Most people know the traditional signs that suggest they should visit their family physician, be it a fever, drowsiness or a cough that just won’t go away. Fewer people are aware of the signs that suggest they would benefit from an appointment with a foot specialist. In today’s blog, we share some signs or symptoms that suggest you should set up an appointment with an orthopedic specialist.
When To See A Foot Doctor
Here are some signs that suggest you should have a professional look at your foot or ankle:
Getting Worse, Or Simply Not Getting Better – Most minor or mild foot and ankle injuries hurt the most right after the incident, and then pain starts to fade over the next few hours or days. If your pain levels remain the same, or pain gets worse as time goes on, set up an appointment with a specialist.
Signs Of An Infection – Another sign that suggests you should visit a foot specialist is if you think you may be dealing with an infection. If you recently had surgery and you’re experiencing discolored discharge, fever or heat from the wound site, call your orthopedic surgeon to determine your best course of action.
Recurrent Injuries – If a problem continues to occur over the course of a long period of time, you may want to head to a doctor and figure out what’s going on inside your foot. For example, if you suffer recurrent ankle sprains, even when your foot isn’t on very uneven ground, you will want to be checked for ankle instability. If certain foot conditions keep coming back or never fully heal, head to a foot specialist.
Delayed Healing – If cuts, sores or soft tissue injuries seem to be taking a long time to heal, it’s worth considering a visit to a specialist’s office. You may be dealing with a circulatory issue or complications from another health condition like diabetes, and not confronting the problem will only make it worse. If wounds aren’t healing like expected, have them viewed by a professional.
Conservative Care Isn’t Working – Many foot conditions can heal on their own with conservative care treatments like physical therapy, rest, ice, elevation and anti-inflammatory medications. However, if these options fail to provide relief, surgery may be your best bet, so you’ll need to talk to an orthopedic surgeon.