A podiatrist is a doctor who looks into the maladies related to your foot- the part of the body that bears your entire weight. A mere discomfort in your foot can badly affect how you carry on with the daily activities of your life. Hence, if you have any issue in your foot, ankle, or connecting parts of the leg, you must immediately look for foot specialists in Houston.
When should you see a podiatrist?
The different parts of your feet such as joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments co-ordinate together in supporting your body weight, and in helping you run, walk or just stand. Thus, you must not ignore if you’re going through any discomfort or pain and see a podiatrist for moderate help in the following conditions:
• Discolored toenails
• Calluses or hard skin
• Tenderness
• Dry or cracked skin
In case you have one of these symptoms persistently for a few days, you should urgently see a podiatrist in Houston for medical attention:
• Severe, sharp, or burning pain
• Sore or open wound
• Tingling or numbness
• Symptoms of infection like redness, fever, tenderness, and warmth
• Difficulty in walking or putting weight on the foot
• Swelling in the foot
These symptoms might be indicative of different physiological or physical conditions of the foot and require the due care and medical help to prevent any serious development.
The conditions podiatrist treat
People of various age groups have different foot-related problems that could be associated with other physiological conditions in some cases. Many such conditions are treated by Houston foot specialists, some of which are discussed here.
• Hammertoes and Bunions
If the joint forming the base of the big toe gets displaced or bigger than normal, the condition is called a bunion. If it doesn’t bend properly, the condition is called a hammertoe. Both bone-related problems in the foot can be effectively treated by specialists in Houston.
• Sprains and fractures
These injuries if occur in the foot or ankle could give real pain and are faced by athletes, sports professionals, gymnasts, etc. Podiatrists are usually adept in treating these.
• Nail disorders
An ingrown toenail, infection in the nails such as those caused by fungus and discolored toenails which could be indicative of different conditions can be treated holistically in clinics of Houston foot specialists.
• Morton’s neuroma
Morton’s neuroma is a condition caused by problems in the nerves between the fourth and third toe bones of the foot. This involves inflammation, a sharp pain, often with a burning sensation, and feeling like there’s something in the shoe. This is faced mostly by runners and worsened overpronation and tight shoes. Podiatrists can help by giving shots to cure inflammation and also guide you if the situation demands an orthotic in which case a surgery would be required.
• Heel pain
Heel spurs or accumulation of calcium at the base of the heel pain can often cause heel pain. Other causes could be obesity, over-exhaustion like that in running, or tight shoes.
Ill-fitting shoes can also lead to inflammation in the connective tissues at the bottom of the foot, better known as plantar fasciitis. Heel pain can also be caused by overpronation which is bending in or far out of the foot while walking. Achilles tendinitis is another condition involving heel pain.
A Houston podiatrist would usually prescribe pain killer medications in the beginning. The treatment could also involve an orthotic, meaning usage of shoe inserts, or a surgery in the most severe cases.
• Diabetes
Most diabetics have to go through troubles related to feet or legs as transportation of blood in these parts is hampered and thus the nerves of the feet are highly affected. Some people even require their foot to be amputated.
A condition affecting your foot can become highly disturbing. The more your malady is left untreated, the severe it will become, which is why you should see a foot specialist in Houston at the earliest.
