The Right Way to Find a Podiatrist for Your Feet

When you have foot pain, you want to get to the root of the problem as quickly as possible. The right podiatrist can help you feel better and take care of any problems that you may have with your feet so that you can continue living your life free from pain and discomfort. But with so many podiatrists out there, how do you find the one who’s right for you? With these five easy steps, it’s easier than ever to find a podiatrist who will help you make sure your feet stay in great shape!

Podiatry is the branch of medicine dealing with the medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the foot. Diseases, deformities, disorders, and injuries affecting any part of the foot can be treated by podiatric medicine. Foot problems may affect anyone at any age, but are most commonly seen in individuals over 40 years old. For example, around 80% of people will experience some form of back or foot trouble at some point in their lives.

Because podiatrists are trained in both medicine and surgery, they can treat an array of conditions affecting your feet. They might diagnose you with bunions or hammertoes; they might notice a potential stress fracture or suggest ways you can alleviate foot pain caused by plantar fasciitis. And if you have diabetes, it’s likely that your physician will refer you to a podiatrist sooner rather than later.

There are plenty of reasons why you might need to find a podiatrist. Perhaps you’re suffering from corns or blisters on your feet, or perhaps you have ingrown toe nails that need tending. Regardless of what is causing discomfort in your feet, it’s important that you find an excellent podiatrist so that you can get help and treatment as soon as possible.

In order to find one, here are some tips to keep in mind:

When searching for podiatrists, you’ll find plenty of listings. But not all podiatrists are right for you. If at first you don’t feel comfortable with a certain practitioner, or if your instincts say no—you should trust those feelings and move on. Sometimes "no" is just an indication that you need to keep looking, but other times it could mean that another specialist would be better suited. You owe it to yourself to keep looking until you find someone who feels like a great fit.

Check out their education and experience. Don't just look at their website—call their office and ask questions, including: How long have they been in practice? What is their specialty? Are they board-certified? Also ask if they have any professional affiliations with organisations like AAFP or AOA, which indicate that they're members of a national organisation of foot doctors.

Now, we’re not saying you should accept sub-par care from your podiatrist, but keep in mind that there are several reasons it might not be the right fit. First, if you don’t see eye-to-eye with your doctor on foot care and treatment, it’s probably best to look elsewhere. It’s important to feel like your podiatrist listens to and considers you as an individual when developing a treatment plan. If you don’t feel respected or heard, no matter how great they are at making pretty feet, it won't be worth going back again and again.