Taking Care of Your Toes and Feet

Guidelines to Consider Before Attending Your First Podiatry Session

Trying to walk when your feet are hurting can be a misery. What most people do when they find themselves in this predicament is to take over-the-counter pain medication. While this might work for a short while, it will not resolve the underlying issue that's causing the pain. Sometimes the OTC remedies cause more harm, and that's why experts recommend that you see a podiatrist whenever you experience foot pain. Podiatrists are specialists who are trained to take care of the feet. Their work is to examine the problem, determine the cause and offer customised treatment as per your needs.

So, how do you show up for your first appointment? Knowing what's required on your first visit will help you stay calm and prepare adequately. This post compiles a few hints you should know when you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist.

Write down all your symptoms

One of the first things your podiatrist will do when you show up is to ask several questions about your condition and the symptoms you have been experiencing. Consider writing down all the symptoms to ensure you don't forget anything. The expert will probably ask things like when the symptoms started, how it feels, what worsens the symptoms and what doesn't. Describing your symptoms will assist the specialist in streamlining the examination so they can perform the most vital tests. This will also help with diagnostics. Offering the wrong information will steer the expert in the wrong direction, and your treatment won't be effective.

Have a list of the medications you are taking

Before your podiatrist can offer treatment, they'll need to know about your current medical conditions and the medications you are taking. Since it's challenging to have all the names at your fingertips, be sure you write a list or bring the medicines and other supporting documents. When you provide this information, the specialist will know more about you and ensure the new prescriptions do not interfere with the others. It would be best if you also mentioned any allergies you have before the expert prescribes the medications.

Dress appropriately

The clothes you wear during the appointment should allow the expert to access your legs comfortably. They should be able to examine the feet and even get to the knees, if necessary. So instead of wearing tight jeans or pants, consider wearing shorts or loose pants. Ladies can also wear dresses or skirts too and some bike pants to avoid feeling uncomfortable during the examination. You should also wear comfy shoes to avoid worsening the situation.

For more information, contact a local podiatry clinic.


Share