When To See A Podiatrist Austin TX

By Leticia Jensen


A podiatrist who is also referred to as a foot doctor or podiatric physician is a medical professional who specializes in studying and treating disorders of the feet, ankles and lower extremities. Anyone can suffer from foot problems and they can cause referred pain in the lower back and other joints depending on how a person walks. Foot problems can also be caused by systemic diseases like kidney disease, diabetes, anemia and circulatory ailments.

In some cases, it is possible to manage foot problems at home with ice, heat and rest. If such problems cannot be managed, it wise for the afflicted person to consult with a foot doctor. By consulting with a podiatrist Austin TX residents can get relieved of pain, skin irritations, numbness and other symptoms associated with foot disorders.

Several conditions can cause pain in the ankle, foot and other lower parts of the legs. Some examples are sore or swollen bunions caused by misaligned toe joints or shoe aggravation, blisters caused by friction and heel pain caused by stress on the heel bone. The other conditions that may cause pain in these areas include fractured bones, heel spurs, swelling and wounds.

You can also visit a podiatric doctor if you find that the skin of your feet appears discolored or is irritated. Some of the problems that may cause feet to become discolored include decreased blood flow to the lower extremities, gout, infections and vein disorders. If your feet appear blue or purple, your veins may not be functioning well. If your feet appear pale, your arteries may not be supplying blood to them properly.

A podiatrist can also sufficiently treat athletes foot or a similar type of skin irritation disorder. Athletes foot or Tinea Pedis is caused by a fungus and usually occurs in between the toes. If left untreated, it can spread to other areas. Its symptoms include dry, scaly skin, itching, inflammation and blisters. If your feet are numb, burning or tingling, you may be suffering from neuropathy. Neuropathy often causes reduced sensation in the feet and may affect diabetic patients. Consulting with a podiatric doctor regularly is essential if you have diabetes.

You should also see a foot doctor if you have growths in your feet. They can be either small or large and of different shapes. Growths usually cause pain and other undesirable side effects. The common types of growths that affect people include neuromas, warts, corns, calluses, bunions and blisters.

Residents of Austin TX can also see a podiatric doctor if they are suffering from flattened arches and other changes to the shape of their feet. Flattened arches may indicate the presence of dysfunctional or ruptured tendons. When these tendons fail to function normally, the bones become misaligned and this causes arthritis.

Muscle imbalances in the feet can also cause structural changes which result in painful conditions like Hammertoe. Another common problem that a podiatrist treats is ankle sprains. The severity of the sprain determines the type and duration of treatment. The main symptoms of ankle sprains include pain, bruising and swelling. This professional may also recommend exercises, well fitting shoes and stretching to prevent future sprains.




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