A podiatrist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats conditions of the foot, ankle, and leg. Podiatrists are also known as podiatric physicians, or foot doctors. Podiatrists are the only medical professionals who treat only the foot and ankle, and they may use surgical or nonsurgical treatment options. If you are considering making an appointment with a foot doctor serving Whitestone, continue reading to find out more about this type of medical professional.

What Qualifications Should a Podiatrist Have?

Podiatrists undergo four years of training at a podiatric medical school, as well as three years of training as a resident in a hospital. This training is similar to any other medical training that all medical doctors are required to undergo. Once a podiatrist graduates medical school, he or she can choose a specialty for further study. Such specialties include surgery, sports medicine, wound care, pediatric podiatry, and diabetic care.

Do Podiatrists Need to be Board Certified?

A podiatrist does not need to be board certified in order to legally practice medicine. Board certification indicates that a podiatrist has demonstrated a higher level of achievement beyond medical school, a residency, and licensure. Podiatrists that undergo advanced training, further their clinical experience, and take the board certification exam can become board certified. The certifying boards are the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and the American Board of Podiatric Medicine. Board certification recognizes the effort of individuals within the field who have committed to furthering their knowledge in a specialty area.

What Is a DPM?

DPM stands for doctor of podiatric medicine. Any doctor that is identified as a DPM will have extensive training and knowledge of the foot and ankle beyond the knowledge of any other type of doctor. DPMs are the most qualified of any medical professionals to offer diagnoses, care, and treatment of issues involving the foot or ankle.

If you’re in search of a qualified doctor of podiatric medicine near Whitestone, visit Family Foot Center. Our podiatrist, Dr. Stanley Zawada, has been board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and has over 25 years of experience. Call us today at (917) 563-4199 to set up an appointment.

Often confused for splinters or callouses, plantar warts are contagious and typically affect the bottom of your feet. Although a vast array of treatment methods exists, only a few of them are truly effective. Watch this video to learn about plantar wart treatment.

Since plantar warts are contagious and able to spread to other parts of your body, they should be treated as soon as possible. Thuja, a conifer oil extract, tends to be helpful in the elimination of these warts—the same can be said of vinegar and tea tree oil. However, other at-home remedies, such as treatment with duct tape, are generally ineffective.

Family Foot Center provides the College Point area with treatment for plantar warts, bunion treatment, podiatric surgery, and many other services. If you would like to learn more about our foot center, check out our website. You can also call us at (917) 563-4199 for more information.

If you have continuously suffered from moderate to severe foot pain that has yet to adequately respond to treatment, you may want to consider podiatric surgery in Whitestone. While some people may be nervous about such a procedure, understanding what to expect can help to calm your nerves. Keep reading for an overview of foot surgery.

Leading Up to the Surgery

Before undergoing surgery of any kind, the first step is always to meet with a doctor so that you can reach a diagnosis and design a treatment plan. You will talk to your podiatrist about any medical conditions you may have as well as your medical history; in some cases, patients are asked to undergo blood studies, X-rays, and other types of analyses to ensure they are candidates for surgery. Your doctor may also have you talk to a specialist to ensure that you receive an optimal treatment plan for your needs.

Returning Home

From the heel to the toes, there are many different aspects of the foot that could require surgery. Since these procedures are different from each other, your postoperative routine will depend on your specific surgical procedure. Regardless of what type of operation you have undergone, you will likely need someone to stay with you or pick you up and take you home if you have been sedated for the procedure.

Recovering Post-Surgery

Although the specific instructions regarding your post-surgery recovery will depend on the type of surgery you have undergone, some standard elements will likely be included. Whether you had neuroma surgery or a fusion, your aftercare will involve elevating your foot, resting, compression, and ice packs. You may be given a splint, cast, or walking boot to help you through the recovery, and your podiatrist will tell you to what degree your foot can bear weight.

For more information about the process of foot surgery, call Family Foot Center at (917) 563-4199. We are proud to serve the Whitestone area with a variety of podiatric services. Please feel free to visit our website or stop in today if you would like to learn more about our foot specialists.

Every human foot is made up of bones, muscles, and other components that must work in concert; this can sometimes make it difficult to identify exactly what is going wrong when you feel pain in your heel. If you have yet to see your foot doctor in Whitestone about your symptoms, schedule an appointment to have your heel pain evaluated and continue reading for a brief overview of the causes of heel pain.

There are a number of conditions that may cause you to visit your podiatrist’s office for heel pain. Plantar fasciitis is a condition that occurs when the fascia that runs along the bottom of your foot becomes inflamed; if you play a sport that requires running and jumping, like basketball, you are more susceptible to this condition. Straining the muscles in your foot can lead to heel spurs, which is another common source of heel pain; heel spurs may also result from obesity or improper footwear.

Are you suffering from heel pain? Call Family Foot Center at (917) 563-4199 or visit our website. We are a podiatry practice that treats sprained ankles, plantar warts, fibromyalgia symptoms, and other foot concerns in the Flushing area.

Musculoskeletal conditions come in various different forms, and fibromyalgia is among the most common. Despite how frequently fibromyalgia appears, many people know very little about this condition. Read on if you would like the answers to a few common questions about fibromyalgia.

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is the second most common musculoskeletal condition—osteoarthritis is the first—and yet many are still unfamiliar with the disorder. In addition to plaguing sufferers with a number of symptoms on its own, fibromyalgia can also lead to additional complications such as social isolation and depression; both of these resultant issues can play a substantial role in a person’s quality of life. Although both men and women may develop this condition, women are at a significantly higher risk.

What Are the Associated Symptoms?

Musculoskeletal conditions typically cause symptoms of physical pain or fatigue. Those who are affected by fibromyalgia may feel achy and tired at any point during the day or night, even when they get plenty of sleep and are well rested. Certain parts of the body may also feel inexplicably tender, sore, and sensitive to the touch. If you constantly feel like you have been overworking your body even though you have not exercised in weeks, you may want to talk to your podiatrist or primary caretaker about fibromyalgia. Other common symptoms include headaches, numbness and stiffness of the muscles and extremities, and oversensitivity to temperature.

How Is Fibromyalgia Treated?

Although there is no cure for this condition, there are viable treatments; a combination of different types of treatments can help to provide an optimal prognosis. Treatment often involves medications such as Cymbalta, Savella, and Lyrica as well as exercise and behavioral modification. You may benefit from the use of antidepressants in the event that your fibromyalgia induces a mood disorder.

If you would like to learn more about fibromyalgia, feel free to contact Family Foot Center or visit our website. We practice podiatric medicine and offer treatments for ankle sprains and plantar warts in addition to podiatric surgery and fibromyalgia management. Give us a call at (917) 563-4199 to learn more today.