Many times, patients aren’t clear about whether they should see an orthopedic surgeon or a Podiatrist Dallas, Tx for their foot and ankle problems. Here are some things to consider.
There are many different types of healthcare providers that evaluate and treat conditions of the feet. These include podiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, primary care physicians, and physical therapists. While podiatrists and orthopedic surgeons treat many of the same conditions, their training is very different.
A podiatrist is a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) with specialized training to treat disorders of the foot and ankle. Typically, they have the following formal education:
· Four years of undergraduate school
· Four years at an accredited podiatric medical school, where they receive medical training plus specialized training on the foot, ankle, and lower leg
· Three to four years of foot and ankle surgical residency training
Whether caused by an underlying condition like arthritis or diabetes or because of common injuries or ill-fitting footwear, foot and ankle pain is one of the leading causes of visits to an orthopedic specialist. Foot and ankle health is important to everyone.
Foot and Ankle Injuries
One-fourth of all the bones in your body are in your feet, providing both support and movement. Some of the most common fractures include ankle fractures, heel bone fractures, mid-foot fractures, pilon fractures, shinbone fractures, stress fractures of the foot and ankle, and toe fractures.
The foot and ankle are prone to injury during sports activities, so we work closely with our sports medicine specialists to get you safely back in the game.
Conditions Podiatrists Treat
Some common toe conditions and disorders include bunions, claw toes, corns, hammer toes, ingrown toenails, intoeing, Morton’s neuroma, and stiff big toe.
Podiatrists treat people of any age for many foot-related conditions, including:
Fractures and sprains.
Podiatrists regularly treat these common injuries when they affect a foot or ankle. They also work in sports medicine, treating foot problems athletes have and recommending ways to avoid them.
Bunions and hammertoes.
These are problems with the bones in your feet. A bunion happens when the joint at the base of your big toe gets bigger or knocked out of place. That makes the toe bend toward the others. A hammertoe is one that doesn’t bend the right way.
Nail disorders.
These include issues like an infection in your nail caused by a fungus or an ingrown toenail. That’s when a corner or side of a nail grows into your toe instead of straight out.
Diabetes.
The nervous system impairment that is common among diabetics makes them highly susceptible to various foot conditions.
A diabetic patient can be prone to infection and other complications if his or her feet are not monitored closely for injuries and wounds.
Arthritis.
Whether caused by rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, or osteoarthritis, the ankle is an especially vulnerable joint to this debilitating degenerative joint condition.
A podiatrist might recommend physical therapy, drugs, or special shoes or inserts to help with your arthritis. Surgery also might be an option if other treatments don’t work well.
Heel pain.
A common cause of heel pain is heel spurs, a build-up of calcium at the bottom of your heel bone. Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. Sports and non-supportive shoes are usually to blame.
Morton’s neuroma.
Nerve problems between the third and fourth bones of your foot can cause pain, burning, and a feeling that there’s something in your shoe. It usually affects runners. Tight shoes and overpronation make it worse. A podiatrist can give you shots for inflammation and pain and help find an orthotic.
Solutions for Foot & Ankle Pain:
Podiatrist Dallas, Tx can treat many foot and ankle orthopedic issues with nonsurgical options like physical therapy or orthotics. When more conservative treatments aren’t effective, we offer surgery from team of experienced foot and ankle surgeons.
Foot and ankle treatments include:
Bracing and orthotics:
Sometimes, a foot or ankle needs some support to heal properly. Splints and braces can help you strengthen your muscles and let joints recover. It can provide customized orthotics to support your feet and ease comfort during recovery.
Injections:
Injections can improve joint function and ease joint pain. Steroids can reduce swelling and relieve pain for weeks or months. Joint lubricants smooth joint movement, which can also help with pain and prevent future injuries.
Symptom management:
Advanced therapy program can make it more comfortable to complete physical therapy and exercise programs. It can help you stay active or recover from surgery with integrative treatments like chiropractic care and acupuncture.
Physical therapy:
Physical therapy can relieve foot and ankle pain, either with or without surgery. Specialized therapists are available to help improve the way move.
Total ankle replacement:
This surgery offers complete reconstruction of the foot and ankle and is also known as total ankle arthroplasty (TAA).
What to Expect at the Podiatrist
Many clinic is designed to provide our foot and ankle patients with comprehensive education and exceptional care through the vast experience, training, and knowledge of our foot and ankle expert.
Podiatrist Dallas, Tx understands that while foot surgery or ankle surgery is sometimes the best treatment option for one patient, it is not always the right treatment option for every patient as there may be another nonoperative solution that is more beneficial for that patient.
