, swelling, and joint stiffness. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout most often afflict the feet and ankles. Treatment usually involves a comprehensive program that may include anti-inflammatories, steroid injections, orthotics, and physical therapy.
Diabetic Foot
People with diabetes need specialized care for their feet, since their health condition can cause nerve damage particularly in the feet and legs due to peripheral neuropathy. This peripheral nerve damage can result in loss of feeling and sensation, which can make the diabetic unaware of any scrapes, scratches, or wounds in the area.
If a foot injury is ignored, this can eventually result in an infection that requires amputation of the limb. Foot doctors therefore specialize in providing diabetic foot care in order to reduce the risk of infection in the legs and feet of diabetics.
Foot Doctors in Cincinnati
At Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care, our highly skilled and experienced podiatrists and foot surgeons are here to diagnose and treat all types of foot and ankle disorders. We have many locations throughout the greater Cincinnati and southwest Ohio area, and we’re sure to have one near you.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists, contact us today by calling us at the location near you or by filling out our easy-to-use appointment request form online now. Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care accepts same-day and next-day appointments, and we look forward to seeing you here.
