- Insurance card(s)
- Referral forms (if required)
- List of all medications that
you are currently taking
- Any required co-payment
A Podiatrist
is a doctor who specializes in the medical and
surgical treatment of disorders of the foot
and ankle. There are numerous conditions that
affect the feet, including, but not limited
to:
- - Simple nail problems
- - Arthritic joints
- - Deformities such as bunions
and hammertoes
- - Skin rashes and infections
- - Nerve disorders
- - Circulation problems
Often, the podiatric physician is the first doctor
to diagnose and treat these problems. Your medical
doctor may refer you to a podiatrist for your foot
complaints. The podiatrist may in turn send you
to another type of medical specialist depending
on the findings of the foot examination.
Most podiatrists, regardless of how seemingly minor
your foot complaint is, will perform a full history
and lower extremity physical examination. Although
patients frequently ask if this examination is necessary
for "just a foot problem," a thorough
examination ensures that you receive proper care.
The foot has often been referred to as a "mirror
of the body" because many health problems requiring
medical management may first make themselves known
by causing symptoms in the foot. Diabetes is very
commonly revealed this way. High blood pressure,
irregular heartbeat, spinal disorders, and many
other potentially serious problems may be picked
up during a foot examination.
Describing the Problem
The doctor will ask you about your foot problem
in detail. You should expect to be asked the following
questions:
- - When did the problem begin?
- - How did it begin?
- - Where is the exact location of the pain or discomfort
on the foot or ankle?
- - What does the pain or discomfort actually feels
like?
- - Does anything make the problem better or worse?
- - Does it change at various times during the day?
Medical and Family History
The podiatrist will also inquire about your medical
history, asking about the following:
- - Any problems for which you are currently being
treated
- - All the prescription and over-the-counter medications
you are presently taking.
- - All of your past surgeries and hospitalizations
and any complications that resulted from them.
- - Your history of allergies to medication and/or
foods.
- - Blood relatives and any illnesses that run in
your family that may have a connection to your
foot problem.
You may then be asked questions about various parts
of your body such as your head, ears, eyes, nose,
and throat, lungs, heart, kidneys, skin and nails,
and joints, to make sure you did not inadvertently
leave anything out of your medical history. The
podiatrist will then inquire about your occupation
and other areas of your social history.
At the end of gathering this information about
you, the podiatrist may have a very good idea about
what it is that is causing your foot complaint.
The Physical Examination
You can expect your skin and nails to be checked
for discoloration, hydration, and signs of wounds,
infections, or any growths. Dr. Tabari will check
your pulse on top of your feet and the inside of
your ankle to check that the arteries are providing
adequate circulation. The legs are observed for
swelling and discoloration which, among other things,
may represent disease of the veins that bring blood
away from the foot back to your heart. The nerves
of your legs and feet will be examined by checking
reflexes and how well you feel certain types of
sensation applied to areas around your feet. Dr.
Tabari may gently squeeze the joints of your foot
to see if they are painful, as well as moving them
to see if the motion is restricted or painful in
any way.
For additional help arriving at an accurate diagnosis,
Dr. Tabari may do an X-ray exam of your foot, as
well as certain types of scans, including MRI, or
magnetic resonance imaging. Vascular tests,
such as Doppler ultrasound, may be needed. Your
podiatrist may also order blood and urine testing.
For certain types of skin growths or tumors of the
foot, a biopsy may be required. The biopsy can range
from a very simple needle aspiration to an open
surgical procedure.
Foot care as a Step to Better Health Management
Your first visit to Dr. Tabari can be a step to
better management of your overall health. Feel free
to discuss your concerns with your foot doctor.
He is dedicated to arriving at an accurate diagnosis
and rapid resolution of your problem. He is also
able to refer you to any number of appropriate specialists
and/or primary care physicians if their input is
required in the management of your problem.
Call
us at 212-288-3137 to schedule your appointment
