Have you ever gone to a Podiatrist?

Jace

Jace

Well-known Member
A podiatrist treats patients with any foot or ankle issues:
• Heal pain
•Diabetic foot care
• Orthotics inserts
•Pains & deformities

Was it helpful?
Let's hear it!😉
 

I developed plantar fasciitis several years ago.

The podiatrist taped my foot and prescribed some inexpensive orthotic inserts. The cost of the visit and the orthotics were both covered by BCBS.

I used to take my mother to the podiatrist when she became uber old. The podiatrist examined her feet and trimmed her toenails. The cost of the visits was covered by Medicare.
 
Yes, and I wouldn't recommend them for any sort of surgery other than toenails.

I had pain in my metatarsal area, saw a podiatrist whose x-rays showed I had an old fracture in one of the smaller bones that had healed badly and he wanted to do surgery. I then saw an orthopedic surgeon for a second opinion. He looked at the x-rays I brought from the podiatrist and said he couldn't tell anything from the angles of their x-rays which he said were done incorrectly. He had me have x-rays that day at his clinic and saw no evidence of a previous break. He then had me go for an MRI and that showed that the pain was caused by inflammatory arthritis consistent with my psoriatic arthritis so all I needed was a steroid injection into the area. I told my aunt about it who worked as an anesthetist in a same day surgery center in another region of the country. She said they had a lot of orthopedic surgeries trying to correct botched podiatrists' procedures and that there was often not a lot they could do. After my experience, I had several people who let the podiatrist I initially saw operate on them tell me they now had worse problems than before that couldn't be corrected by an orthopod. Also read similar stories online from other parts of the country, so it's not just the podiatrist I saw or ones from their particular training that cause problems. There's a reason why orthopods have medical degrees and extensive training beyond it ...many years more than podiatrists.
 
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A podiatrist corrected two conditions for me at two different times in my life. Plantar fasciitis, by making shoe inserts, they worked like a charm. After awhile I didn’t need to use anymore. Second time was Achilles’ tendon pain, it was about to rupture, again he made shoe inserts and they corrected the problem. Today I don’t have to wear either inserts. He did tell me to wear New Bslsnce walking shoes. If My feet bother me from time to time I always revert back to those.
 
Years ago a horse stepped on my bare right foot. The agony was so intense I immediately blacked out. Anyhoo, years later the nails of those toes hardened into bricks, though they look normal. I'd need a blowtorch to trim them so I started going to a podiatrist instead. Why'd they change their title from 'chiropodist?' Anyone know? My grandma went to her chiropodist, I go to a podiatrist.
 
Being diabetic, I knew I was supposed to be seeing one long before I did. I researched podiatrists in the area but couldn't decide. My DIL recommended hers. His office was a couple of blocks from where I went for blood work, so I walked over and asked if they took my insurance. Turns out they did not. But I'm glad I waited. In 2019 I started going to a senior center and I met a woman who used to be a nurse. She recommended a podiatrist. I finally started seeing him and I love him! I couldn't believe how much time he took with my feet. I felt like I was at a spa..LOL. Only thing his little office is kind of cold.

He is gentle, caring and thorough, not just about foot care but general health care. He said my uric acid was at the high end of the normal range and decided to take preventive steps to keep me from developing gout. He recommended a cherry supplement (said it's better than whole cherries or the juice). I double checked with my PCP, whom I adore and he agreed that it would be a good idea. Just like with my PCP, my podiatrist and I have very interesting conversations. After the first visit which took about an hour, subsequent visits have taken about 45 minutes, so we have plenty of time to chat. His demeanor is much like my PCP's...just a very nice, caring man.
 
Pepper said:
Years ago a horse stepped on my bare right foot. The agony was so intense I immediately blacked out. Anyhoo, years later the nails of those toes hardened into bricks, though they look normal. I'd need a blowtorch to trim them so I started going to a podiatrist instead. Why'd they change their title from 'chiropodist?' Anyone know? My grandma went to her chiropodist, I go to a podiatrist.
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While chiropodist still (I think) describes foot specialists in the UK and Ireland, podiatrist originated in the US, and now it's becoming more globally recognized as the official title. I think the title chiropodist started losing favor around the early 1900s.
 
I went to a recommended podiatrist about 2 years ago. I had an ingrown toenail on my left foot. She said I have to get the fungus under control and showed me how to do it ( fine scraper and then pour some "tea tree" oil on it to soak into the cracks. She also taught me how to trim my nail for optimum growth. I still treat it and my other foot every other day. It has worked this long , i will keep the DIY way unless it flares up again. From the posts so far, I will have it removed. I won't hesitate. :)
 
AnnieA said:
Yes, and I wouldn't recommend them for any sort of surgery other than toenails.

I had pain in my metatarsal area, saw a podiatrist whose x-rays showed I had an old fracture in one of the smaller bones that had healed badly and he wanted to do surgery. I then saw an orthopedic surgeon for a second opinion. He looked at the x-rays I brought from the podiatrist and said he couldn't tell anything from the angles of their x-rays which he said were done incorrectly. He had me have x-rays that day at his clinic and saw no evidence of a previous break.
Click to expand...
This just reminded me of a similar situation many years ago. I had a very painful callous on the ball of my foot, which I tried to take care of at home without success. I went to a podiatrist and he took x-rays. He said I had an old fracture, not healed properly, and the bone was positioned in such a way that the pressure from it caused my callous. As just with @AnnieA, "surgery was needed to correct the problem."
I went to my primary doctor, told the story, and he sent me to a radiology facility for x-rays. There was no "old fracture". Shoes with better cushioning eventually solved the problem.
 
Murrmurr said:
While chiropodist still (I think) describes foot specialists in the UK and Ireland, podiatrist originated in the US, and now it's becoming more globally recognized as the official title. I think the title chiropodist started losing favor around the early 1900s.
Click to expand...
I am also going to have my bunion removed because it has become very painful. The way he says he will do it , it won't grow back for sure.
 
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