Do You Need to Visit a Podiatrist in Coral Gables?
Podiatrists are medical specialists who treat problems related to a patient’s feet and/or lower legs. Podiatrists diagnose and treat injuries and complications from ongoing health conditions like diabetes. Some people refer to podiatrists as podiatric physicians or doctors of podiatric medicine.
These healthcare professionals undergo extensive education and training programs, receiving doctorate degrees from accredited institutions of podiatric medicine. Although podiatrists predominantly concentrate on the lower extremities, they also bring extensive human physiology and anatomy knowledge to their practice.
We’ve all experienced aches and pains in our lower body from time to time. No one is a stranger to soreness after a hard day. However, what does it mean when aches and pains start to feel abnormal? Determining the reason for your pain is where a podiatrist in Coral Gables from the Southernmost Foot & Ankle Specialists can help.
Signs to See a Podiatrist
Our feet are very important since they are the foundation we stand and walk on. Pain and other problems related to the feet can negatively impact mobility and a patient’s quality of life. Unfortunately, few still give the lower body the care it deserves.
Many patients simply ignore their feet, refusing to give them the attention they need. Out of sight, out of mind, when not looking at the feet, it can be hard to see the issues developing.
Nonetheless, straightforward foot injuries and problems, when neglected, can exacerbate existing problems, evolving into something much more severe altogether.
Patients visit with us after waiting through months of suffering. They often think that the problems will get better on their own. The bad news is that this may mean that things go from an easily repairable problem before transitioning to larger issues.
Visiting a podiatrist in Coral Gables can alleviate ongoing issues, and at the very least offer patients, peace of mind in that soreness is sometimes just soreness. Alternatively, it may indicate more serious problems lingering elsewhere in the body.
Conditions that a Podiatrist in Coral Gables Treats
Bunions and Hammertoes
Bunions and hammertoes often stem from issues related to the bones of the feet. A bunion may occur when the joint at the base of the big toe increases in size or becomes disjointed and misaligned and makes the toe bend inwards towards the others. Hammertoes remain closely related to bunions as the toes do not bend correctly.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition where the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or cannot process it the way it should. Insulin helps our body digest sugar.
Diabetes can damage the nerves in the feet and legs and even impact blood flow to the extremities.
This condition can cause ongoing severe health complications. With over 65 thousand individuals per year requiring medical amputation due to diabetes, early intervention from a podiatrist in Coral Gables remains imperative for the best possible results.
Arthritis
Arthritis occurs from swelling, inflammation, and wear and tear on the joints. Every person’s foot has 33 joints, all susceptible to arthritis. A podiatrist in Coral Gables may recommend prescription drugs, physical therapy, orthotics, and even surgery as a last resort option to treat a patient’s arthritis.
Podiatrist in Coral Gables | Southernmost Foot & Ankle Specialists
A patient’s first visit to a podiatrist will be very similar to an appointment with any other doctor. Our podiatrist in Coral Gables typically begins by asking about patient medical histories, medications, and any prior treatments.
They can then conduct a physical analysis, determine how a patient stands and walks, and observe the motion of a patient’s joints. This first appointment is also the ideal time to assess and treat bunions, ingrown toenails, heel and lower back pain, and foot circulation for patients with diabetes.
It is easy for patients to think about lower body pain as simply an indicator of malfunction in that portion of the body. In some cases, this can indicate serious issues with a diabetic or circulatory condition.
We can overlook the importance of foot health all we want, but a visit with a podiatrist in Coral Gables like our team from Southernmost Foot & Ankle Specialists sets patients off on the fast track to diagnosis and treatment of potentially serious conditions.
To learn more about podiatric work and how our specialists can help you, reach out to the Southernmost Foot & Ankle Specialists today for more information!