The many bones, ligaments, muscles, and other tissues that make up your feet and ankles can take a lot of abuse.  Inevitably some foot or ankle injury or illness can have you suddenly sidelined. Keeping regular appointments with your foot doctor can catch problems before they worsen and prevent serious complications.

4 reasons you should consult with your foot doctor include the following:

• Cuts on your feet that aren’t healing—With the explosion of diabetes worldwide, diabetic foot problems are very common. Be sure to see your foot doctor for any cuts or scrapes that aren’t healing correctly since it can lead to serious infection.
• Foot and ankle pain and discomfort—If you have pain in your foot or ankle that doesn’t improve after a day or two of conservative treatments, then you should see your foot doctor for proper care.
• Skin and toenail changes—The color and texture of your skin and toenails are often an indication of a fungal infection or even skin cancer, so be sure to see your foot doctor for a proper evaluation.
• Toe and arch deformities—Bunions and hammertoes can be treated with non-invasive methods when caught early enough. Specially made braces or surgery may be needed when the toes are badly bent to straighten them out. Treating arch problems with properly fitted shoes, arch supports, and orthotic insertscan avoid a multitude of issues and can even correct knee, hip, and back problems with proper foot support.

For all your foot and ankle problems, your podiatrist is uniquely qualified to provide the best treatment. At Your Next Step, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies, along with years of experience, to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, including sports injuries, joint pain, toe deformities, nail fungus, chronic tendon pain, and skin problems. Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich, and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen provide high-quality foot and ankle care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area at our offices conveniently located in Ardmore, Paoli, and Downingtown, PA. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.