When to Call the Foot Doctor

17 Jun When to Call the Foot Doctor

When you’ve had an injury to your foot or are in extreme pain, there’s no question about calling your podiatrist. But what about all those not so traumatic foot concerns, the ones that aren’t too painful or that come and go—how do you know if your complaint warrants a call to the foot doctor? At Great Neck Family Foot Care, we would always rather you err on the side of caution. For so many foot and ankle conditions, successful treatment depends on early detection of a condition.

Here are some guidelines to help you decide if your symptoms should be evaluated by our one of our board certified foot and ankle surgeons: Dr. Alec Hochstein or Dr. Diana Gagliano:

• How bad is the pain? If you are experiencing pain in your toes, feet or ankles for more than a few days, you should contact our Great Neck office. Pain that is getting steadily worse is a clear sign that something is wrong. Pain that comes and goes, however, over a period of time is also not normal and may indicate that the disorder is related to activity. Bottom line: pain requires medical attention.
• Are there any signs of infection? Fever, pus, red streaks, warmth to the touch—these are all signs of a possible infection. Infections can be dangerous and spread to other parts of your body. If you have any signs of an infection, you should contact the foot doctor right away.
• Have you noticed any changes in your feet? Changes in size, shape or color can all indicate a medical condition. Get in the habit of checking your feet regularly. If you notice any lumps, swelling, growths or abnormal movement of your toes or joints, this is definitely something that should be brought to the podiatrist’s attention.
• What do the skin and nails on your feet look like? Rashes, redness, blisters or cracking of the skin is a cause for concern and also a possible entry point for a bacterial infection. Nails that are discolored, brittle, thickening or crumbling are most likely suffering from a fungal infection.

Don’t Forget About Proactive Health Care

Your foot doctor can also advise about mechanical foot issues, nutrition, shoe fitting, hygiene and other issues that will help you prevent foot problems and keep your feet healthy. At Great Neck Family Foot Care, if you can’t come to us because of debilitating foot or other health issues, we can come to you. Contact our office at: 516-482-5999 for an appointment.