Many people try to DIY their foot problems away. Do-It-Yourself projects are fun and rewarding, but this is not the case when it comes to your feet. DIY patients often spend hundreds of dollars on the wrong shoes and over-the-counter treatment without resolving their foot pain. What if something goes wrong and the problem becomes worse? Seeing a foot and ankle specialist can prevent you from wasting time and energy trying to solve the problem yourself.
Here are the top 5 reasons to see a podiatrist:
1. Chances are we have seen what you have!
While you may have never seen what you have before, your podiatrist certainly has. Treating your own issues can be painful and can make the problem even worse. Between 4 years of podiatry school and 3 years of residency, even new podiatrists have a lot of experience in their field. Dr K herself has over 20 years of experience as a board-certified podiatrist. You don’t need to waste time googling your condition because we already know what it is.
2. We have x-ray and ultrasound imaging to diagnose your condition.
Not everything is surface level. While your podiatrist can make an educated guess on your condition, many common injuries like fractures and plantar fasciitis need imaging to be diagnosed and treated. In-office imaging systems are designed to image your feet, making the process as easy and comfortable as possible. Using their training, podiatrists can interpret imaging. make a diagnosis and create a treatment plan during the time of visit.
3. We only treat the foot and ankle
Your primary care doctor treats the entire body while podiatrists are specialists. A podiatrist’s focus is entirely on the foot and ankle, allowing for greater expertise. They only examine and treat the conditions of the foot and ankle. A podiatrist undoubtedly has more experience and knowledge than Google or WebMD and is much more effective than any at-home remedy.
4. We are experts at fixing ingrown toenails.
Soaking in warm water and Epsom salts and applying antibiotic ointment to your ingrown toenail can help in the short term but sometimes you need expert help. Bathroom surgery is never a good idea. Podiatrists excel at treating infected ingrown toenails and permanently correcting the problem if needed. We are skilled at making you comfortable during the procedure.
5. We know how treatments and products work for your foot problem.
Podiatrists are experts in treatment and the products they use for treatment. Going online and Googling what over-the-counter medication to use may yield some results, but your podiatrist knows best. Not only can they give you proper recommendations, but they can also prescribe medications, give injections, and even provide necessary wound care supplies.
Are you suffering from foot pain? From wounds to warts, we have seen it all. At Lighthouse we use a variety of innovative methods to treat your feet. We have laser therapy for chronic and acute pain, effective topical treatments for fungal nails, and Swift microwave system for warts. Call us or visit our website to make an appointment today!
