If you have already seen an orthopedic surgeon—or a foot and ankle orthopedic specialist—you may wonder why you would need to see a podiatrist as well.
There is no requirement that you choose one specialty over the other. Orthopedic surgeons and podiatrists can both have important roles in the care of foot and ankle conditions.
But if your problem is being treated primarily through a surgical specialty, you may not have received the type of comprehensive podiatric evaluation that considers both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options.
Podiatry is not simply “foot surgery”
A comprehensive podiatrist evaluates and treats disorders of the foot and ankle using both conservative and surgical approaches.
That includes conditions such as:
- Bunions
- Hammertoes
- Hallux rigidus
- Metatarsalgia
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tendinitis and tendinopathy
- Stress injuries
- Fractures
- Ankle sprains
- Sports injuries
- Nerve disorders
- Biomechanical problems
- Other foot and ankle musculoskeletal conditions
Some require surgery. Many do not.
Determining which category your condition belongs in requires an evaluation.
What happens during a comprehensive podiatric evaluation?
Your podiatrist will review your history and symptoms and perform a focused examination of the foot and ankle.
Depending on the problem, this may include assessment of:
- Bone and joint alignment
- Range of motion
- Muscle and tendon function
- Ligament stability
- Gait
- Foot biomechanics
- Skin and soft tissues
- Neurovascular status
- Weight-bearing relationships
- Functional limitations
Imaging may be recommended when necessary to establish or clarify the diagnosis.
The goal is not simply to determine whether you need surgery.
The goal is to determine what is wrong and what treatment is appropriate.
You may not need surgery
Being evaluated by a podiatrist does not mean that you are being evaluated for an operation.
Depending on your diagnosis, treatment may include:
- Activity modification
- Footwear changes
- Orthoses
- Bracing
- Immobilization
- Off-loading
- Medication
- Rehabilitation
- Injections when appropriate
- Extracorporeal shock-wave therapy
- Other conservative measures
- Surgery when indicated
Conservative treatment is not merely something that happens before a patient gets sent to a surgeon. It is an important part of comprehensive podiatric medicine.
What if you have already been told that you need surgery?
A second evaluation can still be useful.
A comprehensive podiatric assessment can help determine:
- Whether the diagnosis is correct
- Whether surgery is actually indicated
- Whether additional conservative treatment is reasonable
- What procedure would address the underlying problem
- Whether another condition is contributing to your symptoms
- What nonsurgical options remain available
The purpose is not to automatically disagree with your orthopedic surgeon.
The purpose is to make sure the treatment decision is based on a complete understanding of your foot and ankle condition.
What if your orthopedic treatment was appropriate?
Then your podiatrist may tell you exactly that.
Comprehensive care does not require finding something wrong with another physician’s treatment.
Sometimes the best recommendation is to continue the treatment you are already receiving. In other cases, additional treatment or a different approach may be appropriate.
Why see a podiatrist if the problem is already being treated?
Because your foot and ankle problem deserves to be evaluated as a foot and ankle problem, not merely as a surgical problem.
A comprehensive podiatrist can participate in the full continuum of care—from diagnosis and conservative management through surgery when necessary.
Orthopedic care and podiatric care do not have to be competing pathways. What matters is receiving an appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan for your individual condition.
At Seattle Foot and Ankle Center, we do not begin with the assumption that every problem needs surgery. Dr. Hoy begins with the diagnosis and determine what comes next.
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