What Does a Podiatrist Actually Do?
What Does a Podiatrist Actually Do?
One of the most common questions I get is surprisingly simple:
“So… what exactly does a podiatrist do?”
Most people have a vague idea that we treat feet. Beyond that, they are not entirely sure. Some people think we only trim toenails. Others assume anything serious involving the foot or ankle automatically goes to an orthopedic surgeon.
The reality is that podiatrists treat an enormous range of foot and ankle conditions every single day, from simple ingrown toenails all the way up to fractures, tendon injuries, sports medicine problems, chronic pain conditions, deformities, and reconstructive surgery.
In my practice, I treat everything from plantar fasciitis and ankle sprains to bunions, hammertoes, tendonitis, diabetic foot problems, sports injuries, fungal nails, and chronic foot pain that patients have often been struggling with for years.
But what many people do not realize is that a huge part of podiatry is actually trying to help patients avoid surgery whenever possible.
My Philosophy: Conservative Treatment First
This may surprise people, but one of my biggest goals as a foot and ankle specialist is often to keep patients out of the operating room.
I see surgical complications every single day. Patients come into my office after procedures performed elsewhere wishing they had never had surgery in the first place. That does not mean surgery is bad, there are absolutely situations where surgery is necessary and life-changing, but I personally believe foot and ankle surgery is often performed too aggressively and too early.
The foot is incredibly complex. Small changes in one area can create long-term problems somewhere else.
For example, I commonly see patients with chronic plantar fasciitis who have already been told they need surgery. In many of those cases, we are able to successfully treat them conservatively instead.
That usually starts with understanding why the condition developed in the first place.
We may use:
properly fitted custom orthotics,
immobilization in a walking boot,
regenerative injections such as exosome or amniotic-derived injections,
shockwave therapy,
stretching protocols,
shoe gear modifications,
and activity adjustments.
The goal is not just temporary pain relief. The goal is to help the tissue actually recover and heal.
A lot of traditional treatments in medicine are designed to suppress symptoms. My approach is generally more focused on improving function and supporting healing while avoiding unnecessary procedures whenever possible.
Plantar Fasciitis Is Not “Just Heel Pain”
One of the most underestimated conditions I treat is plantar fasciitis.
People often assume it is something they simply have to live with because they are getting older, standing too much, or wearing bad shoes.
But chronic foot pain is not normal.
In general, if you have pain lasting longer than about two weeks and it is not improving, it deserves a proper evaluation.
The longer conditions like plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, or ankle instability go untreated, the more chronic they become and the harder they can be to reverse.
I often explain to patients that the foot does not really get meaningful rest on its own. We use it constantly. Every step transfers body weight through multiple small joints, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissue structures. If those tissues are overloaded day after day without proper support or recovery, eventually something begins to break down.
That is why treatment often requires more than just “stretching and hoping for the best.”
We Do Much More Than People Think
Another thing patients are often surprised by is the surgical and procedural side of podiatry.
Many people assume only orthopedic surgeons perform foot and ankle procedures. In reality, podiatrists spend their entire careers focused exclusively on the foot and ankle.
There is a level of nuance that comes from specialization.
For example, we perform ingrown toenail procedures constantly. In my office, we may do five to ten ingrown toenail procedures in a single day. That repetition matters.
An ingrown toenail may sound minor, but when left untreated, it can become extremely painful, infected, swollen, and difficult to manage.
Because we perform these procedures so frequently:
our injection techniques are very precise,
the procedures are typically fast, 10-15 minutes
patients are usually much more comfortable,
and the results are often permanent through chemical matrixectomy techniques.
I routinely see patients who previously had traumatic experiences having ingrown nails treated in urgent care clinics, emergency departments, or general medical offices. Those providers are good doctors, but they are not foot specialists. There is a difference between occasionally performing a procedure and doing it every single day.
Honestly, one of the most satisfying parts of my job is seeing a patient come back a few weeks later saying:
“My pain is completely gone.”
That never really gets old.
Foot Problems Often Reflect Bigger Health Issues
One thing I have become more convinced of over time is that the feet often reflect overall health.
Foot problems are not always isolated mechanical issues.
Weight gain, metabolic disorders, chronic inflammation, circulation problems, aging, and lifestyle factors all affect the health of the foot and ankle. Even conditions like fungal nails can sometimes reflect broader health and immune system issues happening throughout the body.
The foot absorbs an enormous amount of stress. If the body is not functioning optimally, the feet are often one of the first places where problems begin showing up.
That is why I try to look at the bigger picture rather than simply treating symptoms in isolation.
Why Specialization Matters
Orthopedic surgeons are excellent physicians. Sports medicine doctors are excellent physicians. Primary care doctors are excellent physicians.
But if you are dealing specifically with a foot or ankle problem, there is real value in seeing someone who treats the foot and ankle exclusively every single day.
Specialization matters.
The foot is incredibly complicated biomechanically. Small details matter. Subtle gait abnormalities matter. Tendon balancing matters. Shoe gear matters. Joint positioning matters. Surgical decision-making matters.
And often, avoiding the wrong treatment is just as important as choosing the right one.
Final Thoughts
Most people do not think much about their feet until something starts hurting.
But once foot pain develops, it affects everything:
exercise,
work,
sleep,
mobility,
and overall quality of life.
The good news is that many foot and ankle problems can be treated successfully without surgery when addressed early and managed properly.
My advice is simple:
Do not ignore foot pain. And if you are dealing with a foot problem, see a foot specialist. There is a level of experience and understanding that only comes from treating the foot and ankle every single day.