How To Prepare For Your First Trip To The Podiatrist

Most people who make the decision to see a podiatrist for the first time do so as a result of pain. Nothing will slow you down faster than pain that you experience when walking or trying to enjoy your favorite activities. While seeing a physician who specializes in treatments of the feet, ankles and lower legs is a good idea whenever pain becomes a persistent problem, there are some steps you can take to prepare for your initial appointment to get the greatest benefit from your time with the doctor.

1. Keep a day-by-day record of your symptoms. Rate your pain and record any triggers that seem to make it worse or give you relief.
2. Write down any questions that come to mind and take the list with you for the appointment. It is easy to forget things when you are visiting a new doctor’s office and focusing on what is going on at the moment instead of the pain you have been experiencing over a period of time.
3. Always take a list of the medicines you take now including prescriptions, over-the-counter and supplements. Sometimes medications may cause side effects and the doctor will want to make sure you don’t have any worries about interactions if a new prescription is needed.
4. Take a copy of your medical history, including surgeries, hospitalizations, and dates for everything. These may serve as a clue to what is causing your condition now.
5. If you have already had tests performed on the affected area, take the results with you. Repeating X-rays, MRIs and other tests is not only an unnecessary expense, but it is unhealthy as well. Make sure you secure them in plenty of time before your appointment.
6. Contact your insurance company. If you aren’t sure about your requirements for referrals or what your insurance will cover, find out before you go to your appointment. If you show up to your appointment without a needed referral, you may be faced with the choice of paying out-of-pocket or rescheduling.
7. Consider taking a family member or close friend with you. Even if you do not need their physical support, they may be able to remember details later that you do not.
8. Due to the nature of conditions that a podiatrist treats, bring any shoes with you that cause or contribute to your pain.
9. Notify the office ahead of time of any special needs that need to be considered during your appointment.

You want to get the greatest benefit possible from your podiatrist. The more information you share with your doctor, the better they will be able to determine the cause of your pain and determine what is needed to make you better. Depending on what the cause of your pain is, the solution may be as simple as adding inserts to your shoes or as complex as foot surgery. Your podiatrist may also refer you to another type of specialist if a different type of help is needed.

Residents of Phoenix can visit this website - Podiatrist Phoenix, to understand the importance of foot health. Prepare for a successful visit to the podiatrist.