How to choose a foot doctor

Foot and ankle are critical parts of our body. Foot and ankle conditions that require medical attention are not uncommon, however, most people do not know what to look for while choosing a foot and ankle specialist. Therefore, discussed below is how you can choose a foot doctor.

Firstly, understand that like for every other body part, there are specialists for foot and ankle also, and they are called Podiatrist. A podiatrist is a medical professional who is devoted to the treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle and lower extremities. A podiatric surgeon is a doctor who specializes in foot surgery.

Podiatrists treat a range of foot conditions. The most common foot problems include muscle pain, nail infections, ingrown toenails, foot injury, blisters, ligament pain, warts, arthritis, calluses, sprains, corns, neuromas, bunions, hammertoes, heel pain, heel spur, and smelly feet.

Some podiatrists, however, are equipped to treat even special conditions like surgery, wound care, sports medicine, diabetic reflections on foot, and pediatric care. You may need to visit a podiatrist cypress tx at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center if you have a foot injury, or foot and ankle pain, or visible deformities on foot.

In fact, a podiatrist can also prescribe the right kind of shoes for your feet! Hence, it is best to visit a podiatrist even for the slightest of discomfort, to treat the condition in the initial stages itself. Podiatrists have years of study invested in the foot and ankle regions, hence, from muscle to skin, they can treat most types of foot and ankle conditions.

• Identify your case

Now, in order to choose a foot doctor for yourself, it is advisable to find a doctor who specializes in your case if you know for sure what the condition is. However, you can visit a general physician initially, who can diagnose the problem, and in most cases, can even treat it. Sometimes, it is best to find one that has a comprehensive amount of services, including both medical and surgical competencies.

Dr Ejodamen Shobowale, DPM, is a general podiatrist, a foot and ankle doctor in Houston, Texas. She provides treatment at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center, for sprains, hammertoes, heel spurs, nail fungus Achilles tendon pains, etc. This specialist is known to offer quality ankle and heel pain treatments and is one of the leading foot doctors in Houston, Texas. Dr Shobowale also performs procedures and minor surgeries as per the requirement.

• Set your comfort zone

Health is a very personal concern, hence, it is important that you should be comfortable with your doctor, in order to get the best out of the treatments. Comfort is a big part of receiving medical treatment, especially for the foot area, that may require touching and probing in order to diagnose the situation. Therefore, be very aware of your comfort limit and accordingly look for a doctor who suits your comfort level.

• Choose an Expert

It is always better to look for non-surgical treatment options first. To do that, you will require to see a podiatrist who is not only an expert but also has years of experience. Experience speaks volume for they may have seen numerous cases, and hence, will probably suggest the best treatment for you.

If you have already diagnosed your condition, then the next step would be to choose the right expert to treat you. If you require surgery, opt for a surgeon directly, and if you need medication, you may go for a podiatrist. Some podiatrists also specialize in foot conditions arising due to another bodily malfunctioning like diabetes, which requires a different approach for treatment. Hence, depending on the case, look for a suitable specialist or expert.

• Consider the monetary aspect

It is a known fact that every doctor has their own rates for treatment, depending on their expertise and experience. It is not advisable to compromise on your treatment just because it is a bit costly. However, you should watch out for the fees and charges, so as to find one which offers quality treatment for an affordable price.

You may also avail insurance for major treatments. In that case, you should look for a podiatrist or surgeon who can be covered through your insurance money.

• Convenience

There is no point in choosing an expert podiatrist if you cannot avail their service conveniently. Understand that foot conditions inhibit your movement, you may not be able to walk or drive. Hence, choose a podiatrist who has working hours that fit your schedule, in the vicinity, you can easily access and also fits your bills.

• Referral

It is best to seek reference for foot and ankle doctor in houston tx from a trusted source if you do not know what you are looking for. The easiest way is to approach your general physician, who can then refer you to a good podiatrist. This can be especially useful if you have emergency conditions that require immediate attention, or are extremely rare cases and may be difficult to find an expert.

In conclusion, choosing the right foot and ankle doctor is very important, as the foot is a sensitive part of your body that requires special attention, and is often overlooked. Many people do not even realize that they have a foot condition until the problem becomes severe. It is advised to get regular checkups, especially if you have health conditions like obesity, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, cholesterol or heart diseases. If you are a sports person, you must be prone to foot and ankle injuries, which if not properly tended to, can get extremely severe.

