Good Healthcare Requires Treatment of Your Mind, Body, and Soul

4 Reasons to See a Podiatrist

30 November 2017 by Hugh Larson

Since sore and tired feet seem to be so common, you may wonder when foot problems should be checked out by a podiatrist. It's not a good idea to ignore foot pain. Although you may experience it often, it doesn't mean it's normal. Here are some times it's a good idea to see a podiatrist.

When You Have an Injury or Sore That Doesn't Heal

If you have diabetes, you should see a podiatrist any time you have a sore or cut on your foot. A complication of diabetes is poor circulation which causes injuries to be slow to heal. Diabetes also causes nerve damage, which means you might not even feel an injury that would normally be painful. If you're not diabetic and you have an injury that doesn't heal at a normal pace, then you should see a podiatrist to prevent complications such as a deep infection and tissue damage.

If You Can't Get Rid of a Fungal Infection

Fungus infections are fairly common on feet. That's because feet are in a moist, warm environment for several hours each day. This promotes the growth of fungus between the toes and in the toenails. While you can treat many fungal infections at home using over-the-counter products, there are times when the infection won't clear up. You may need to have a laser treatment or a toenail removed to get rid of the fungus. Your podiatrist can prescribe antifungal medications and provide other treatments to help clear your infection.

When Resting Doesn't Help Foot Pain

When your feet are tired and sore after being on them all day, they should recover after a long rest with them elevated. When resting doesn't help your foot pain, that could indicate an injury of some sort. You could have a stress fracture in your foot that will cause pain every time you walk or run. You might even have a condition such as plantar fasciitis that makes walking painful, especially when you first get out of bed in the morning. Proper treatment for these conditions is important because that prevents more severe or permanent damage to your feet.

If You're Never Comfortable in Shoes

If you never can find a pair of shoes that fit right or if you always seem to have foot or back pain when you walk, you should have your gait analyzed by a podiatrist. You might roll your feet when you walk or have some other trait that makes shoes uncomfortable and that leads to back and foot pain. You might have feet of different shapes and sizes.

You could even have one leg longer than the other. A podiatrist can test your gait and measure your feet to determine the right size and type of shoe for each foot. You might need custom shoes to be truly comfortable. Your podiatrist can even make custom inserts that mold around your feet to give support where you need it in shoes off the shelf. Visit resources like http://www.westmorelandfootdoctor.com to learn more about your options. 

There's no reason to suffer with chronic foot problems no matter what the cause. While it might be normal to have achy feet occasionally, when you have chronic issues, you should see a podiatrist for an evaluation and treatment that brings relief.

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