You may not give your feet much thought until you suddenly develop heel pain or get an ingrown toenail. Pain gets your attention fast, but you might still have a tendency to put up with it and wait for the pain to go away. It's probably best to see a foot doctor instead so you can get relief from pain and so you avoid causing further injuries to your feet. Here are four times to consider seeing a podiatrist for a foot problem.
It's normal to have cold feet if you've been playing in the snow, but when your feet are cold when you're in bed at night even in the summer, you could have a problem with your circulation or nerves. If you have cold feet often, see a podiatrist for an evaluation so treatment can be given if it's needed. Here are some causes of cold feet, and some home remedies and treatments that might help warm your feet.
Ingrown toenails are when your toenails grow into your skin on the side of the toe. It can happen on all of the toes or just on one toe. This can be very painful and can leave your feet hurting constantly, not just when you're moving and walking. Ingrown toenails can sometimes be treated at home on your own, but sometimes they can require the help of a podiatrist or require surgery.
If you're like most people, you think of the podiatrist as someone to see when your feet are really ailing you. You might consider seeing one of these professionals if you think you have arthritis in your ankle, or if you're developing a hammertoe. And indeed, podiatrists can treat these issues. However, podiatrists do not treat only serious foot issues. They can also help with these seemingly minor foot problems, and in most cases, seeing a podiatrist will clear the problem up a lot faster than trying to do things on your own.
Diabetes is a disease that affects the body in a number of different ways. It can cause issues with your vision, it can affect how you heal, and it can cause problems with circulation, which can affect your feet and legs. If you wind up with a wound on your feet, your feet may not heal properly, and you could end up needing surgery or an amputation. If you have a wound on your foot, the best thing you can do to treat it is to go to your podiatrist and have it treated by a medical professional.