Six Things You Shouldn't Assume About Visiting A Podiatrist

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Treatments for Osteoarthritis

Eight years ago, I tore the meniscus in my left knee while squatting down to dust the furniture in my living room. Initially, I assumed the pain would subside in a few days. Unfortunately, the pain, and swelling, only got worse over time. So, I underwent surgery to remove the part of my meniscus that was torn. Unfortunately, I’ve developed osteoarthritis in this knee during the years since my surgery. I’ve tried several home treatments to relieve my symptoms. Sadly, none of them have worked. Because I miss my active lifestyle, I’m considering making an appointment with an orthopedist. On this blog, you will discover the latest trends in osteoarthritis treatment.

Six Things You Shouldn't Assume About Visiting A Podiatrist

23 February 2023
 Categories: , Blog


There is a great deal of misinformation out there about podiatrists and the treatments that they provide. If you are having an issue with your foot and are interested in podiatry treatment, it's important that you're properly informed.

The following are six things that you shouldn't assume about visiting a podiatrist. 

You don't need to go to the podiatrist because your foot problem will go away on its own.

A lot of patients make the mistake of not seeing a podiatrist because they think the foot problem that they're suffering from will go away without treatment. However, many podiatry issues won't go away on their own and could get worse if you don't seek treatment right away. 

Podiatrists go through significantly less schooling than medical doctors.

Although podiatrists don't go to standard medical schools, they do spend four years studying in podiatric medical schools after completing their undergraduate studies. They then go through a residency just like regular medical doctors do. This makes it so that podiatrists go through just as much schooling as medical doctors. 

You can always treat a sprained ankle yourself by icing it and resting.

While it's true that treatment from a podiatrist is not necessary for all sprained ankles, some ankle sprains are serious enough that they won't heal without treatment. If your sprained ankle is very swollen and you are in a good deal of pain, you might want to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist to receive treatment. 

You can deal with your flat feet by simply using arch supports you buy at a pharmacy.

Buying standard arch supports at a pharmacy might not correct your flat feet issue. Using shoe inserts that aren't right for your feet probably won't lessen any discomfort you feel and could even do more harm than good. Seeing a podiatrist to have custom orthotics made is the best way to correct flat feet. 

Regularly having sore feet at the end of the day is just part of life.

While occasional foot soreness may be nothing to worry about, you should see a podiatrist if your feet are sore on a regular basis. You might be experiencing a podiatry issue that needs treatment. 

Hammertoe must be treated with surgery.

While surgical treatment is often recommended to correct hammertoe, there are numerous other possible treatments that a podiatrist can offer. These include footwear changes, anti-inflammatory medications, orthotics, and physical therapy.