There is hardly a moment when we don’t use our feet and ankles and put stress on them. The continuous stress and strain that we place on our feet and ankles put them at higher risk for injuries.
A foot injury, whether it’s a sprain, fracture, or other foot-related condition, can make it difficult for you to get around, let alone do your daily chores. So, it’s best to see a foot doctor in such a situation.
Let’s talk about when you should see a foot doctor after a foot injury and what a foot injury doctor does when you see them for an injury.
When Should You See a Foot Doctor?
You should immediately see a podiatrist if you notice one or more of the following signs and symptoms.
- Persistent pain in your foot since your injury
- Pain that worsens over time
- Foot swelling that is not getting better with home measures and even two to five days after the injury
- Visible bruise on foot skin
- Tingling, numbness, and burning pain
- A visible foot deformity
What Foot Injury Doctor Can Do for You?
A foot injury doctor or a podiatrist is a medical doctor who receives advanced education and training in addressing foot and ankle injuries and problems.
When you visit a podiatrist with a foot injury, they:
Take Your Medical History and Assess Your Symptoms
Your podiatrist asks for your medical history, including your history of previous foot or ankle injuries, medical conditions like diabetes, and surgeries. So, remember to assemble all your medical history before seeing a podiatrist.
Also, answer your podiatrist’s questions about your symptoms honestly. The podiatrist may ask about the severity of your pain, factors that ease or worsen your pain, and your activity level.
Perform Physical Examination
Additionally, your foot and ankle doctor may also perform a physical examination to check for swelling, warmth, or any signs of bruising.
Order Diagnostic Tests
To identify the exact cause of your foot pain and related symptoms, your foot injury doctor will order diagnostic tests, like X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs.
These tests will take a picture of your foot’s internal structures, which provide your foot injury doctor with an insight into what is causing your symptoms and which part of your foot is injured.
Based on the diagnostic tests and physical exam results, your doctor will provide you with a diagnosis.
Suggest Treatments
A foot injury doctor recommends treatment options for foot injury based on the diagnosis and severity of your problem. Typically, the treatment plan includes conservative approaches like medication, braces, physical therapy, injection therapy, and surgical approach.
Expect your foot doctor to explain the benefits, risks, and expected outcomes of each treatment plan. You can also ask them questions about the treatments if you have any.
Schedule Follow-up Appointments
Your podiatrist may also schedule one or more follow-up appointments, if necessary, to monitor your progress and determine if a particular treatment is working for you. If needed, they may also makeadjustmentsto your treatment plan to tailor it to your stage of recovery.
Foot Injury Doctor in West Orange, NJ
At Hudson MD Group, we have highly skilled and compassionate podiatrists who have built an excellent reputation for providing the highest-quality care for a full range of foot and ankle conditions. In addition to utilizing conservative approaches, our podiatrists can perform surgical treatments using advanced techniques to offer excellent outcomes.
To set up a consultation with our foot injury doctor, call us today at (973) 705-4914 or fill out our online appointment request form now.
