CONSERVATIVE FOOT CARE:
Also known as non-surgical treatment, conservative foot care is being used to treat many foot problems with dramatic results. Any initial visit to a podiatrist's office will start with a patient history and physical examination. Diagnostic x-rays and laboratory tests can also be used to help determine the best course of treatment.
Non-surgical treatments may be called for in many cases including medical conditions which preclude the option of elective surgery, time commitment constraints, and elderly patients with many medical conditions. Patients with arthritis, diabetes, and circulatory foot problems may all be helped by non-surgical treatments. In spite of not being able to opt for foot surgery many patients find great relief from pain and discomfort through conservative foot care treatments.
There are a wide variety of non-surgical treatments being used by podiatrists today. Injections, oral and topical medications and foot, ankle, or toe strappings are all examples of conservative foot care. Other options are exercise, custom-made walking shoes and orthotics.
Additional treatments prescribed by podiatrists include physical therapy, foot massage, trimming of corns and calluses, and proper nail trimming and foot care, APC blood platelet injections and ESWT shockwave therapy have had great success in treatments for heel pain.