Specialty Area: Podiatry

Description of Specialty: A Podiatrist is a physician who specializes in preventing foot and ankle disorders, diagnosing and treating disorders of the foot and ankle.

1. Diagnosis: Onychomycosis (Fungus) of nails

Questions that should be asked:

  1. Can this condition be "cured"?
  2. How long will it take the nail to grow out?
  3. What can be done to try and prevent reoccurrence of the fungus nails?
  4. Is the medication for nails expensive if I do not have insurance to cover the medication?

2. Diagnosis: Onychocryptosis (Ingrown toe nail)

Questions that should be asked:

  1. Can this condition be corrected so that it doesn't come back?
  2. Will I have to be off my feet very long?
  3. Will I be able to wear my regular shoes?
  4. What causes ingrown nails?
  5. What is the best way to cut my nails?

3. Diagnosis: Verrucae (Warts)

Questions that should be asked:

  1. What are warts?
  2. Where do you get warts?
  3. How long do you think it will take to get rid of the warts?
  4. What means of treatment are available and are there any risks with them?
  5. Are warts dangerous?
  6. Can lasers be used as treatment on warts and what complications are there?

4. Diagnosis: Heel Spurs

Questions that should be asked:

  1. What causes heel spurs?
  2. What can be done to help me walk without pain from heel spurs?
  3. Can steroid injections help me?
  4. Can an orthotic help my spurs and let me walk more comfortably?
  5. What type of shoes should I wear?

5. Diagnosis: Plantar Fascitis

Questions that should be asked:

  1. Is this the same thing as heel spurs?
  2. What causes this condition?
  3. What shoes should I wear?
  4. How long is the treatment before it will get better?
  5. What is the treatment regime?

6. Diagnosis: Corns

Questions that should be asked:

  1. What causes the corn to form?
  2. How can I get rid of it?
  3. If I get surgery on it, how long will I be off my feet?
  4. Is there anything I can do if I do not get surgery of my toe?
  5. What risks are involved in doing surgery of the toe?
  6. What type of shoes should I wear?
  7. How much will it cost to do the surgery?

7. Diagnosis: Callouses

Questions that should be asked:

  1. What causes callouses to form?
  2. How can I get rid of the callouses?
  3. What type of shoes should I wear?
  4. Would an orthotic help my condition?
  5. Are there any special socks or stockings that I need to wear?

8. Diagnosis: Athlete's Foot

Questions that should be asked:

  1. What causes athlete's foot?
  2. What can I do to prevent it from coming back?
  3. Should I change my footgear every day?
  4. How long will it take to get rid of it?
  5. What kind of treatment are you going to use?
  6. Will over-the-counter medication do any good?

9. Diagnosis: Bunions

Questions that should be asked:

  1. What causes bunions to form?
  2. How can I get rid of it?
  3. If I have surgery on the bunion, what does it entail?
  4. How long will I be off my feet?
  5. Do I need to change my shoe size?
  6. What risks may I encounter?
  7. Will I need crutches to walk after surgery?
  8. Where will you do the surgery?
  9. What type of anesthetic will be used?

10. Diagnosis: Neuroma

Questions that should be asked:

  1. What causes the neuroma?
  2. How can I prevent them from forming?
  3. How can I get rid of them?
  4. If surgery is performed how long will I be off of my feet and out of shoes?
  5. What are the complications of the surgical procedure?
  6. Can they come back?
  7. Where will the surgery be done?
  8. What type of anesthetic will be used?

11. Diagnosis: Heel Fissures

Questions that should be asked:

  1. How can I treat them?
  2. What can I do to take care of the fissures?
  3. How often would I need to come into the office to get them treated?
  4. What causes heel fissures?

12. Diagnosis: Bone Spurs (Toes, Under the nails, Top of the foot)

Questions that should be asked:

  1. What causes the bone spur?
  2. What can I do to get rid of the spurs?
  3. How long will I be off of my feet if surgery is done?
  4. Do I need any special shoes?

13. Diagnosis: Orthotics

Questions that should be asked:

  1. How do they work?
  2. How much of the time do I need to wear my orthotic devices?
  3. What type of shoes do I need?
  4. How long will orthoses be needed?
  5. How long does it take to get the orthoses back from the laboratory?
  6. How long does it take to get used to orthotics?
  7. What is the cost of the orthotics?

14. Diagnosis: Ankle, foot and toe injuries

Questions that should be asked:

  1. How do I take care of this problem?
  2. "Is it broken?" "I can move it."
  3. I hear there was nothing to be done to treat a broken toe, is this true?
  4. If a cast is applied, how long will I need to wear it?
  5. What is the difference between a "fracture and a break?"
  6. Should I soak the injured area in hot water or should I use cold water?
  7. Is surgery necessary for this condition?

15. Diagnosis: Shoes

Questions that should be asked:

  1. What kind of shoes should I wear?

    1. For dress wear?

    2. For casual wear?

    3. For sports wear?

    4. For work?

  2. What about old shoes, are they still good to wear with my foot condition, etc.?
  3. What about distortion and heel wear in my shoes?
  4. How do I know the shoes fit correctly?
  5. Is it a good idea to resole and/or re-heel shoes?

16. Diagnosis: Hammer toes

Questions that should be asked:

  1. How did I get these toes?
  2. Can the hammer toe(s) be corrected?
  3. If surgery is performed how long will it be before I am back into my regular shoes?
  4. Will I be off of my feet after surgery and how long?
  5. Do I have to have surgery on these toes?
  6. What other methods are there to care for the hammer toe(s)?
  7. Do I have to wear any special shoes after the toe(s) heal or can I get back into my (tight) pumps, casual shoes, etc.?

Martin M. Becker, D.P.M. Private Practice, Podiatry St. Louis, MO

                                                                                           

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