Our feet are one of the most important parts of our body. They play an important role in balance and locomotion. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most neglected and abused parts of the body. We stub our toes, crush them in uncomfortable shoes or stand and walk on them for hours. Pain, fungus or ingrown toenails are not uncommon, but many people don’t know when it’s time to see a podiatrist.
Just in case you don’t already know: a podiatrist is a chattanooga foot specialists who diagnoses and treats conditions related to the ankle and below. You can become certified through training, experience and an exam.
You should make an appointment with a podiatrist if you have any of the following 5 problems.
1. Bunions.
These are bumps that usually appear at the base of the big toe and can cause pain and swelling. Bursitis can be caused by various factors, such as the way you walk, the type of shoes you wear, developmental features or even neuromuscular disorders.
2. Heel pain.
There are many different causes of heel pain for which you should see your doctor. Often it is plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the soft tissue in and around the heel. In children, it is often not plantar fasciitis, but osteochondritis dissecans, in which a piece of cartilage breaks away from the end of the bone.
3. Corns and calluses.
These areas of rough skin can be very painful if there are too many deposits. In order for the procedure to be done properly and cleanly, the specialist must carefully remove the coarsened skin and perform further treatment to prevent further deposition.
4. Fungi.
Whether it’s under your toenails or in the form of fungus, you need to see a chattanooga foot specialists to help you fight the fungus. Fungus between the toes is closely related to athlete’s foot and ringworm and can cause itching, burning and tingling. Toenail fungus can lead to thickened nails, discoloration and crumbling. Both diseases can be treated with medication, but if left untreated, they can easily spread to other parts of the body or to other people.
5. Numbness, swelling, or tingling.
These symptoms should be alarming, especially if they occur only on the right or left side of the body. There can be many causes, from a fracture, infection to lymphoedema, a buildup of lymph fluid. It can even be a Morton’s neuroma, a thickening of the nerve tissue. In addition to numbness, Morton’s neuroma can cause burning and tingling sensations. Such nerve thickening has been linked to high-heeled shoes.
As with any other medical problem, your doctor can help you get a proper diagnosis, treatment and follow-up to prevent it from recurring. If you have a problem that starts with your ankle, you should see an orthopedic doctor for further help. Orthopedic doctors are specially trained and can help you with all of the above problems and more.
In order for the procedure to be done properly and cleanly, the specialist must carefully remove the coarsened skin and perform further treatment to prevent further deposition.