Foot

Foot doctors are medical specialists who diagnose and care for patients who have a range of foot conditions. Some foot issues may be considered minor, while others may be more complex and require surgery, such as correcting a foot deformity. 

Part of a foot specialist's training involves learning how various foot conditions affect different types of patients. For instance, a patient with heel arthritis usually needs a different type of care than someone who had an accident and fractured their foot. A person with diabetes dealing with diabetic foot issues, such as neuropathy, requires a different type of care too. Athletes are especially prone to foot injuries. People rely on their feet and ankles to support them in their everyday lives as they walk, run, drive, and move. However, the amount of pressure and impact the feet and ankles absorb during a sports activity is much greater. 

Sometimes a person experiences foot and ankle issues at the same time. The foot doctor must also then carefully examine the entire foot and connected structures, including the ankle, before recommending treatment. Unless the issue is clearly only foot-related, such as a bunion, the foot doctor will likely check the ankle as well during an exam, such as rotating the ankle to see how that action impacts the patient's foot pain. 

Should You See a Foot Doctor?

It may be time to see a doctor if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• A bony bump on the base of the big toe or other toes
• Ankle pain in addition to foot pain
• Chronic foot pain
• Flexing or pointing the toes causes foot pain
• Heel pain
• Numbness and tingling in the foot
• Rotating the ankle triggers foot pain

These problems may indicate that you are dealing with a foot injury or condition, such as:

• Arthritis
• Bunions
• Corns
• Diabetic foot
• Flat feet
• Fractures
• Hammertoes
• Heel spurs
• Plantar fasciitis
• Sprains

Specialized Foot Care You Can Trust in Bristol, Elizabethton & Johnson City

At Appalachian Orthopedics, we offer three convenient locations: Bristol Regional Medical Center, Elizabethton, and Johnson City. Our specialty-trained foot doctors at Appalachian Orthopedics, Dr. Jason Brashear, Dr. Jonathan Clark, Dr. Gabriel Hommel, Dr. Matthew Lamagna, Dr. John Phillips, Dr. Samuel Straus, and Dr. T. Lisle Whitman, have a full understanding of the foot's anatomy and are dedicated to delivering an exceptional level of foot care. They will apply their expertise directly to your situation and can guide you toward treatments that help reduce pain and restore you to optimal health. Our surgeons always carefully consider nonsurgical options first before recommending surgery. Early on, they may take X-rays so they can further study the foot and surrounding structures to determine which nonsurgical treatment may be right for you, such as physical therapy or injections. If foot surgery is ultimately needed, rest assured that our orthopedic experts will use their advanced skills along with our state-of-the-art technology to perform a surgical procedure that can help reduce or eliminate your pain and help you gain the use of your foot again.

Working alongside our foot surgeons, our licensed physical therapists provide a full and comprehensive set of outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation services. They treat each patient's problem individually through an evaluation to design a specific treatment plan with the overall goal of restoring function and enhancing one's quality of life.

If your foot pain is keeping you from living an active life, we're proud to offer access to an orthopedic specialist whenever you need it. Schedule an appointment online or call our Bristol Regional Medical Center, Elizabethton, or Johnson City location for a consultation with one of our expert foot surgeons to diagnose and treat your foot issue.

For those acute foot injuries that can't wait, we also offer the following ways to be seen today: 

• Walk into one of our Orthopedic Urgent Care clinics at our Bristol Regional Medical Center or Johnson City office. No appointment needed.
• To be seen by a doctor on the same day, call your desired office.
• Chat with an orthopedic specialist 24/7, 365 days a year with our free OrthoCareNow service.