We often have patients come into the clinic saying that they have no idea what a podiatrist does or what we can treat. So, to get started, let’s have a look into where the profession of podiatry began.
Podiatrists, or ‘chiropodists’ as we were previously known as, have been around for thousands of years.
Some of the earliest documented podiatrists date back to ancient Egypt where it was discovered that corns and calluses needed to be treated. This is depicted in carvings and can still be seen today!
The British royal household has employed podiatrists for hundreds of years and there is even documented evidence that Napoleon Boneparte and the kings of France employed their own podiatrists.
Our profession has been around for quite a long time and has expanded over the years because foot pain has been around for as long as humans have been walking the Earth. So what is it that we actually do?
Podiatrists are trained to assess, diagnose and treat conditions of the feet and legs. This can include skin and nail pathologies, sporting injuries, arthritis, diabetes assessments and many more. Some podiatrists even specialise in the other types of podiatry like sports podiatry.
We work closely with other health professionals such as general practitioners, physiotherapists, osteopaths, podiatric surgeons, wound specialists, dermatologists and endocrinologists.
We are specialists in the foot and ankle, but can also help to diagnose issues of the legs, hips and lower back.
So, you might find yourself asking, “when should I see a podiatrist?”. Well, broadly speaking, you should see a podiatrist for any ailment of the lower leg, ankle and foot.
These foot problems and nail problems can range from a skin rashes or lesion, to a sprained ankle, to an ingrown toenail and everything in between, like regularly painful feet and even joint pain – basically anything that is causing pain or discomfort.
We are well equipped to assess and diagnose foot conditions, as well as treat these conditions and injuries. We may also work with the allied health professionals we mentioned earlier to ensure your foot condition is managed properly and effectively.
What a podiatrist can help treat
Common foot problems and conditions that we treat as podiatrists include:
- Nail and skin care
- Ingrown toenails
- Fungal toenails
- Skin lesions including tinea pedis (athlete’s foot)
- Warts
- Blisters
- Children’s foot pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Bursitis
- Synovitis
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Ankle sprains
- Neuromas
- Soft tissue injuries
- Wound management
- Diabetes assessments
While you may have heard of some of these conditions, there are still plenty of other foot and lower limb conditions that we can help to treat as well.
What are 6 signs that you should see a podiatrist?
These are 6 of the most common signs that it’s time to book in to see a podiatrist.
1. Changes in nail colour or shape or pain at the nail
Any changes in your nail should be assessed by a podiatrist.
To the surprise of most patients, there are a number of things that can go wrong with nails.
This can include fungal infections, ingrown toenails, psoriatic nails, abscesses, skin cancers and damage due to trauma.
Sometimes, a change in the appearance of the nails can also signal underlying health conditions such as a vitamin deficiency.
As podiatrists, we perform a thorough assessment of the nails to come to a diagnosis for you.
We are able to treat most nail ailments in the clinic, however we may need to refer you to another health professional such as a dermatologist for a most extensive assessment.
We are able to cut, clear and file the nails to help to treat some of these conditions and perform nail surgeries if needed.
2. Changes to your skin
Similarly to nails, there are a number of pathologies that can affect the skin of the feet.
As podiatrists, we perform a thorough assessment of the skin to identify the cause of your pain or discomfort.
This can include callus and corns, warts, tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), psoriasis, eczema, contact dermatitis and various other conditions.
We can also help to identify lesions on your skin that you may not be able to see, such as skin cancers. We are also able to help with injuries such as blisters or when there are foreign objects lodged in the skin, such as splinters or glass.
Swelling or redness of the skin may also indicate that there are other health conditions at play as well, including lymphedema and diabetes which may require further assessment. If you notice significant swelling in one foot, it is very important that you visit your podiatrist immediately.
3. If you have sustained an acute injury to your lower leg, ankle or foot
Early diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries leads to far better outcomes!
If you have sustained an acute injury, such as an ankle sprain, it is important to see your podiatrist as soon as possible.
For injuries such as this, we are able to provide a comprehensive assessment and often send you for scans to determine the extent of the injury.
We are able to assist with treating all acute musculoskeletal injuries such as ankle sprains, muscle and ligament tears and fractures.
4. You still have lingering pain after an acute injury, or did not seek medical attention after an acute injury
Lingering or chronic pain can be quite debilitating and begin to affect your day to day activities.
Injuries that have not been managed properly place you at risk of further complications such as delayed healing or compensation injuries, where the rest of the surrounding structures are trying to compensate for your original injury.
We are able to conduct a thorough assessment of your lower leg function to determine why your pain is not easing and tailor a rehabilitation plan specifically for your injury.
5. You have not recently injured your feet, but still have pain
If you feel like you have painful or tired feet this could be in relation to the structure and function of your feet which has resulted in pain that has increased over time.
Those with bony abnormalities, such as bunions, or high or low arches are at risk of ‘overuse’ injuries, where the tissues are placed under too much stress and can no longer function effectively.
This involves a comprehensive assessment of the alignment of your lower body, the range of motion and strength of the lower leg and standing and walking/running assessments.
These assessments will help us to understand why you are now experiencing pain, what has caused it and what we can do to help.
6.You have an underlying health condition that affects your feet.
Several conditions can affect the feet, including diabetes, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and vascular diseases.
If you have a health condition that is affecting your feet, it is very important that you see your podiatrist regularly.
We are able to manage some of the effects that these health conditions have on the feet and identify when more help might be needed.
We assess various aspects of foot health in these conditions such as your nail and skin health, blood supply, nerve supply and overall function of the feet.
Do you need to see a podiatrist?
If any of these scenarios sound like what you’re experiencing in your feet and/or lower limbs, then it might be time that you book in to see your local podiatrist.
If you’re in Melbourne’s North East area, around Watsonia, then that is us. We’ve got an amazing team of podiatrists who are able to provide professional advice and help you take care of your feet today.
To book in to see us, just give us a call on (03) 9432 2689 or book online here.
