4 Ways To Find The Best Podiatrist

Foot problems are a significant concern for a number of people, whether they live an active or a sedentary lifestyle. Here comes the Podiatrist in the picture. The most common issues are stiffness, pain, and deformities. For some individuals, those problems have become part of their everyday life, and because the treatments they need might be expensive, they resort to quick yet temporary solutions.

Even if you seldom notice the state of your feet, you always use them in your daily routine, whether you’re walking around the office, taking your dog for a walk at the park, or going grocery shopping. And when left unaddressed, foot pain and discomfort may result in disorientation at work, a dreadful attitude toward running simple errands, and worse symptoms. Over time, common methods of pain relief such as using topical creams and taking analgesic medications might not work anymore.

In such cases, a medical intervention must be carried out to restore the health and condition of your feet. You can turn to a professional like an Eastern Idaho Foot Clinic podiatrist for an efficient consultation.

But if you’re having trouble looking for the best podiatrist in your area, here are some tips you can try.

How To Find The Best Podiatrist

1. Consult Your Family Doctor

When in doubt, consult your trusted family doctor. They may be a general practitioner or a specialist. Asking them for a recommendation regarding a good podiatrist is one of your best options as they’ll give you information with your best interest in mind. It’ll also be convenient for you to request that your medical records be forwarded to the podiatry clinic of your choice.

Your family doctor may do a preliminary checkup in order to rule out other factors that may be causing your condition. Blood work, diagnostic imaging, and a provisional diagnosis would help your podiatrist figure out later on what you’re suffering from and what the proper treatment is.

2. Discuss With The Insurance Company

Insurance companies usually have a list of podiatrists affiliated with them. Some of them may be practicing in another city or state, so you want to be thorough when it comes to searching for a doctor near you.

Feel free to reach out to your insurance company and check the qualified podiatrists covered by your policy. Keep in mind that podiatric consultations and procedures can be costly at times. There are imaging techniques and medical processes that may force you to shell out more money than you’d expected to pay.

3. Search Online

Browsing the internet to find a podiatrist can be tricky. You have to ensure that you’re using an excellent search engine and looking through credible websites if you’re after a reputable and trustworthy doctor. See to it that the professional you go for has all the proper credentials and certifications before you allow them to treat your medical foot problems.

Given how common they are nowadays, you must already be aware of healthcare fraud schemes. While modern telehealth consultations are applauded since they bring plenty of convenience to patients, malicious individuals take advantage of digital solutions to exploit people.

As easy as it is to type a keyword phrase like ‘best podiatrist in Idaho,’ you might end up providing personal and financial information to sites that fake doctors are running. And while public figures, celebrities, and influencers share information about their trusted medical health professionals, you can’t always be sure of their qualifications. Searching on medical association websites such as the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) may be a better choice.

To learn more about a podiatrist’s reputation, you can read feedback from patients on a doctor’s website or other online platforms designed to publicly evaluate the performance and expertise of podiatrists and their clinics.

4. Get Insights From People You Know

In the past, you may have gotten insights from relatives, friends, and co-workers regarding back pain remedies, the latest fashion trends, newly released books, and even weight loss. So why don’t you try asking them if they know of a seasoned podiatrist in your area?

At times, people feel anxious about meeting a new doctor. Some specialists may have a bright, bright, welcoming attitude, while others might look stern and intimidating. It’d be advantageous for you if your loved ones have had firsthand experience with a certain podiatrist.

You may ask for the doctor’s contact details, the estimated cost of consultation, and available treatments. Taking this route might be all you require to have peace of mind when searching for the most suitable podiatrist for your needs.

Qualifications You Must Consider

Every state has its requirements when someone’s studying to become a podiatrist. They must undergo the following:

• A four-year undergraduate course
• Premedical clinical practice at an institution
• A four-year program at a podiatric medical school to become a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)
• A three-year residency program for postgraduate medical training

Meanwhile, their specialization training depends on the specific area of podiatry they’d like to pursue.

Being aware of the qualifications of your chosen podiatrist is vital in safeguarding yourself from malpractice and incompetency. As a paying patient, you deserve to get the best, most appropriate treatment available. For a guaranteed full recovery, the foot issue you’re dealing with must align with the doctor’s specialization.

