Podiatrists & Chiropodists in Amersham

A Podiatrists & Chiropodists is a medical professional who specializes in providing foot care and the subsequent treatments to do with general podiatry.. They are also capable of treating ankle and lower limb conditions, such as ulcers, nerve damage in the feet, and injuries sustained in sports.
One only becomes a Podiatrist after successfully completing podiatric medical school and going through the additional years of training required in a hospital. These additional years of training give these individuals the vital knowledge and experience to conduct Medical Podiatry services .
If you are looking for a Podiatrist or Chiropodist in Amersham, look no further than Bucks Foot Clinic. Read on to know more about all the conditions and treatments our services offer.

What Are Podiatrists/Chiropodists in Amersham?

A Podiatrist will first receive a doctorate degree from a certified institution of podiatric medicine. This is then followed by several years of training in hospitals, where the crucial experience is acquired. Although they have a wide understanding of human anatomy and physiology, they specialize in treating the lower extremities, and more specifically the feet.
After the completion of their training as a Podiatrist/Chiropodist they must then pass a few board certification exams before becoming fully licensed. The letters DPM appear after the name of a fully licensed podiatrist, which means Doctor of Podiatric Medicine.
A Podiatrists is able to diagnose and treat various conditions, these include:

• Abnormalities to the foots structure like hammertoe, flat feet, and high arches
• Arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout
• Foot injuries like fractured or broken bones, sprains and strains
• Diabetic foot disorders like chronic ulcers, infections, and nerve damage
• Heel pain – plantar fasciitis
• Skin conditions – corns, warts, plantar dermatosis, and athlete’s foot
• Nail conditions – nail infections and ingrown nails

Are There Different Types of Podiatrists/Chiropodists in Amersham?

Similar to primary care doctors, podiatrists treat a variety of foot conditions under general podiatry, but others tend to specialize in specific types of podiatry, such as sports medicine and wound care.
Here are a few specializations of podiatrists in Amersham:

• neurologic foot conditions
• diabetes
• pediatric care
• orthotics
• autoimmune and inflammatory conditions
• circulatory food conditions
• general or reconstructive surgery
• dermatology

Podiatry Services: Diagnosis

Podiatrists will usually start the diagnostic process by examining the patients medical history and current symptoms.
They then perform a basic physical checkup of the foot. During this period, they look for signs of swelling and skin discoloration. One may be asked to walk around in different directions or to move their feet and toes.
They may recommend additional tests based on their initial findings before making their final diagnosis. There are several diagnostic tools available to podiatrists, these include:

• Visual tests that show the details bone fractures, blocked or narrow blood vessels, and other structural problems. These include – X-ray, ultrasound, bone scan, CT scan, and MRI scan.
• Blood tests to detect infections such as rheumatoid arthritis.
• The nerves in the body are measured with a specialized computer system that measures how well they perceive variations in temperature and vibration. A podiatrist uses this test to diagnose diabetic neuropathy, hypersensitivity, and other nerve conditions of the feet.
• A muscle’s ability to respond to nerve impulses can be assessed using electromyography (EMG). An electrode is placed into the muscle in order to measure electrical activity in the muscle tissue. An abnormal EMG reading can help your podiatrist guide your treatment.

Podiatry Services: Treatment

Once your podiatrist has made a diagnosis, they can provide the necessary treatment. Based on your diagnosis, your Podiatrist will then either initiate your treatment directly or put you onto the specialist for your condition. Podiatrists can provide the following treatments:

• corrective footwear
• Setting of fractured bones
• prescription medication, such as pain relievers, antibiotics, and antifungals
• joint aspiration, or removing fluid from the space around a joint
• corticosteroid, or cortisone, joint injections
• orthotic devices, including insoles and braces

Podiatric surgical procedures include:

• setting broken bones
• correcting structural abnormalities like hammertoes and flat feet
• removal of bunions, bone spurs, and tumors
• treating inflamed or torn tendons and ligaments
• debridement of damaged, infected, or dead tissue

Conclusion

We hope this blog helped you clear any doubts you may have about podiatrists and chiropodists in Amersham. You’ve also learned how we usually go about general podiatry and podiatry services.
If you’re looking for professional help and treatment, contact us or simply book an appointment with Bucks Foot Clinic

Please call us on  0800 107 3290 / 077 99 122 099 Or contact us now

Want To Learn How To Treat A Corn?

As Podiatrists, we see Corns and Calluses almost on a daily basis. They are an extremely common condition and can range from being completely painless to extremely painful, depending on severity. It is important to identify when you have a corn, so you can know how to treat your corn properly.
Oftentimes, improper treatment and diagnoses of corns lead to pain. We’ve put together this article to help you understand more about corns, and how to treat a corn properly. Read on to learn more.

What Are Corns?

Corns are buildups of hardened areas of skin. They can form anywhere but tend to show up on feet, hands, and fingers the most. They are usually round and relatively small, and you’ll most likely see them develop on the sides and tops of your toes. There are three distinct types of corns:

– Hard Corns: These are hard and dense, and usually form on the top of your toes, where your bones exert pressure on your skin. They usually reside within a bigger part of thickened skin.

