Feet and Ankles Don’t Have to Hurt at Any Age
Are you under the impression that pain in your feet, ankles, or lower legs is a normal, unavoidable part of aging? You’re not alone in thinking that, but it just isn’t true. Foot pain is neither typical nor unavoidable at any stage of life. Of course, like many things related to health, prevention is key. And the best thing you can do to keep feet and ankles feeling great for a lifetime is to see a podiatrist like Dr. Stavros O. Alexopoulos for regular care.
Your podiatrist has years of education and experience. A foot doctor is a medical specialist and the best-qualified person to care for this part of your body. To be sure you’re seeing an expert, always look for the letters DPM after your doctor’s name. It means that you’re seeing a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, and your feet will be in good hands.
When you see your podiatrist for a routine visit, your appointment will begin with some questions. Your doctor will ask you to share information about your medical history, diet and exercise habits, tobacco and alcohol use, and more. Be sure to share information about conditions like arthritis and diabetes that affect the whole body and have particular consequences for feet and ankles. Be completely honest. It will help the podiatrist offer the best possible care.
Once your doctor has all the information they need, they will move on to a thorough examination, looking for skin-related issues such as heel cracks or plantar warts and uncomfortable deformities like bunions or hammertoes. Your doctor will be able to diagnose existing problems and concerns as well.
After diagnosis comes treatment. Fortunately, many treatment options for foot pain are entirely non-invasive. Common treatment modalities include custom orthotics for additional cushioning and support when walking, exercising, or immobilizing an injury with a cast or boot. Foot and ankle surgery is rarely necessary, but when it is, your podiatrist is ready to perform the operation skillfully.
Keep feet, ankles, and lower legs feeling great at any age. Call the friendly My Chicago Foot Expert staff at (773) 561-8100 or click here to schedule an appointment with Cook County podiatrist Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, in our modern, comfortable Ravenswood office today.
