When to Call a Doctor

People call a doctor of podiatry for help diagnosing and treating a wide array of foot and ankle problems. Please contact our office if you experience one of the following:

• Persistent pain in your feet or ankles.
• Changes in the nails or skin on your foot.
• Severe cracking, scaling, or peeling on the heel or foot.
• Blisters on your feet.

There are signs of bacterial infection, including:

• Increased pain, swelling, redness, tenderness, or heat.
• Red streaks extending from the affected area.
• Discharge or pus from an area on the foot.
• Foot or ankle symptoms that do not improve after two weeks of treatment with a nonprescription product.
• Spreading of an infection from one area of the foot to another, such as under the nail bed, skin under the nail, the nail itself, or the surrounding skin.
• Thickening toenails that cause discomfort.
• Heel pain accompanied by a fever, redness (sometimes warmth), or numbness.
• Tingling in the heel; persistent heel pain without putting any weight or pressure on your heel
• Pain that is not alleviated by ice or over-the-counter painkillers (such as aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen).
• Diabetics with poor circulation who develop Athlete’s Foot.