When Should You Call the Foot Doctor?

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Sometimes when patients come to see us at Texas Foot Specialists we ask “Why didn’t you come to us sooner?” We often hear that they weren’t sure if the issue was serious enough to call about. Below are some guidelines as to when you should call the podiatrist:

  • In general, if you have been experiencing foot discomfort or have a condition you have been treating with over-the-counter products that has not improved or been eliminated in a week or two.
  • You experience pain that comes on suddenly or pain that seems to be getting worse or more frequent.
  • Unusual symptoms in your feet such as swelling, bruising, lumps or deformed shape.
  • Skin or toenail changes such as discoloration, blisters, redness, cracking, peeling or scaling.
  • Any signs of infection: swelling, heat, red streaks, discharge or pus, tenderness, fever.

If you are a patient with diabetes or have any other medical conditions that impair your immune or circulatory system, it’s extremely important that you examine your feet daily and report any of the above to your podiatrist immediately.  For all patients, it’s always better to come in sooner rather than later to treat foot problems.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

When you do come in to our Pasadena, Sugar Land or Houston office, you can expect that our podiatrists Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller will want to get detailed information about your foot discomfort including:

  • Exactly where on your ankle, toe or foot the pain is
  • When you first noticed the pain
  • How you would describe the pain—sharp, aching, sore, pins and needles
  • What makes the pain worse—exercise, standing for long periods of time, certain shoes
  • If you’ve ever experienced this type of discomfort before and if so, any treatment you received for it

The more specifics you can provide the foot doctor the quicker a diagnosis can be reached. The podiatrist will also want to get your medical history and may want to take a look at your shoes to check wear patterns.

If you’re in doubt as to whether or not to call us, you probably should. There’s nothing to lose and your active lifestyle to be maintained, so contact us at: (281) 242-4448, (281) 991-0600 or (713) 664-6677 and put your mind (and your feet) at ease.