Our feet are built to endure a lot of stress. They support our weight and make every movement we make while standing possible. However, we tend to take our feet for granted and overlook their health until they start hurting. Foot pain can severely limit our daily activities.
Since your feet are the ones that keep you in motion, it is crucial to keep them in the best shape possible. If you have persistent foot pain or have a foot condition or injury, it is high time to consult a podiatrist. A podiatrist is a specialist who diagnoses and treats foot, ankle, and related leg conditions and injuries.
If you’re visiting a podiatrist for the first time, you may not know what to look for in a podiatrist or how to find one.
Read on for everything you need to know when you’re on the hunt for a great podiatrist.
Get Personal and Professional Recommendations
When you are looking for a podiatrist, your primary care physician is the first person who can help you. You can ask for advice from your family care physician, who will refer you to a foot specialist. You can also ask your family members or friends who have previously suffered a foot injury or condition. It’s important to seek the opinion of different people and make a list of podiatry experts for comparison.
To avoid paying hefty out-of-pocket costs, you can ask your insurance company for help. Your insurance company can provide a list of podiatrists that they cover, making it easy for you to choose one that participates in your insurance plan.
Use Trustworthy Online Resources
There are some online resources from where you can get help when looking for a podiatrist. Most online resources have advanced tools that can help you find a podiatrist in your area. Two trustworthy online resources to use to verify a podiatrist’s expertise are:
- American Board of Podiatric Medicine
- American Podiatric Medical Association
Know the Podiatrist’s Education and Area of Specialization
Podiatric physician education includes 4 years of undergraduate, premedical training, four years of podiatric medical school to get a medical professional of podiatric medicine degree (DPM), and a 3-year residency program.
Podiatrists also have areas of specialization like other doctors. Some podiatrists sub-specialize and complete a fellowship that involves one training year in a particular section of podiatry. A podiatrist can be trained in sports medicine, wound care, trauma, diabetic foot care, or biomechanics.
Sports medicine podiatrists deal with sports-related foot and ankle injuries and help players get back in the game as soon as possible. A surgical podiatrist performs surgeries to fix foot problems that aren’t responding to conservative treatment options.
It’s crucial to choose a podiatrist who has specialized in the foot issues you’re experiencing.
Experience and Online Reviews
An experience podiatry expert can quickly assess your foot’s condition and develop the best diagnosis and treatment plan. You can ask a podiatrist about their experience in treating foot problems such as bunions, broken toes, or plantar fasciitis and how long they have been in the medical field.
The Internet has great resources that you can utilize to find a skilled and experienced podiatrist. You can narrow down your potential podiatrist’s list by reading online reviews about each podiatrist. Online reviews can help you determine how the podiatrist handled other patients and how they will likely manage your foot issue.
Skilled Podiatrist in Naples FL
If you’re looking for a skilled podiatrist in Naples, FL, look no further than the Joint Replacement Institute. Our highly skilled podiatry experts can diagnose and treat a wide range of foot and ankle conditions. Depending on your situation, our podiatry experts can devise a personalized treatment plan just for you.
To schedule an appointment, call us today at (239) 261-BONE (2663). You can fill out our online appointment request form. Let us help you stay moving forward in life!
