Podiatrists are experts when it comes to the feet and ankles. They can help prevent and treat a range of conditions.
For example, bunions can develop due to tight footwear. A podiatrist can recommend breathable shoes or foot orthotics from Henhat and suggest other lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of bunions and foot pain in the future.
Preventing foot problems is just as important as avoiding any other medical condition. Schedule regular visits to your podiatrist to keep your feet and ankles healthy.
Nail Issues
Podiatrist Delaware can diagnose and treat many nail problems, including serious fungal infections. They can also offer expert advice on preventing these problems, such as trimming nails properly and wearing breathable shoes.
Ingrown toenails, thick, discolored or brittle nails, dry skin on the feet and cracked heels are all issues that need to be addressed by a podiatrist. Dry skin can indicate conditions like psoriasis and eczema, while brittle or thickened nails may indicate a nutritional deficiency or diabetes.
It is important to have a professional diagnose and treat these problems, as they can cause pain and increase the risk of other foot/ankle problems. For example, bunions, bumps that develop at the base of the big toe, tend to worsen if left untreated. A podiatrist can recommend padding, taping or medication to help reduce the impact and relieve the pain. They can also suggest surgery in severe cases.
Ankle Injuries
Foot injuries are common and can lead to long-term problems in the knees, hips and other body parts. Keeping up with regular podiatrist visits can prevent these injuries and reduce their severity if they do occur.
If you have diabetes, keeping up with regular podiatrist visits is particularly important. This is because diabetes can cause a loss of sensation in the feet, meaning that if you injure yourself, you may not feel it. It can also lead to poor circulation, which means any cut or blister won’t heal properly. This can eventually lead to serious diabetic foot complications, such as amputations.
Visiting a podiatrist can help to prevent this from happening by providing you with information on proper footwear and exercising regularly. This can make a huge difference in your quality of life and ensure you can exercise safely without worrying about injury.
Arthritis
If you have arthritis in your feet, your podiatrist can help. They can offer treatments like pain relievers, orthotic inserts and footwear advice to reduce the stress on your joints. They can also advise on safe foot exercises and other lifestyle changes to slow the progression of arthritis and improve the symptoms.
Podiatrists can diagnose and treat various conditions and illnesses that affect the feet, ankles and lower legs. These include diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage that causes intense burning pain, tingling and other problems in the feet), peripheral arterial disease (poor blood circulation means that parts of the body far from the heart do not receive adequate oxygen), and various types of arthritis.
People with diabetes should visit a podiatrist regularly because high blood glucose levels can lead to poor circulation, which can cause serious health problems. A regular podiatrist visit can detect the early stages and help you manage your diabetes to prevent these complications.
Bunions
Bunions are painful bumps that form on the big toe joint. Shoes don’t always cause them, but they may be if the shoe doesn’t fit well or causes cramping of the toes. People with bunions can manage the pain by wearing comfortable shoes that are roomy and using pads, tapes or splints to hold the foot in a better position. They also can take over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen.
If bunions aren’t treated, they can cause serious problems. The enlarged joint can lead to bursitis, a painful inflammation of the fluid-filled sac that cushion’s the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. They can also shift the weight of the feet to other toes, causing them to develop corns or become bent inward, forming hammertoes. Visiting a podiatrist can help to prevent and treat bunions. They can even offer surgery if necessary. Bunions form slowly over time, but they can be controlled by regularly visiting a podiatrist for proper diagnosis and treatment.