Therefore, look out for the symptoms of a foot condition, like smelly feet, sharp or burning pain, tenderness, numbness or tingling sensation, ulcers and sores, discolouration, calluses or hard skin. Get them checked as soon as possible, as prolonging attention may lead to something much more complicated and malignant.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Houston, TX. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

What is a podiatrist?

A podiatrist is a term used to describe medical specialists who treat problems in your feet, ankle or lower part of the legs. Podiatric treatments can range from treating injuries in the feet, to treat other health problems affecting the feet, such as diabetes, skin and nail problems, arthritis, and so on. Podiatrists are informally known as foot and ankle doctor in Houston TX, “foot physicians” or also known as podiatric physicians.

Medical training of podiatrists

Although podiatrist Cypress TX is referred as a doctor, they do not study in conventional medical schools. Instead, they go to their own professional associations and schools. While doctors usually carry the MD degree (written beside their names), podiatrists carry the DPM degree (doctor of podiatric medicine). Similar to other medical students, podiatrists, too, study and train for four years in podiatric medical school. According to mandate, podiatrists have to complete three years (minimum) of residency training for gaining experience, in clinics and hospitals. 

After a student of podiatric medicine has passed all the necessary examinations, the American Board of Podiatric Medicine certifies him or her as a doctor of podiatric medicine. In some cases, the podiatrist may pursue specialized fellowship training focusing on a particular area in Podiatry to become a specialist podiatrist.

What does a podiatrist do?

Podiatrists perform a wide range of activities such as surgery, resetting bones which have been fractured, broken or damaged and so on. They are also authorized to prescribe drugs and order X-ray tests and other lab tests. Often, with patients suffering from conditions which affect their lower legs and feet, podiatrists require to work closely along with specialists from other medical disciplines.

What conditions do podiatrists treat?

Here is a brief list of the usual problems and conditions that are treated by podiatrists. If you’re facing any of these, consult a podiatrist at the earliest:

1. Injuries such as sprains, fractures:

These are common injuries of the foot or ankle. Often, these injuries are met by athletes who go to foot and ankle doctor Houston at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center for treatment as well as to learn about how to avoid such injuries.

2. Bone problems in the feet:

These include conditions such as bunions are hammertoes. Bunion refers to a condition in which the joint located at the base of the big toe becomes larger or gets knocked out of its position, resulting in the big toe bending towards the other toes. Hammertoes, on the other hand, refers to a condition in which the toe (any toe) does not bend in the correct way.

3. Nail problems:

Nail problems include infections in the toenails such as fungal infections, and so on. An ingrown toenail is also a troublesome problem in which a corner of the toenail grows into the toe instead of growing outwards.

4. Diabetes:

Diabetes refers to a health disorder in which the blood sugar levels in the body remain excessively high due to the lack of production or usage of a hormone called insulin. Patients affected with diabetes can suffer from neural damage in the feet and legs and also may suffer problems getting sufficient blood supply to the feet. Diabetes can seriously affect a patient’s feet and legs.

According to statistics, every year, over sixty-five thousand patients require amputation of a foot due to diabetes. Therefore it is very important for diabetic patients to see a podiatrist from Houston foot and ankle center in order to prevent that. In case you’re a diabetic patient and you notice a sore or a callus on your feet, it is advised that you consult a podiatrist at the earliest.

5. Arthritis:

Arthritis is a disorder in which the joints of your body get inflamed, swollen or suffer from wear and tear. Patients suffering from arthritis must see a podiatrist. Each foot in the body has thirty-three joints and they can be severely affected by arthritis. Podiatrists can recommend medication, physical therapy, special type of shoes and inserts for alleviating feet and leg (joint) pain in arthritis. In case these do not work, the podiatrist may suggest surgery.

6. Growth pains in children:

In children, problems or mild deformities may be present or develop. If a child’s feet point inwards, or they look flat, or his or her toes do not line up in a normal way, he or she should be taken to a foot doctor in Houston Texas. Initially, depending upon the condition, the podiatrist will recommend putting braces, use insoles, or suggest exercises. In case the condition requires further treatment, surgery is recommended.

