Your Primary Care Doctor Can Help With Foot And Ankle Issues
Your feet and ankles do a lot of work to keep you standing up tall. When something is wrong with your feet or ankles, you can feel as if your life has changed. You can't stand or walk comfortably, which can impact your ability to live your daily routine.
As a result, it is important that you understand what a primary care center can do to help you take care of your feet and ankles. Here's what you should know.
What Foot and Ankle Conditions Can a Primary Doctor Treat?
Primary care doctors at primary care centers can help you with a variety of pains and wounds, including heel pain, hammertoe, flat feet, bunions, ankle sprains, and tendon issues. They can also help you with arthritis, joint replacement, sports injuries, warts, and stress fractures, though any serious conditions may also warrant the opinion of a specialist.
Another issue primary doctors may help with is with amputation prevention. If you are at risk for amputation due to a health issue, a professional can help you determine what you may need to do regarding medication, stem cell therapy, and pressure to work toward keeping your limb.
Finally, primary care doctors take care of wounds. If you are diabetic and have wounds or you were wounded and contracted an infection, your doctor can help you through the next stages of treatment and recovery.
Why Should You See Your Primary Care Doctor?
It is always a good idea to see a primary care doctor when you have injuries or illness because a professional can help you with many of your major concerns. Plus, your doctor has built a relationship with you and can speak to your entire medical history.
Additionally, your primary care doctor is set on helping you with prevention. You can work together on a long-term basis to find the right solution for you, which is not something you will get at an urgent care center.
What If It's an Emergency?
If you are experiencing an emergency with your foot or ankle, you should go to the emergency room as soon as possible. If the issue needs attention before you can get an appointment, urgent care is a solution. If the issue can wait for an appointment, primary care is the way to go.
Call Your Primary Care Doctor Today
If you think something might be wrong, it is important to talk to your primary care doctor about your concerns. A doctor can help you take the best steps toward treatment and preventative care.