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What to Expect From Your Local Podiatrist

Your feet are complex anatomical structures—all-in-one stabilizers, shock absorbers, and propulsion engines. They work hard for you and need expert care to keep them healthy. Look for podiatrists with the letters DPM (Diplomate of Podiatric Medicine) after their names, which indicate they’ve completed medical school and hospital-based podiatric residency training.

Common foot problems that local podiatrists treat include bunions, ingrown toenails, heel pain, hammertoes, plantar warts, arthritis, flat feet, and neuromas. A podiatrist can also help you manage other health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, by examining your feet for the first signs of those illnesses.

Discover the Difference: Local Podiatrists at Talaria Podiatrist of Thornbury

The first time you meet a local podiatrist, they’ll ask about your health history and any medications you take. Then they’ll check your feet, including their flexibility and the range of motion in your joints. They’ll also examine your shoes, checking for good alignment and enough cushioning for your feet. They may also order x-rays or laboratory tests to diagnose a problem.

One of the most common podiatrist treatments is for bunions—a bump on the big toe joint that can lead to severe pain if it’s not treated early. They can also remove corns, calluses, and ingrown toenails. They can prescribe medications and orthotics, set fractures, and perform surgery to correct foot deformities such as hammertoes. They can also help you find comfortable shoes, and teach you how to wear them properly. They can also recommend exercises, foot inserts, or braces to ease the symptoms of arthritis, which is a progressive condition that affects 33 bones in your feet and toes.