7. Pain in the heels:

Heel spurs refer to a condition in which excess calcium builds up at the bottom of the heel bone. Heel spurs may be caused due to a variety of reasons- being obese or overweight, excessive running, or due to wearing ill-fitting footwear. Besides heel spurs, heel pain can also be caused by plantar fasciitis that is the inflammation of a connective band of tissue along the bottom of the foot. Taking part in sports or wearing non-supportive footwear may lead to this. If your foot bends inwards or outwards too much when you walk (overpronation) is also a cause of heel pain. Achilles tendinitis is a condition causing pain at the back of the heel where the Achilles tendon is present. These are usually treated with pain-alleviating drugs and using shoe inserts known as orthotics. In a few cases, surgery is required.

8. Morton’s neuroma:

This is a nerve problem between the third and fourth bones in the foot. Symptoms include pain, burning and a sensation that there is something inside the shoe. This neural problem is generally faced by runners, which is worsened if tight shoes are worn and over pronation occurs. A foot doctor in Houston Texas will give shots for relieving pain and inflammation and recommend orthotics (shoe inserts). Surgery may also be suggested for this condition.

When should you go see a podiatrist?

If you detect symptoms of any of the disorders mentioned above, you should go see a podiatrist. If you experience foot pain, notice unusual thickness or discoloration in the toenails, or cracks, warts on the skin of your feet, or see the sole of your feet scaling or peeling off, consult a podiatrist from Houston foot and ankle center as early as possible.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Houston, TX. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

 Diabetes is a disease that results in inadequate and faulty production or less sensitivity to insulin. Insulin is an important hormone in the body whose function is to assist the cells in absorbing sugar from the blood so that it can be utilized for producing energy.   When this whole process gets disturbed or does not work properly, then the sugar keeps circulating in the blood which leads to various health issues.

 If high levels of sugar continue to persist for a longer period of time, it can harm many parts of the body including the feet. According to a recent survey, diabetes is accountable for causing over 50 percent of foot amputations in the United States. People suffering   from diabetes are   more susceptible to developing foot problems that result due to high levels of blood sugar. Some of the most common foot problems that occur due to diabetes are peripheral vascular disease and diabetic neuropathy. Both these problems are     known to result in severe complications

 The foot problems that are triggered due to diabetes

 The two major foot problems that are caused as a result of diabetes are:

• Peripheral Vascular Disease-

Diabetes results in alterations in the blood vessels especially the arteries. In this disease, the fatty deposits cause an obstruction in the blood vessels beyond the heart and brain. Peripheral Vascular disease has the tendency to affect the blood vessels leading back and forth from the ends like the hands and feet, minimizing the flow of the blood to both the parts. The decreased level of blood flow can result in wounds that recover at a slow pace, pain, and infection. This disease can develop a serious infection and in such a case, a footdoctor in Houston at DeNiel Foot & Ankle Center may recommend foot amputation. A person suffering from peripheral vascular disease is also prone to develop ulcers and gangrene (a condition that is caused due to the death of the tissue because of the lack of blood.)

• Diabetic Neuropathy –

Over a period of time, diabetes can result in nerve damage that causes numbness in the foot. Such a condition makes it more difficult for a person to feel sensation in the hands and feet. Diabetic neuropathy also makes it challenging for a diabetic patient to feel any infection, irritation, or soreness at the extremities. They may also not be able to observe when their shoes are rubbing. Diabetic neuropathy can result in a greater risk of blisters, cuts, and sores.

If a person suffering from diabetes does not undergo treatment for the condition, then it can lead to the development of ulcers, infections, and even gangrene.

Symptoms of foot problems

According to DeNiel Foot & Ankle Center’s podiatrists in Houston, foot symptoms that result due to diabetes are as follows:

1) Wounds with drainage

2) Stained socks

3) Severe tingling

4) Blisters without any pain

5) Red striations

6) Numbness or lack of sensation

7)  Temperature variations and skin discoloration

In case of an infection, a diabetic patient may also experience:

1) Chills

2) Shaking

3) Fever

4) High blood sugar levels

5) Redness

Treatment for foot problems

Different surgical and non-surgical options are available for the treatment of foot problems:

• Non-surgical treatment-

A Houston podiatrist will initially try to treat the condition without any surgery by cleaning and dressing the wound, wearing a total contact cast or cast boot, or carefully observing any gangrene till self-amputation occurs.

• Surgical treatment –

It includes the removal of dead tissues, amputations, surgical stabilization, arterial bypass, and endovascular surgery.

It is important that you take care of foot hygiene. You can do this by taking steps like washing the feet daily, wearing supportive shoes, trimming nails cautiously, controlling blood sugar levels, going for regular foot examinations, and caring for bunions as well as corns.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Houston,TX. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.