The Expertise Of A Competent Podiatrist

A podiatrist treats a vast array of conditions affecting the lower legs, ankles, and feet. After reading the list below, see to it that apart from providing expert consultations and thorough assessments, the clinic you choose is equipped with tools and machines for necessary procedures.

The following are the conditions that a podiatrist treats.

1. Sports Injuries

Fractures, sprains, torn muscles, tendons, and ligaments are the most common sports injuries encountered by podiatrists.

Athletes who participate in soccer, American football, basketball, rugby, martial arts, marathons, and triathlons can acquire foot and ankle injuries that may impact even their thighs and knees. Their overall physical health is considered their bread and butter, so when injured, they need immediate repair and rehabilitation to preserve their sports career.

Podiatrists work together with physical therapists to help athletes get back to the game as soon as possible.

2. Work Injuries

Sprained ankles, fractures due to falls or slips, and stress injuries may happen in the workplace from time to time. Some employees tend to bear the pain and continue with their work just to avoid absences and loss of wages. This may lead to complications such as permanent deformities, sepsis, and bone cancer.

Proper medical attention must be given to ensure a team member’s general health. Pain will only add to their exhaustion and result in less productivity on the worksite.

3. Deformities Such As Club Foot And Flat Foot

Malformation of the arches and bone structures of the feet may bring excruciating discomfort in day-to-day life. Continuous stress on the feet may trigger tension in the legs and hips, resulting in gait patterns and postural deviations.

A podiatrist may recommend foot orthoses and shoe modifications to solve such issues, but in some severe cases, surgery is needed.

4. Corns, Calluses, Warts, And Bunions

Unwanted appendages and bony protuberances may occur in the feet. While some people are unbothered by them, others feel hampered even when doing simple chores. 

Bunions may be caused by ill-fitting shoes, resulting in redness, blisters, swelling, and pain. If the person decides to wear sandals or flip-flops to minimize their discomfort, they might feel insecure if someone sees and points out their bunions. Fortunately, podiatrists now prescribe customized toe splints, shoe inserts, and paddings for people with bunions. Those are much cheaper and more convenient than painful reconstructive surgery.

Some podiatrists have machines utilizing laser technology that may get rid of corns and warts without incisions. Though pricey, many people now opt for stitchless and painless procedures that don’t result in scars.

5. Diabetic Foot

When diabetes becomes severe, it turns blood viscous and interrupts the blood flow to the lower extremities. Pressure and friction may result in diabetic foot formation. When left untreated, it may lead to infection and sepsis and require amputation.

An individual with diabetic foot ulcers often needs a caregiver to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). A podiatrist will educate both the patient and the person assisting them about proper wound care and ways to salvage the diabetic foot and increase the quality of the patient’s life. 

6. Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenail removal videos may be rather popular on the internet, but the condition is anything but entertaining for those who have it. Painful swelling due to the growth of curved toenails in the surrounding skin may lead to foot complications. Podiatrists perform outpatient surgeries in their clinic to relieve pressure and remove the infected toenail.

7. Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)

PVD results from obstructed or damaged blood vessels that lead to inadequate blood flow, pain, fatigue, and discoloration to the lower extremities. Referred by a primary physician, podiatrists perform Doppler ultrasound imaging and special tests to confirm the presence of blood clots and blood pooling. Their primary goal in doing so is to preserve the feet to avoid deep vein thrombosis and amputation.

Taking All Into Consideration

Foot problems continue to affect numerous people worldwide. Whether you’re an athlete, a team member, or a stay-at-home parent, you’re still vulnerable to them.

Qualifications, credibility, and experience must be highly considered factors in finding the best podiatrist. A podiatrist covers a wide variety of conditions, from musculoskeletal issues to those involving structures deep in the body. Each has its own specialization, so you must choose one who can effectively address your specific concerns.

Though it sounds simple, looking for a competent podiatrist may take a while, so you have to be patient from start to finish. Check websites and blogs carefully to verify any doctor’s credentials and background. Get information about podiatrists who’ll accept your health insurance, and request recommendations from your family doctor, relatives, and friends. Nothing beats the support you can get from people who genuinely care for your well-being.

This was it for today. I hope you have found the article helpful. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Have a Good Day!