Caring for your feet can be surprisingly complex for such a seemingly simple part of your body. There are innumerable specialists or doctors that treat hyper-specific ailments and conditions. We know it can be tricky, and that’s why we’re here to help clear the air on who to check in with for arthritic feet.
Who should I see?
With the pain that comes with arthritis, the last thing you want to deal with is the headache of figuring out what doctor to see! There are two primary doctors who you could see if you’re dealing with arthritic pain in your feet: a podiatrist or an orthopedic surgeon.
What does a podiatrist do?
A podiatrist is a specialist doctor who focuses on foot and ankle care. They’re also known as DPMs or Doctors of Podiatric Medicine. They help treat many conditions, like bunions, corns, heel spurs, fractures, plantar fasciitis, flat feet, gout, fungal infections, toenail issues, and more.
Why does an Orthopedic Surgeon do?
An orthopedic surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes in caring for bones, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and nerves throughout your body, including the ligaments and tendons in your feet. Orthopedic surgeons treat issues like Achilles tendon repair, bunion surgery, treating bone fractures, restoring cartilage, and perform surgeries to help correct these issues.
So which doctor should I see?
As you can see, there is overlap in what these doctors treat! Arthritic feet affect joints in particular, which falls into the orthopedic surgeon’s purview, but a podiatrist’s specialized knowledge of feet might help get the proper treatment.
The best solution is to check in with your podiatrist first and specifically ask if you should see an orthopedic surgeon. If you’re able to see both specialists, they can work together to devise a comprehensive treatment plan.
Our podiatrists can help!
At San Antonio Podiatry Associates, our board-certified podiatrists have the expertise to get you on the right path to arthritic treatment. Contact any of our locations in the San Antonio area to schedule an appointment by calling 210-899-1026 today!
