When Should You See a Podiatrist
In this time strapped day and age, making the choice to book an appointment to seek medical help can sometimes seem like a huge obstacle. However, when your health is on the line, seeking professional help from a qualified medical professional can make all the difference. When in doubt concerning your foot health, make an appointment to see one of our podiatrists!
We've run through a few scenarios below to give you an idea of when you should expect to see a professional vs when you might be able to manage your care at home.
1.) Severe foot pain: when you're experiencing foot pain, particularly shooting pain that started suddenly, you need to see a professional. If the pain is very severe or you can't put weight on your foot, you should opt to go to an emergency room. If not, call us for an appointment as soon as possible so that we can examine your foot for breaks & fractures. Time is of the essence! Foot pain is NOT normal, and the sooner we are able to examine you the better your long term prognosis.
2.) Numbness: numbness can stem from many things, and all of them require an examination from a medical professional. When you examine your feet and notice numbness, you might write it off as an ill fitting shoe or nerve pain from standing too long. However, you won't be able to tell if this nerve damage is from diabetic neuropathy or something equally severe. Get an appointment booked sooner rather than later.
3.) Ulceration/wounds that don't heal: we like to tell our patients that you should examine your feet daily for anything unusual, and if you do so and notice a cut or skin damage that doesn't seem to heal, you need to see a podiatrist. Wounds and ulcerations of the feet tend to go hand in hand (or, foot in foot!) with neuropathy and reduced blood flow, which can turn to necrosis and disease. An infection in your foot can turn severe enough that amputation might be necessary! Act quickly on wounds that don't heal.
4.) Toenail yellowing: toenail fungus usually results in discoloration and raising of the nail bed. This is not life threatening, and you won't need an immediate appointment- however, you should know that all those home remedies for toenail fungus have a slim chance of working, and that you're better off seeking help from a podiatrist. Book an appointment when you can.
5.) Foot pain in the morning: foot pain in the morning when you first wake up is usually a sign of plantar fasciitis. This painful condition sees symptoms improving as the day progresses and after stretching your foot. To be safe, you should see a podiatrist for an official diagnosis and orthotics that will help your foot heal, but this is not life threatening.
When in doubt, make an appointment to see a podiatrist! Our map is below, we're just a short drive away from Twelve Oaks Mall.
