Podiatrist? - Merrick Foot Care

Merrick Foot Care

A podiatrist, also called a doctor of podiatric medicine, is a specialist who provides medical diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle problems, including but not limited to injuries, such as sprains and fractures, bunions, heel pain/spurs, hammertoes, neuromas, ingrown nails, warts, corns, calluses, infections and ulcerations. A podiatrist attends undergraduate school to receive pre-medical school training. He or she then goes on to attend graduate school for a doctorate degree in podiatry. A Podiatrist is required to take and pass state and national exams in order to be licensed by the state in which they practice.

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, there are more than 17,500 practicing podiatrists in the United States. Podiatrists are in demand more than ever today because of the rapidly aging population. In addition, according to the association, foot disorders are among the most widespread and neglected problems affecting people in this country.

Typically, podiatrists:

•Consult with the patient and other physicians on how to prevent foot problems.

•Diagnose and treat tumors, ulcers, fractures, skin and nail diseases and deformities.

•Perform surgery to correct and remedy such problems as bunions, hammertoes, infections, ingrown toe nails, flat feet and ruptured, torn and injured tendons and ligaments.

•Prescribe treatment and provide diagnostic procedures such as in office X-rays, fluoroscopy and lab tests and out of office procedures such as diagnostic ultrasound, MRI’s and CAT scan imaging.

•Prescribe and fit patients with shoe inserts called orthotics that correct walking problems the way eyeglasses correct vision. Orthotics are also prescribed alleviate symptoms in the presence of heel pain, arch pain, ankle pain, metatarsal pain and in some instances calluses on the bottom of the foot.

•Treat painful conditions such as: bunions, corns, calluses, ingrown toe nails, heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, warts and other skin growths and infections (bacterial and fungal).