Short answer: A podiatrist is a physician who diagnoses and treats conditions of the foot and ankle, from heel pain and ingrown toenails to sports injuries, warts, and diabetic foot problems. Podiatrists complete four years of podiatric medical school after college, followed by a hospital-based residency, and many pursue board certification and fellowship training. See one when foot or ankle pain lasts more than a few days, keeps coming back, or changes how you walk.
Feet are easy to ignore until they stop cooperating. Because foot problems sit at the intersection of bones, tendons, nerves, skin, and circulation, there is an entire medical specialty devoted to them. Here is what that specialty covers and how to know when a problem has earned a professional look.
The training behind the title
Podiatrists hold the degree Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, or DPM. The path runs through four years of podiatric medical school after an undergraduate degree, then a hospital-based surgical residency, typically three years. Beyond residency, podiatrists can earn board certification and complete fellowship training in a focus area. I am board-certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and completed my Foot and Ankle Sports Medicine Fellowship at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health; you can read more about my training.
What podiatrists treat
The range is wider than most people expect. Common reasons patients visit include:
- Heel and arch pain, including plantar fasciitis
- Ingrown toenails, toenail fungus, and plantar warts
- Sports injuries such as sprains, tendinitis, and stress fractures
- Bunions, hammertoes, and other structural changes
- Diabetic foot exams, wound care, and prevention
- Custom orthotics for pain, alignment, and support
- Skin problems of the foot, from calluses to athlete’s foot
Treatment starts conservative in most cases: footwear guidance, orthotics, injections, medication, and in-office procedures, with surgery reserved for problems that do not respond. You can browse the full range on our services page.
Podiatrist or orthopedist?
Both treat foot and ankle problems, and for many conditions either is a reasonable choice. Podiatrists focus exclusively on the foot and ankle across medicine, skin, nails, biomechanics, and surgery. Orthopedic surgeons treat the whole musculoskeletal system, with some sub-specializing in foot and ankle. For nail and skin problems, routine diabetic foot care, orthotics, and most common foot complaints, a podiatrist is usually the more direct path.
Signs it is time to book a visit
A useful rule: a foot problem that changes your behavior deserves an appointment. That includes:
- Pain lasting more than a few days despite rest
- Pain that returns every time you resume an activity
- Limping, or shifting weight to avoid part of the foot
- A toenail that is painful, ingrown, or discolored
- Numbness, burning, or tingling in the feet
- Any foot concern if you have diabetes, where small problems can grow quickly
Waiting rarely improves these. Most foot conditions are simpler to treat early, before compensation patterns spread the trouble to the knee, hip, or back.
When you should not wait at all
Some situations call for same-day or emergency care rather than a routine appointment: inability to bear weight for more than a few steps after an injury, a sudden pop in the back of the ankle with weakness pushing off, a red, hot, swollen joint with fever, a spreading skin infection, a foot wound if you have diabetes, or a foot that suddenly turns cold, pale, or blue, which is an emergency. My clinic offers same-day and urgent foot care for the situations that cannot wait.
Have your feet been telling you something for a while? It may be time to listen. At my clinic CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, I can find out what is going on and get you moving comfortably again. Schedule online or call (425) 455-0936.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Q1. Do I need a referral to see a podiatrist? Many insurance plans allow you to book directly with a podiatrist, though some plans, such as certain HMOs, require a referral. Check your plan or call our office at (425) 455-0936 and we can help you confirm.
Q2. Is a podiatrist a real doctor? Yes. Podiatrists are physicians who complete four years of podiatric medical school and a hospital-based residency, and they diagnose, prescribe, and perform surgery within the foot and ankle.
Q3. What happens at a first podiatry visit? Expect a review of your history, an exam of your feet and the way you stand and walk, and imaging if needed. Most first visits end with a diagnosis and a treatment plan, and many treatments can begin the same day.
Q4. When should I go to urgent care instead of waiting for an appointment? Go the same day for an injury you cannot walk on, a hot swollen joint with fever, a spreading infection, a diabetic foot wound, or a foot that turns cold, pale, or blue. My clinic offers same-day appointments; call in the morning at (425) 455-0936.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. If you have a foot concern, see a qualified clinician for an evaluation.