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I go to a podologist instead of a podiatrist for diabetic foot care and she abrades the build up of callouses, filing, trims nails, treats fungal infections and minor injuries, making sure your feet are healthy. A podologist will often come to your home for foot care (but not in covid time)
What many people don't know (I didn't), is that there are surgical and non-surgical podiatrists and orthopedists. In other words its more than simply a philosophical difference. I always go to non-surgical specialists first. I learned more about my foot problems from one non-surgical podiatrist than several surgical podiatrists combined.
He explained every aspect of my foot morphological issues and biomechanics, gave me numerous options to try, and all the others said was "I can do xyz surgery". Now if you've got your mind made up that you want surgery maybe thats the way to go, but if you're a bit more prudent seeking out a non-surgical podiatrist would be wise IMO
All I can do is report my own experience with podiatrists. Every one of them chose non-surgical options first. Orthotics, anti-inflammatories, biomechanics/PT, injections, splinting. If they weren't effective for whatever the problem was, then they moved on to bigger guns. Can't recall any of them jumping right to surgery even though they all had that capability.
Last edited by Parnassia; 01-09-2021 at 02:12 PM..
I know about orthopedics because you want a surgical orthopedic but is it the same with foot doctors?
You only "want a surgical orthopedic" if you only want to pursue surgery and not conservative treatments. Many times conservative treatment can alleviate the problem, but you are far less likely to get that info from a surgical orthopedist or surgical orthopedist. They cut people. That's what they do, and that's what they want to do and that's what they are most likely to recommend. If you go straight to a surgical orthopedist or surgical podiatrist you could be missing a lot of opportunities to improve without surgery.
You might not have this option in all areas, but I do in mine. And like I said its more than just a philosophical approach, the non-surgical orthopedists/podiatrists are still licensed specialists they just don't do surgery so they are the best equipped to help people explore non-surgical options if they want.
My feet have the long second toe - the so-called "Grecian foot" and a high arch. While they are nice looking feet they are prone to developing problems in later years. I began to notice this about ten years ago.
I have a podiatrist that I see occasionally and so far all I've needed to be comfortable are small changes. But I'm glad to be connected just in case.
I have been to one maybe 4-5 times over many yrs and he helped a lot, and with OA advancing in my feet I would go every month probably IF I drove and could easily get to his office...getting there keeps me from going. And with an OA dx, medicare pays for the visit and I also would get my feet cleaned up. Yes is my reply.
What does he do for your OA? I have to walk on the side of my foot sometimes.
I have that big-toe OA, OP. Eventually, it will require surgery. That's what the podiatrist will tell you. In the meantime, they will offer you custom orthotics, which can help mitigate the pain by introducing support to the foot in key areas, to change the mechanics of how you walk. They may say, you should have come to us for orthotics before the condition got to this stage. And btw, a good podiatrist knows how to bill insurance, to get insurance to pay for the orthotics. Most podiatrists don't know the right billing code to use. Custom orthotics are expensive. And you may have to change the type of shoe you wear; they may recommend a certain type of orthopedic shoe.
In any case, orthotics aren't a panacea. At some point, you'll have to interview podiatrists on what type of surgical solution they'll propose. There are several options, depending on the specialist.
I didn't know there was such a thing as an arthritis specialist. What's the technical term for that? I'd love to see one. No one ever offered me a shot. Thanks for sharing.
Oh, thanks that's helpful. I have to wear old lady shoes! I figured as much. I did not know about surgery, that kind of sucks. I think the doctor was a rheumatologist but handles OA too. I had a shot in my right thumb and right big toe.
My feet have the long second toe - the so-called "Grecian foot" and a high arch. While they are nice looking feet they are prone to developing problems in later years. I began to notice this about ten years ago.
I have a podiatrist that I see occasionally and so far all I've needed to be comfortable are small changes. But I'm glad to be connected just in case.
I have the long toe, too. It's supposed to mean we're descended from royalty, lol.
You only "want a surgical orthopedic" if you only want to pursue surgery and not conservative treatments. Many times conservative treatment can alleviate the problem, but you are far less likely to get that info from a surgical orthopedist or surgical orthopedist. They cut people. That's what they do, and that's what they want to do and that's what they are most likely to recommend. If you go straight to a surgical orthopedist or surgical podiatrist you could be missing a lot of opportunities to improve without surgery.
You might not have this option in all areas, but I do in mine. And like I said its more than just a philosophical approach, the non-surgical orthopedists/podiatrists are still licensed specialists they just don't do surgery so they are the best equipped to help people explore non-surgical options if they want.
Thanks! Yes, I would much rather pursue conservative options.
I go to a podologist instead of a podiatrist for diabetic foot care and she abrades the build up of callouses, filing, trims nails, treats fungal infections and minor injuries, making sure your feet are healthy. A podologist will often come to your home for foot care (but not in covid time)
I remember my grandmother's coming out decades ago.
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