Family Practitioner or Podiatrist

[Beth76]

Does anything dealing with the foot have to go to the podiatrist? My husband stepped on a peice of glass the other day and he says it's still hurting. He wonders if there's still some in there. Should we call our family doctor or find a podiatrist (we've never been to one before)?

 

[golfgal]

That would be more for your family physician. A podiatrist usually deals with foot ailments like ingrown toenails and other things.

 

[Beth76]

ok thanks!

 

[Aidensmom]

Just a warning - the doctor will probably just give a tetanus shot (if your DH hasn't had one recently) and tell him he'll just have to wait for the glass to work itself out.

 

[tar heel]

Definitely family doctor.

I had a bad experience with a podiatrist. Remember they are NOT MDs. I had thought they were MDs that specialized in foot care the way a dermatologist specializes in skin, etc. The podiatrist I saw recommended and did minor foot surgery. My father-in-law, a physician, and the dermatologist I ultimately saw when the scar tissue gave me trouble thought it should have been treated much less invasively.

 

[delilah]

Generally, if a person thinks they may have stepped on a piece of glass, I would check an x-ray first to see if there is a radio-opaque foreign body in the foot (glass is visible on x-ray). While the person is still in the office, I would see if I could find the object at all. If not, I would await the x-ray result and likely refer to a general surgeon. Extracting things like glass from feet is actually quite difficult and time consuming, and I learned early on in my career to refer things like that to surgeons. Sometimes, the patient gets lucky, and I can see it right away. It is much cheaper for a family doctor to do it. Generally speaking, any procedure will be cheaper for a family doctor to do, whatever it is. For example, the podiatrist I sent my husband to was paid twice as much as I was for doing the identical injection into his foot. (Actually, I wasn't paid at all--it was written off at the office). However, I am not much into injecting my family members feet, so, I referred after the first time.

 

[Beth76]

Thanks everyone. He's calling our family doctor. I didn't realize that podiatrists aren't real doctors.

 

[wdwmom2]

Thanks everyone. He's calling our family doctor. I didn't realize that podiatrists aren't real doctors.

True, they are not MD's, but I wouldn't trade my podiatrist for the world. Thanks to him and two foot surgeries, I can walk pain free!!!!!!!!

 

[crz4mm2]

I would have said go to the Podiatrist. Amazed at the negative responses.... But then, I used to work for one,so guess I know a "real" podiatrist... LOL.

Some info for you.
Podiatrists specialize in medical care of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. They must have a doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.) degree from a college of podiatric medicine. Podiatrists are sometimes referred to as foot doctors, foot and ankle surgeons, or podiatric surgeons. They must pass written and oral board examinations and must obtain a state license to practice podiatric medicine.

Podiatrists work in private practices, hospitals, and clinics, and may become professors at colleges of podiatric medicine, department chiefs, and hospital administrators.

Find a Podiatrist Near You

Educational Requirements

Admission to a college of podiatric medicine requires completion of at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate study, an acceptable grade point average, and acceptable scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Required courses include biology, chemistry (inorganic and organic), and physics. Prospective students are also evaluated on the basis of letters of recommendation, interviews, and extracurricular activities.

Colleges of podiatric medicine offer 4-year programs similar to other medical schools. During the first 2 years, students take courses in anatomy, chemistry, pathology, and pharmacology. Third- and fourth-year students perform clinical rotations in private practices, hospitals, and clinics. During clinical rotations students take patient histories, perform physical examinations, interpret diagnostic tests, make diagnoses, and provide treatment. Graduates receive a doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.) degree.

Each state has its own licensing requirements, and many grant reciprocity to podiatrists licensed in other states. In most cases, an applicant must be a graduate of an accredited college of podiatric medicine and must pass written and oral examinations.

Most states require completion of a 1- to 3-year postdoctoral residency program and continuing medical education (CME) for license renewal. Residents receive advanced training in podiatric medicine and surgery and perform clinical rotations in the following:

* Anesthesiology
* Emergency medicine
* Internal medicine
* Orthopedic and general surgery
* Pathology
* Radiology

Certification Requirements

Board certification in podiatry requires advanced training, written and oral examinations, and practice experience. Podiatrists may be board-certified in orthopedics, primary medicine, or surgery.

Certification by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery requires graduation form podiatric medical school; completion of an approved podiatric surgical residency; practice experience, including surgical case submissions; and written and oral examinations.