If you are like many people, you probably dread visiting a doctor, regardless of the type. Scheduling an appointment with a specialist in podiatry in Tucson, AZ may only come to mind when you experience serious pain or if immobility intervenes with your everyday workflow. You may delay dental visits and medical checkups for as long as you can. However, this will only do more harm to yourself.
But if something is wrong with your feet, you cannot wait to visit a podiatrist. Something minor that can be fixed with traditional methods can become a significant issue that requires a more intensive remedy when not treated promptly.
Although some issues such as a foot wound or an ankle sprain will disappear with at-home remedies, your condition must be monitored. If the problem exacerbates or does not heal, a podiatrist can offer the right diagnosis and treatment, so you can be on your feet again without pain. If you are wondering when it’s time to see this specialist, below are some signs to watch out for:
You Experience Persistent Ankle Joint Pain
Pain in the ankle joint can indicate arthritis. Swollen, stiff, red, or tender ankle joints signal a need for a podiatric appointment. A podiatrist can recommend suitable treatment options to decrease joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness.
You Need Diabetic Foot Care
For diabetic patients, seeing a podiatrist regularly is essential. Diabetes can impact the flow of blood to the lower extremities, minimizing sensation and making it difficult for infections to heal. Apart from visiting a podiatrist, you must also check your feet every day for developing issues or decreased sensitivity.
You Need Treatment for Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails are painful and a common condition. Although some home remedies may address this problem effectively, you may want to visit a podiatrist who can get rid of the ingrown toenails safely and offer medications to prevent infection.
You Deal with Reduced Sensation or Numbness
If your lower extremities experience reduced sensation or persistent numbness, visit a podiatrist. Such symptoms could indicate an underlying issue that must be addressed like tendinitis and a fracture. Also, numbness can be due to neuropathy or damaged nerves. Diabetics are especially susceptible to this condition.
You Experience Pain During Normal Activity or When Walking
If you experience pain when doing normal activity or walking can be due to an underlying condition that a podiatrist must address. The pain might be because of an injury that failed to heal properly. Without treatment, the condition could aggravate, making it hard to complete normal activities.
You Have Bony Deformities
Usually, bony deformities result from a mechanical dysfunction that causes a gradual shift in the alignment of the bone and a protruding prominence. Also, osteoarthritic change at your joint or surrounding joints may happen.
Before you visit a surgeon, conservative management such as simple unloading, appropriate footwear, and supportive devices can address the dysfunction.
You Have Heel Pain
Heal pain in adults can be associated with overload and plantar fascia inflammation. In kids between the ages of 8 and 14, heel pain may be a result of overuse injury known as Sever’s Disease. A growth plate fracture or plantar fascia tear can go undiagnosed. Thus, you must seek professional advice as soon as possible, especially if you cannot bear weight on your foot.
You Have Foot Skin and Nail Issues
Podiatrists can address foot skin and nail problems. Usually, they can debride built-up dead skin to relieve pain related to corns and callouses. Also, they can diagnose and manage foot skin conditions such as warts and recurrent blistering. They can manage fungal, ingrown, and thickened nails.