Accurate diagnosis is key to effective foot pain treatment, and this should be performed by a podiatrist equipped with both specialist knowledge and diagnostic tools.
No referral from your doctor is needed to see a podiatrist; however, check with your health insurance provider as they may require one. Conditions that podiatrists treat include:
Heel Pain
Heel pain may be the result of various issues, such as stress fractures (often experienced during high-impact activities like running or jumping), plantar fasciitis, arthritis and more. Over-the-counter pain relievers can provide temporary relief while it’s essential that podiatry for foot pain Woodville medical help be sought to ensure that your problem doesn’t worsen further.
Podiatrists possess extensive medical training, specifically focused on feet, ankles and lower legs. They possess expert knowledge regarding foot anatomy as it pertains to walking gait patterns; additionally, they can offer customised orthotics or arch supports for patients experiencing heel pain.
They may suggest special shoes to help alleviate the condition, and an exercise programme to stretch and strengthen calf muscles. Splints may also be prescribed that will gently stretch plantar fascia while you sleep or rest – this will reduce pain reliever usage while speeding healing time for plantar fascia healing. Ice therapy, shock wave treatment or cortisone injections may also provide temporary relief of your discomfort.
Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a band of tissue that connects your heel to the ball of your foot. When inflamed (plantar fasciitis), it causes pain at the bottom of your heel when standing up after sitting for long periods or just starting walking around. It often worsens in the morning or after running or working out and can become very persistent.
A podiatrist can diagnose your pain and identify its source, then suggest treatments such as new footwear, orthotics, taping or ice, targeted exercise/stretching programs, or extracorporeal shockwave therapy (which may help chronic plantar fasciitis patients).
Alternatively, your podiatrist may suggest cortisone injections under ultrasound guidance as an initial option to try for plantar fasciitis if home treatments do not help. If this does not relieve pain quickly and reduce recurrence risk in future visits. Surgical techniques that cut plantar fascia close to heel may also be required to provide quicker relief from pain while decreasing future risk.
Bunions
Bunions are painful foot conditions caused when the big toe joint becomes enlarged, eventually angling towards its smaller toes and eventually pulling out of alignment, producing the bump. Bunions are quite prevalent and may result from poor biomechanics, arthritis or wearing tight shoes; but you can reduce your risk by taking preventative steps like visiting podiatry for foot pain Woodville.
Your podiatrist will take a comprehensive approach when meeting with you for podiatry services, gathering a comprehensive medical history as well as conducting a physical examination on your affected foot, looking out for other symptoms or any effect the bunion is having on daily activities and life in general. They may use x-rays to assess its severity or rule out other potential conditions.
Podiatrists offer numerous solutions for bunions. These may include padding the big toe, taping, or inserting shoe inserts to redistribute pressure and support it better, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or cortisone injections to reduce pain and swelling, as well as surgical correction such as bunionectomy surgery to correct deformity and alleviate symptoms.
Painful Corns or Calluses
Corns are hard cone-shaped thickenings of skin found on smaller toes or near joints and often cause pain. Calluses are larger flat areas of hardened skin typically located under balls or heels of feet. Both may form due to repeated friction or pressure or medical conditions like diabetes or circulatory issues.
Your podiatrist will perform an examination and may order x-rays. He or she may ask about your lifestyle and shoes, any previous injuries or trauma to your foot and any possible health conditions which may influence its mechanics and increase the chance of corns or calluses developing.
Your podiatrist can quickly and painlessly extract hardened areas of skin. Additionally, they may recommend footwear which allows the feet to move comfortably while helping redistribute pressure with soft padding, strapping or corrective appliances.
Neuromas
Neuromas are thickenings of tissue around irritated nerves in your foot that cause pain, tingling and numbness. While they most commonly appear between your third and fourth toes, podiatry for foot pain Woodville can diagnose neuromas using physical examination and possibly X-rays of both feet and lower legs to diagnose this condition and start treatment as early as possible – early treatment could reduce the chances of more serious consequences from developing.
Early treatment plans aim to alleviate pressure in the area where neuromas form. This may involve changes to your shoes, padding, taping and medication; your podiatrist may suggest selecting shoes with wide toe boxes and low heels or create custom orthotics with raised metatarsal domes to alter how your foot functions and reduce nerve irritation.
Podiatrists provide comprehensive foot care that addresses not only symptoms but also other related ailments in your feet and ankles such as hammertoes, osteoarthritis, and gout. By treating early symptoms, these conditions can be prevented from worsening further and surgical interventions can be avoided.