structive surgery for these conditions. I have seen the evolution of
techniques and equipment available during the past 30 years and it
keeps getting better. I specialize in reconstructive surgery of the foot
and ankle, and after 31 years, I'm still excited by my craft. I'm always
thinking of ways we can make it more effective and produce consistently good results.
When should patients seek help from a podiatrist?
Most patients come into the office when a foot-and-ankle problem
is recalcitrant or resistant to conservative measures. Certainly, more
emergent conditions such as an infection or wound that won't heal
or an acute injury such as a fracture require immediate attention.
Can you tell us a little bit more about what a podiatrist does
and treats?
A podiatrist is licensed to treat disorders and conditions of the foot
and lower leg. Some of these conditions are not only local but are secondary manifestations of systemic diseases commonly seen. For
example, this happens with diabetes, peripheral vascular disease or
rheumatoid arthritis to name a few. Podiatrists attend four years of
podiatric medical school after college and then go on to residency
training for one-to-three years. Some podiatrists opt for an office
practice dealing with non-surgical issues while others with advanced
surgical training specialize in reconstructive surgery of the foot, ankle
and lower leg.
How does it help your patients that you are a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and a Doctor of Medicine?
Being both a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and a Doctor of Medicine gives me a broader base of knowledge so I can understand and
recognize conditions not only in the lower extremity but also in the
other organ systems. This way, I can intelligently make the right referral to a specialist in those areas.
What tips can you provide to improve care of feet and
ankles?
The foot and lower extremity may be one of the most abused parts
of the human body. It’s important to inspect your feet regularly, to
moisturize them daily and to make sure you wear adequate and supportive shoe gear. Many of the problems we see commonly result
from poor choices in shoe gear. While many conditions of the foot
and ankle are hereditary, the wrong shoes will certainly aggravate the
problem.
Diabetic patients should inspect their feet daily and look for cracks
in the heels or between the toes. These areas can become infected
especially in patients with diabetic neuropathy who have numbness
in their feet and don't recognize a problem quickly enough because
of it.
Many athletes put more demands on their feet, so in-shoe orthotic
support is helpful in preventing many common conditions such as
plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis and shin splints. Physical activity
has more benefits than being sedentary, so it’s important to protect
your base (foot and ankle) so you can perform comfortably. d
There are about 16,000 podiatrists in the U.S., according to the Department of L