Talking to Your Doctor About Foot Pain
- Bring someone else with you. It helps to have another person hear what is said and think of questions to ask.
- Write your questions ahead of time, so you don't forget them.
- Write down the answers you get. Make sure you understand what you are hearing. Ask the doctor to explain further, if needed.
- Don't be afraid to ask your questions or ask where you can find more information about what you are talking about. You have a right to know.
- What sort of footwear do you recommend for me?
- In my case, what caused the pain I'm having?
- Given my anatomy and activities, what are my risks for foot problems? How can I best prevent trouble?
- Should I see a foot specialist, such as an orthopedic surgeon or a podiatrist?
- What treatment options are available for this condition?
- Will I ever need surgery?
- Should I see a different specialist for this problem?
- Should I talk to my diabetes doctor about this?
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Is there an activity I should avoid because of my foot condition?
- Will I be able to return to it later on?
- Do I need a walking aid?
- How can I prevent further pain?
- Will this get worse and limit my activities? Is it only temporary?
- Do I need to be concerned about this condition returning?
References
Foot care. American Diabetes Association website. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/foot-complications/foot-care.html . Accessed December 28, 2012.
Foot care. National Institute on Aging website. Available at: http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/foot-care . Updated April 18, 2012. Accessed December 28, 2012.
Foot care 101. American Podiatric Medical Association site. Available at: http://www.apma.org/files/FileDownloads/myFEETFootCare101.pdf . Accessed December 28, 2012.
Foot care basics: preventing and treating common foot conditions. Harvard Medical School website. Available at: http://www.health.harvard.edu/special%5Fhealth%5Freports/Foot%5FCare%5FBasics . Accessed December 28, 2012.