Foot pain is very common and each year millions of patients go to a podiatrist for diagnosis and treatment. A podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in foot and ankle care, who is well trained and experienced in diagnosing and treating common and rare conditions of the foot and ankle. While an examination of the feet and various tests can lead to an accurate diagnosis, the history of the condition reported by the patient is as important as a clue in determining the cause of the pain or problem. This article looks at several key information points that a patient should have before seeing a podiatrist to aid in diagnosis.
Your complete medical history
The first thing one should gather before seeing a podiatrist, or any other doctor, for the first time is her medical history. This includes all medical conditions that one has treated, in addition to coughs or colds, including childhood illnesses. A list should also be compiled of all surgeries that have been had from head to toe, all medications currently in use and their dosages, if possible, all allergies and adverse reactions that have been had to medications, chemicals or other substances, and a list. Any other medical problems or symptoms that one is actively dealing with, even if they are not related to the foot. The foot is connected to the body and many chronic diseases or changes in the body due to previous surgeries can directly affect the foot and cause pain, skin disease or inflammation in the foot. The podiatrist will also need to know current medications and medical allergies in order to safely prescribe medications for treatment if needed.
The exact location and nature of the pain or problem.
It is important to try to isolate the exact place where the person feels pain or discomfort. The foot is a very complex part of the body, with many tendons, muscles, bones, nerves, skin structures, and joints that can be a source of pain or disease. Simply pointing to the entire foot and telling the podiatrist that it hurts “there” does not help. Try to concentrate beforehand on isolating the site of pain, or at least the general appearance of the foot where the pain appears. Some conditions cause pain throughout the foot and cannot be isolated podiatrist Wellington FL. If this is indeed the case, the podiatrist will want to know with confidence rather than assuming that the patient simply has not focused enough on where the pain is. Knowing the general location of the pain can save valuable diagnostic time, as the doctor can more easily focus on the problem. The nature of the pain can help determine the nature of the disease process. For example, heel pain is common, and usually acute, due to plantar fasciitis. However, pain felt in the heel due to persistent burns can indicate other conditions together. By letting the podiatrist know if the pain is sharp, stabbing, burning, tingling, stabbing, itching, etc., a faster and more accurate diagnosis can be obtained as the pieces of the puzzle fit better in the mind of a podiatrist. Feet that decide the nature of the problem.
When and how did the problem start?
It is important to remember when and under what circumstances the problem started. Some conditions are treated differently if they have been around for a while rather than being newer, and how long the condition has been, in any severity or form, can provide some information on how it has progressed, as well as the overall prognosis for the illness. treatment. The circumstances of how the condition manifested itself can also help determine whether the condition was the result of an acute injury, chronic stress, or a stressful condition, or whether it was caused by another condition such as a secondary injury or compensation of the body for the primary. . injury.
What makes the pain or problem appear or disappear?
In many cases, the situations that cause the problem to appear or resolve it may indicate the best way to address it. For example, if you feel pain in your foot when you walk barefoot instead of wearing sneakers, the condition may be more easily treated with better structural support in addition to the usual treatment for the actual condition. Also, the diagnosis can be based on this information. For example, toe pain that is not felt during activity but is felt in bed may indicate a neurological or circulatory disease that is diagnosed and treated very differently than an injury to the toe that causes pain. similar, but only felt when active on the feet. . By paying particular attention to the positions that create or reduce the foot problem, a person can help the p