When choosing the right foot doctor a few factors have to be taken into consideration when choosing the right one. The location of the pain, how bad the pain is and what does the foot look and feel like. Once all the above factors have been identified then deciding on the exact foot doctor you need to see will be easier. The foot doctor will take care of all your needs as far as the health of the foot is concerned. There are nine different types of foot practitioners that deal with all matters relating to the feet.
Types
General Practitioner
A general practitioner is most likely going to be a patients’ first point of contact when it comes to any foot problem the patient is experiencing. These doctors do not specialize in working with feet but will refer a patient to someone who can help treat a patients’ condition.
Podiatrist
Podiatrists treat common ailments and injury to the foot but they also help prevent and correct deformities in the feet. If you have very badly cracked soles, thick toe nails that are discoloured, calluses, gout, athletes foot and soreness in the soles or heels of the feet. They will also treat patients with conditions caused by diabetes and other diseases that affect the feet.
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Orthopaedic Surgeons specialize in performing surgery on bones and extremely damaged muscle tissue. These foot doctors will be consulted with likely if a patient has seriously injured the bones or muscle in the foot. They also consult on common foot problems but not that often.
Foot Care Nurse
A foot care nurse specializes in the general treatment of a patients’ foot. They will treat patients’ that have to have dressings changed, wounds cleaned and conditions associated with diabetes that need general care.
Pedorthist
A Pedorthist does not diagnose any conditions that patients may have; they manufacture footwear that a patient will need in treating their problem. A Pedorthist will get a prescription from one of the other with measurements and specs for each individual patient.
Orthotist
An Orthotist specializes in providing mechanical devices that will help support a weak joint that a patient is suffering with.
Prosthetist
A Prosthetist specializes in manufacturing and fitting patients that have missing limbs.
Prosthetist/Orthotist
They specialize in both manufacturing and fitting mechanical devices and prosthetics to patients that require these treatments.
Rehabilitation Physician
These physicians specialize in helping patients rehabilitate after they have had surgery or a prosthesis fitted. Patients will normally consult a Rehabilitation Physician post treatment.
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