Feet are engineering marvels. Each foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They absorb tremendous force with every step, your body weight multiplied by impact. When feet hurt, everything suffers. Walking becomes painful, exercise impossible, quality of life diminished.
Podiatrists are doctors of podiatric medicine, specialists who diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and related structures. They handle both routine foot care and complex surgical reconstruction.
Common problems seen include bunions caused by inherited foot structure or ill-fitting shoes. Example treatment may include wider shoes, padding, orthotics. Surgery realigns bones when pain persists despite conservative care.
Heel pain often stems from plantar fasciitis, inflammation of the thick band of tissue running along the foot’s bottom. Stretching, proper footwear, orthotics, and physical therapy usually resolve it. Stubborn cases might need cortisone injections or, rarely, surgery.
Neuromas, pinched nerves between toes, cause burning pain and numbness. Can be treated with padding, orthotics, injections, or surgical removal.
Diabetic foot care is critically important. Diabetes causes nerve damage (neuropathy) that reduces sensation and vascular disease that impairs healing. Minor injuries can escalate to serious infections and ulcers, potentially requiring amputation.
Podiatrists examine diabetic feet regularly, looking for problems patients might not feel. They treat wounds aggressively, debride dead tissue, prescribe antibiotics, use advanced wound care products. Prevention beats amputation every time.
Toenail problems seem trivial but cause real suffering. Ingrown toenails, fungal infections, trauma-damaged nails. Podiatrists perform nail removal procedures, prescribe antifungal medications, treat nail deformities.
Sports injuries to feet and ankles: sprains, fractures, tendon ruptures may require expert diagnosis and treatment.
Pediatric foot problems like flatfeet and in-toeing need evaluation to determine which will resolve naturally and which need intervention.