Penn Howard

Podiatrists specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. A podiatrist holds a doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.) degree, which is a 4-year degree received from one of seven podiatric medical schools in the United States. These schools offer courses similar to the ones given at medical schools, where graduates earn M.D.s to become medical doctors.

Restore Your Foot Aesthetics & Comfort with our Bunion Doctor at Advanced Podiatry Services. Bunions are due primarily to genetic factors, but can become painful over time due to trauma, ill-fitting shoes and poor foot structure. What happens, is that the bone connected to the big toe starts to drift outward pushing the big toe sideways into the other toes which can also lead to painful hammertoes, corns and calluses.

Diabetics are prone to poor circulation, have a weakened immune system and impaired nerve function in their feet. Due to poor circulation or lack of sensation after poor circulation, diabetic feet are more susceptible to developing sores, and non-healing wounds which may lead to ulcers. These wounds can also develop into serious infections which can lead to amputations, loss of limbs and even loss of life.

The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. The main sign of plantar fasciitis is pain or stiffness on the bottom of the heel when first standing. The pain is often in the bottom inside edge of the heel, but can occur anywhere. The plantar fascia attaches to the heel. Patients often report that the pain moves around to different areas and can range from a dull ache to a debilitating sharp pain. The condition may come and go or be persistent for months to years. The plantar fascia is relatively inelastic and does not stretch very well.