At some point in their lives, a person will more than likely experience at least one foot and ankle problem. In a sea of different doctors, who oftentimes treat the same parts of the body, what is a podiatrist, and what can a podiatrist do?
Podiatrists are doctors who can order labs and other tests, prescribe medications, perform surgery, treat cosmetic foot problems, and even treat foot issues with an integrative focus, including regenerative medicine.
What is a Podiatrist?
A podiatrist or foot doctor is a physician that is specialized in treating diseases and conditions of the foot, ankle, or lower leg.
In the U.S., a podiatrist's education includes 4 years of college, 4 years of podiatric medical school, and at least 3 years of residency training.
A residency in podiatry is surgery-focused. In addition to performing surges of the foot, ankle, and lower leg, podiatric residency includes working in different departments of hospitals, in addition to outpatient clinics and private practices.
What Can a Podiatrist Do?
Because of a podiatrist or foot doctor's extensive education and training, there are many things that a podiatrist can do, within their scope of practice, to help you with your foot and ankle problem. These things include:
Order xrays, MRIs, CTs, and other imaging
A lot of times with a foot ankle problem, an examination alone isn't enough to get to the root cause of the issue. In addition to your first appointment with a foot doctor where your medical history and symptoms are gone over, one thing that a podiatrist could do is order an X-ray.
If a podiatrist has an x-ray in their office, it can be performed quickly there, but if not, you will be given the order to have it done at another location, and the results will be explained with you after the x-ray is completed ina a few days.
If the X-ray shows no signs of problems, but there is still pain or other concerns, more imaging can be ordered like an MRI or CT to give a detailed look at bone, joints, and soft tissue, especially for any problems that an X-ray won't pick up.
A foot doctor ordering images of your foot is one of the many things a podiatrist can do to get you one step closer to getting rid of your foot pain.
Order blood work and other labs
Oftentimes, people don't realize that your foot is a part of your body, and because of this, very rarely is any foot or ankle problem happening in a vacuum. Because of this, any deficiencies, imbalances, or health problems that are going on with you, can have an impact on your feet.
This includes conditions like Diabetes, Vitamin D deficiency, B12 deficiency, or autoimmune diseases Alcohol abuse can also impact your foot health as well.
What a podiatrist can do is look outside of the foot to get to the root cause of your foot and ankle problem. This oftentimes will include ordering blood work to see if these health conditions are under control, or even discovering and diagnosing health problems that the patient was not aware that they were dealing with.
Ordering further testing
Another thing that podiatrists can do is order more testing depending on their concerns. For example, if you show up with a mole or other skin problem on your foot that isn't easily diagnosed, a podiatrist can perform a biopsy to rule out skin cancer and give an accurate diagnosis.
A biopsy can also be taken for nail problems to diagnose nail fungus or other nail infections.
A patient can be sent out for further testing to diagnose conditions like neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, or osteoporosis
Prescribe medications
Depending on the foot or ankle problem that you are dealing with, medications can be prescribed by your foot doctor in order to tackle this problem. This is another thing that a podiatrist can do for your foot pain or problem.
These include antibiotics or antifungals, even certain anti-virals, pain medications, and compounded pain creams, as well as any other medication for specific foot or ankle problems.
Holistic Podiatry
Holistic podiatry, also known as integrative podiatry is a sub-specialty within podiatry that takes into account the patient's lifestyle, diet, stress levels, environmental exposure to toxins, as well as other health problems in order to help the patient overcome their foot and ankle issue.
For people who just want a more integrative, holistic approach to solving their foot concerns, or for others whose other treatment options have not worked for them, holistic podiatry is a valid option, and what a podiatrist can do to help with their foot problem.
Surgery
U.S. podiatrists or foot doctors complete a residency of at least 3 years. Some podiatrists even opt for a fellowship which includes at least an added year or training on top of residency. Podiatrists can perform surgeries correcting foot problems like bunions, and hammertoes, removing bone spurs, tendon and ligament repair, amputations, removing skin masses, fixing broken bones, or removing foreign bodies like glass, and other things from the foot.
Regenerative treatments
Regenerative medicine injections like prolotherapy, PRP, and exosomes go hand in hand with holistic or integrative podiatry and fall under the umbrella of what a podiatrist can do. These treatments help to jump-start the body healing once your body is optimized, and any underlying health conditions are dealt with, in order to have the highest chance of success with these treatments.
Foot filler injections
For people with pain in the ball of their foot or heel, for different reasons like fat loss to the sole of their foot, also known as fat pad atrophy, One thing that a podiatrist can do is use foot fillers. These foot fillers, the same that are injected into faces for volume, actually can help provide lost cushion to the bottom of your foot, getting rid of your pain.
Ingrown Toenail Surgery
For toenails that are ingrown, ingrown toenail surgery is a procedure that podiatrists can do to remove the nail, and help clear the infection.
Onyfix Nail Correction
For those people who have an ingrown toenail that isn't infected, and are looking for a non-invasive option to get rid of this without surgery. Onyfix is an option, and what podiatrists can do to correct this issue.
Onyfix is a band that is applied to your toenail, and as your toenail grows out, the band very slowly straightens your nail.
Keryflex Nail Restoration
For toenails damaged by nail fungus, trauma, psoriasis, or other causes, Keryflex is a temporary nail restoration system that gives a healthy look to damaged nails and is another thing that podiatrists can do.
Key Takeaways: What Can a Podiatrist Do?
As you can see, podiatrists or foot doctors have a full spectrum of tests, treatments, and procedures available to them to get to the root cause of your foot problem and fix it. Not all podiatrists though will offer all treatment options. It's important, that especially if you have your mind of a certain treatment or healing modality, reach out to that foot doctor, to see if it's something they offer.
Schedule Your Appointment at Direct Podiatry Arizona Today
Are you interested in seeing a podiatrist in Phoenix? My name is Dr. Tarr, and I am the owner of Direct Podiatry Arizona. To view my available appointment times, click here.