Contact a Podiatrist For Treatment With Your Feet

Have you ever faced problems with your foot and wished that the best foot specialist could treat you? Well, if truth be told, there are medical specialists who can help with issues in your lower legs or feet, and they are known as podiatrists or podiatric physicians. These experts can treat injuries, along with possible complications due to ongoing health conditions such as diabetes.

How do students become podiatrists?

Podiatrists need to attend podiatry school for 4 years. To become podiatrists in Houston, they have to study the relationships among nerves, bones and muscles, to understand how these affect feet movements. Along with this, they also get to study about injuries and illnesses that can limit feet movement. For this, they also have to know what situations demand the need for surgery.

At present, there are a total of nine podiatry schools in the US, each of which is accredited by the American Podiatric Medical Association. Upon graduation, podiatry students have to work in a hospital for 3 years. This period is known as a residency, where they are required to practice what they learned at school. Additionally, they also get trained to work with doctors from different fields, which could include one of the following specialists:

• Anesthesiologists
• Specialists in infectious diseases
• Pediatricians
• Surgeons

Once residency has been completed they can choose to specialize in the surgical procedures of the ankle or foot.

Common conditions treated by podiatrists

Here is a list of conditions that podiatrists look at on a daily basis:

Hammertoe and bunions- A toe that is incapable of bending in the correct direction is known as a hammertoe. This condition is a result of a bunion, where the joint at the lower part of your big toe is removed from its place or gets bigger than usual. A bunion can happen due to bone problems in your feet.

Sprains and fractures- Most podiatrists work in sports medicine as well. Sprains and fractures are the most common injuries in the feet or ankles. They also work towards treating foot problems among athletes while recommending ways to avoid these troubles as well.

Problems due to diabetes- When your body is either unable to manufacture insulin or isn’t able to use it in a normal way, it leads to diabetes. This condition can damage the nerves in your legs or feet, and may also prevent blood from getting to your feet. If not treated by a podiatrist, a diabetic patient may have to get his or her leg amputated.

Growing pains- If you see your child’s feet pointing inwards or they appear flat, it would be wise to get help from a reputed podiatrist. The specialist may recommend insoles, braces or exercises, and may even suggest surgery.

Your feet do a lot of work. By the time you get to 50 years of age, you would have easily walked 75,000 miles on the Earth. Therefore, make sure that you call the podiatrist when you face:

• Skin cracks or cuts
• Discolored toenails
• Unexplained foot pain
• Growth like warts