Who Should See a Podiatrist?

Podiatrists have a special ending on their names: DPM, which stands for Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. We go to medical school to specialize in all things foot-related. Anyone with a foot issue can consult a podiatrist, but today the doctors at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center want to highlight some special groups of people that may benefit the most:

Diabetics
Anyone with diabetes needs to commit to seeing a podiatrist at least once a year. The consequences of not getting this specialty care can prove to be calamitous. Loss of feeling, cracked heels, nail fungus, sores that won’t heal - even something as seemingly innocuous as a callus - are all foot conditions that can quickly spiral out of control in a diabetic, leading to lower limb amputation. Make - and keep - annual appointments with us if you’re a diabetic.

People with sensory-motor issues
Conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and carpal tunnel syndrome can cause muscle weakness or stiffness that compromises a person’s ability to bend over or grasp things in their hands. A podiatrist can maintain foot health by providing regular examination of your feet - which often leads to insights about your overall health - as well as helping with ordinary tasks like toenail trimming.

Athletes with chronic foot, leg, or back pain
Consult us for any sort of foot pain that doesn’t subside with home care such as R.I.C.E. (rest, icing, compression, and elevation). We can assess how you walk or run and identify the source of your pain. Believe it or not, if your back hurts, the source may lie in your foot mechanics. We have shoe recommendations and custom orthotics that can help.

Anyone with joint pain in their feet
Swollen, red, stiff toes hamper your ability to walk around. Our podiatrists can slow the progression of joint pain (arthritis) in your feet, prescribe medications that provide relief, evaluate your shoes, and even recommend changes to your diet, which can be especially helpful if you’re suffering from a particular kind of arthritis called gout.

Anyone with pain in the feet - period - should visit a podiatrist. Our group treats everything that’s annoying, concerning, suspicious, bizarre, embarrassing, or painful about your feet, ankles, and toes.

So if you’ve got bunions, warts, athlete’s foot, flat feet, heel pain, nerve pain, ankle weakness, or an ingrown toenail that just won’t quit - make an appointment with Dr. Samantha Boyd, Dr. Hal Ornstein, Dr. Joseph Saka, or Dr. Katy Statler, the board-certified foot specialists of Howell, Lakewood, Jackson, and the surrounding area of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Our number in Howell is (732) 905-1110.