Your initial appointment will consist of a comprehensive foot examination. Together, we will review and discuss all your possible treatment options and come up with the best customized treatment plan that fits your overall needs. Usually treatment is started on the same day if time permits.
If possible, try to wear clothes that you feel comfortable in and will allow your Podiatrist to assess as far as your knees. Pants that you can roll up are particularly handy if you can't wear shorts.
Make sure you wear or bring along shoes that you wear frequently, any orthotics you use, and—if applicable—your athletic shoes. This allows specialists like our team at Ankle & Foot Specialist of N.J. to evaluate the wear and tear on your footwear.
Your podiatrist will carry out a thorough examination of your feet, ankles, and lower legs. They will look for signs of poor circulation in the feet and lower legs and will also check for any skin or nail conditions such as warts, fungal infections, discoloration, corns, bunions, or blisters.
The most common foot problem that a podiatrist treats is heel pain. Heel pain can be caused by a variety of different conditions, such as plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis. Treatment for heel pain often includes things like stretching exercises, orthotic devices, or cortisone injections.
Wait, do podiatrists do pedicures? Absolutely. A medical pedicure professional has a university degree and can answer any of your questions about feet. Using medical-grade equipment, they will restore life to your feet, no matter how bad they seem to you.
Your podiatrist can help you take care of not only your feet and ankles, but also your toenails.
If you're having problems with your toes or toenails, wearing nail polish on them might hinder the doctor's tests. Make sure you do not put on nail polish before you see a podiatrist. If you already have some on your nails, take it off before your appointment.
Additionally, you should come with thoroughly washed and dried feet so your podiatrist can closely examine your problem without pesky dirt and odor getting in the way.
If we have any concerns about your circulation, then we can use a Doppler to have a listen to the pulse in your feet. In our clinic, anyone who comes in for a new patient appointment who is over the age of 50, we will automatically check their circulation with a Doppler.
As part of your visit, your podiatrist may check your vital signs—height, weight, and blood pressure. Your podiatrist will conduct a careful examination to determine if there is lower than normal temperature in any of the extremities, absence of normal skin color, or diminished circulation in the feet.
If you have any issues that involve the foot and or ankle—a sports injury, arthritis/joint pain, skin problems, etc. —a visit to the podiatrist is your best bet.
Shoes and socks should be removed, and the podiatrist will use a metal scalpel to begin removing the initial layers of hard or dead skin from the bottom of the feet. This is known as debridement, or the cutting away of thick and hard skin from the feet.
In extreme cases, where thickened toenails cause constant pain or footwear issues, our podiatrists can remove the thickened nail permanently with toenail removal surgery.
Whilst removing the nail will resolve the current problem, the nail will grow back and it is likely that you will be left with the same problem.
Issues such as thickened nails, fungal nails, and ingrown nails can be treated by a podiatrist with proper routine nail care assistance. So when might it be a time to get professional podiatry help for your toenails?
Podiatrists at Posture Podiatry also have a particular interest in manual therapies – using hands on treatment to mobilise the 33 joints of each foot. We also use advanced massage and dry needling techniques (yes, podiatrists use acupuncture needles!) to help release muscle tension if the need arises.
A podiatrist can help you manage circulation issues that affect the feet, which is especially important for those afflicted with diabetes. Poor circulation is a serious condition and needs immediate medical attention.
Your podiatrist can detect a fungal infection early, perform a lab test, determine the cause, and form a suitable treatment plan, which may include prescribing topical or oral medication, and debridement (removal of diseased nail matter and debris) of an infected nail.
If you've tried everything to avoid foot odor and are still experiencing it, it's uncomfortable and makes you self-conscious. Visit a podiatrist, they can help with your foot odor.
Even if you have fungus, nail salons should still do your nails, and many won't turn you down for a manicure. This shouldn't surprise technicians or prevent them from being able to operate on them because they see and work on all different kinds of nails, including ones with problems.
If you are experiencing any symptoms of poor circulation in your feet and ankles, or if you are older and are at a higher risk of developing poor circulation, please seek the care of a podiatrist who can diagnose and treat this condition.