How Can A Podiatrist Help You?

If you’re feeling a painful sensation in your foot and/or ankle, chances are it will go away with a home treatment of ice, rest, anti-inflammatory medicine and time. But if the pain doesn’t go away after a week, and if the pain doesn’t get any better or becomes even more painful, it may be time to turn to a podiatrist. But how will a podiatrist be able to help you?

>> Open Foot Wounds

• If there is an open wound on your foot or ankle that doesn’t heal over a time, seeing a podiatrist should be without question. You should also pay close attention to any other medical conditions that you have; if you have other serious medical conditions, it will take much longer for the wound to heal. In that case, going to a podiatrist should be the only option to consider.

>> Discolorations in the Foot

• In terms of color, your feet should look exactly the same. If one foot is a different color than the other, and if it stays that way, you know you have a problem. If the skin on your foot is red, it could be a sign of infection. A pale skin color could mean that the blood flow to your foot isn’t circulating right. A bluish skin color to the foot indicates that there is something wrong with the veins. If any of these discolorations occur, a podiatrist will be able to correct it.

>> Numbness in the Foot

• Numbness in the foot is usually a sign of either diabetes or a damaged nerve, which will best be corrected by a podiatrist. If a numb foot is not tended to as soon as possible, you will be at risk for developing further foot problems.

>> Swelling in the Foot

• It’s definitely not normal to have swelling in one or both feet. Swelling can also be the result of a more serious issue, such as a ripped tendon, a broken bone, or an infection. If one does have swelling in the feet, it’s usually only in one of the feet, but in rare cases it can be in both. Either way, it’s important to see a podiatrist in that situation.

>> Trauma

• Trauma can be sustained to the foot during a physical activity or a sports related exercise. For this reason, athletes often have to