– Soft Corns: Usually whitish-grey in colour, with a slightly softer and rubbery texture, soft corns show up between your toes.

– Seed Corns: As the name suggests, seed corns are quite small. They normally form at the bottom of your feet.

Corns usually develop due to constant rubbing, friction, pressure, and irritation against the skin. This is why you will most likely see them appear on the bony part of your feet. This hardening layer is actually your body’s defense to protect the softer skin underneath from the pressure.

What Causes Corns?

There are many reasons people develop corns. Such as:

– Wearing ill-fitting shoes, especially shoes that tend to be too narrow for your feet. When your shoes are too tight, it creates pressure on your toes from friction. This can lead to the development of corns and calluses. People who tend to wear high-heeled shoes a lot can also develop corns and calluses on the balls of their feet due to the pressure created while moving.
– Staying on your feet for long periods of time, such as running, walking, or standing.
– Activities that tend to put pressure on your feet, especially labour and sport activities.
– Walking around barefoot on hard surfaces.
– Not wearing socks with shoes.
– Wearing socks that bunch up or slip around.
– Improper posture while walking; can put excess pressure on the outer or inner edge of your feet.
– Activities that cause constant friction on your feet and fingers.
– Deformities in the structure of your feet. E.g. Hammertoes, bunions, and arthritis in feet.

If you do any of the above on a regular basis, you are highly likely to develop corns and calluses.

How Can A Foot Clinic Near Me Treat Diabetes?

Podiatry is a vital part of diabetic foot care in Beaconsfield that is sometimes neglected. Your diabetes care team should always include a podiatrist. They’ve been specifically educated to assess nerve damage in your feet and assist you in developing treatment and preventative strategies. They also pinpoint specific foot health problems for you!
Diabetes can have a significant impact on your feet, which is why it’s critical to consult a podiatrist at least once a year to address these issues.

Diagnosis

When dealing with a corn, it’s important to rule out any other probable causes of thickened skin, like cysts and warts. Your podiatrist will take a close look at your feet and diagnose the issue properly. Depending on the severity, they may even recommend an X-Ray in case your corn has formed due to a physical abnormality in your foot.

How To Treat A Corn: Medical Remedies

You already know what causes corns. For the most part, when looking at how to treat a corn, one must try to avoid repetitive actions that cause extra friction that leads to the formation of corns. You can help reduce your corn by wearing well-fitting shoes, protective padding, and other self-care methods. In case your corn persists, your podiatrist will give you relief through the following medical treatments:

– Trimming: Your podiatrist will most likely use this method to trim or pare down a large corn. They’ll treat the thickened skin using a scalpel. You must never attempt to do this yourself, as it can lead to an infection if not done right.

– Medication: Your podiatrist may use medications to help treat the corn. They may apply a patch on the affected area, consisting of 40% salicylic acid. These patches are usually available over-the-counter (OTC), without a prescription. Your podiatrist will inform you on how to go about changing the patch, and how often. They may even recommend using a pumice stone, nail file, or emery board to gently scrub away the dead skin that remains, before re-patching it. They may even prescribe salicylic acid gels to put on larger affected areas.

– Shoe Inserts: In case your corn is caused by an underlying foot deformity, your podiatrist may prescribe show inserts for you. These are called “Orthotics” and are generally padded and custom-made to your specific needs. They will help prevent corns from forming in the future.

– Surgery: In the rare case that your corn is caused by improper bone alignment, your podiatrist may recommend surgery.

How To Treat a Corn: Home Remedies

If you’re wondering how to treat a corn at home, there are a few at-home remedies. If you suffer from circulation issues such as diabetes, contact your doctor before trying to treat your corn on your own.
If you don’t have any underlying health issues, here’s how to treat a corn at home:

-Soaking: Begin by soaking the affected area in a warm mix of soapy water. This will soften the corn, making it easier to get rid of the thickened skin.

-Thinning: After soaking the affected area, you can thin out the hardened skin. Make sure your corn is softened before attempting this. You can use an emery board, nail file, or pumice stone to gently rub away at the thickened skin. A washcloth will work just as well. Never use sharp objects to thin your corn away. Avoid using a pumice stone in case of diabetes.

-Moisturise: After doing the above, moisturize the area well. Make sure to use a non-scented and mild moisturized to avoid the risk of infection.

– Footwear: Make sure to wear comfortable socks and footwear. Your shoes must fit you well and be cushioned enough to not cause friction against the corn.

– OTC Pads: You can apply an OTC cushioning pad to protect the affected area. Avoid using OTC liquid corn removers. They contain salicylic acid, which needs to be applied with care. If done improperly, it can irritate healthy skin, cause inflammation, and lead to infections. This risk is increased in case you have a condition that causes poor blood flow, like diabetes.

Conclusion

We hope this article helped you understand how to treat a corn. If you think you need to visit a podiatrist, contact Bucks Foot Clinic. We can help you with all things foot-care related.

Please call us on  0800 107 3290 / 077 99 122 099 Or contact us now