It can be easy to overlook the wellness and integrity of your feet. After all, they remain concealed inside of your shoes and socks all day. You may never think about how important they are to you until you experience pain or infection in them.
At that point, you realize how vital healthy feet are to you and how much you rely on them to carry out your normal day. You can address the symptoms you experience in them when you make an appointment with a trusted and experienced local podiatrist.
Finding the Source of Pain
If you experience pain in your feet when you walk or stand on them, you may wonder what is causing the pain and how you can prevent it. You may not realize you have a broken bone or strained muscle in your feet somewhere.
However, the podiatrist you seek care from can examine your feet and determine what is causing your pain. They can order X-rays of your feet and find out if you have a bone fracture or a sprained muscle in them somewhere. Once your podiatrist knows what is causing your pain, they can treat it with remedies like placing your foot in a cast or advising you to take ibuprofen and elevating your feet until they feel better.
Treating Infections
Your podiatrist can also treat infections you might have in your feet. For example, if you have a toenail that broke off and came into contact with contaminants like dust and dirt, you might develop an infection under it. This infection can compromise the health of your nail, as well as your foot, and put you at risk of the infection spreading to other parts of your ankle and leg.
However, your podiatrist can treat the infection and prescribe antibiotics to kill it. They can ensure the infection does not spread and your foot recuperates quickly.
Addressing Bunions
Finally, a podiatrist can treat painful bunions on your feet. This doctor may fit you with a device that can straighten and reduce the appearance of the bunion. They may also perform surgery to remove it.
A podiatrist offers vital medical care to ensure the health and wellness of your feet. This doctor can find and treat the source of your foot pain and also treat infections. Your podiatrist can also treat painful bunions you may develop.
Contact a local podiatrist, such as Dr. Christopher H. Peteros, DPM, LLC, to learn more.