If you are seeing a foot and ankle specialist,that’s a great decision because podiatrists are specially trained in the diseases, conditions, and injuries which impact the lower extremities.
Here’s what to know so you can maximize your consultation with your podiatrist and where you can find the best foot specialist in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
What Do Foot and Ankle Specialists Do?
Podiatrists treat a wide range of lower extremity issues. Perhaps you need to know how to avoid complications of your diabetes-related neuropathy. Or, is surgery possible because repeated ankle sprains have led to instability in this weight-bearing joint?
Skin and nails also fall under the purview of a skilled podiatrist. Do you have persistent athlete’s foot, or is an ingrown toenail becoming infected?
Whatever the injury, deformity, or acute or chronic condition related to the feet and ankles, your podiatrist has the assessment, diagnostic, and treatment skills to help you feel better, avoid complications and keep moving. A foot specialist is trained to care for kids, teens, adults, and senior adults, comprising care plans which may include conservative interventions at home, physical therapy, medications, assistive devices, orthotics, surgery, and even ortho-biologic treatments, such as stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma therapy.
What You Need for Your Podiatry Appointment
To be fully prepared for each podiatry appointment, including your initial consultation, bring your photo ID, insurance card, and any test results or documentation from other pertinent healthcare providers, such as your PCP.
Also, comprise a list of your symptoms and concerns, including when your condition started and how it impacts your day-to-day life. Make a written list of your current health conditions, allergies, and routine medications, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements. Compile questions to ask your podiatrist about your diagnosis, possible treatments, and desired therapeutic outcomes.
What Will Happen at Your Appointment?
Expect the doctor to review your symptoms carefully and ask questions about them. The podiatrist will examine your feet and ankles, paying special attention to skin, nails, foot shape, and how you place your feet on the floor and walk. Your doctor will also assess your blood flow, reflexes, nerve function, or sensation.
You may undergo diagnostic tests, lab work, and imaging tests, such as X-rays, MRI, etc. Experienced foot and ankle specialists use the results of these assessments and your specific input as the patient to arrive at treatments suited to your:
- Age
- Gender
- Family history (genetic predispositions to certain diseases, deformities or degenerative issues)
- Medical history
- Activities, such as sports
- Job
- Specifics about how an injury occurred
Your Foot Specialist in Massachusetts and Rhode Island
At Foot and Ankle Institute of New England, our three board-certified physicians help countless patients have the healthy, well-functioning feet and ankles they deserve. They are experts in skin and nail care, complex reconstructive surgeries, diabetic foot care and limb preservation, and everything in between.
To schedule your visit with one of our foot and ankle experts, call the Foot & Ankle Institute of New England office nearest you:in Warwick or Middletown, Rhode Island, or Dartmouth, Massachusetts. You can also simply request an appointment now.
