The best way to get effective foot care is to communicate openly with one of our BHP doctors about your discomfort. You may think the problem is too trivial to discuss and is a waste of an office visit, or you dread hearing the diagnosis, but we stress that it is vital to your well-being to discuss any issues and questions you have. By talking openly and regularly with our BHP team, you can take an active role in your foot care, and may even prevent it from getting worse.

Here are the top three foot pain topics you should bring up during your visit:

1. What treatment options are available for my condition?
In many cases, there are multiple options available to treat a single foot condition. For instance, at Beverly Hills Physicians, our medical experts are able to tell you exactly how severe a bunion has become, and whether bunion surgery or any other type of treatment is necessary. At times, bunion pain can be successfully managed by switching to shoes that fit properly and don’t compress the toes. In severe cases, a specific surgery like arthrodesis, exostectomy or resection arthroplasty may be recommended. For more information on bunions, click here.

2. What foot problems pose the greatest risks for me?
Nearly everyone who wears shoes has foot problems at some point in their lives. However, if you have diabetes or are over 60 years old, then you have a higher risk for developing serious foot problems. People with diabetes are at particular risk for severe foot infections due to poor circulation. They need to take special measures. With age, feet widen and flatten. The fat padding on the sole of the foot wears down and the skin gets thinner. Foot pain can be the first sign in many illnesses related to aging such as arthritis, diabetes and circulatory disease.

3. How can I best prevent foot trouble?
Some foot pain is preventable. For example, foot pain caused by conditions brought on by wearing the wrong size shoes, such as hammertoe. Hammertoe is often caused by wearing high heels or shoes that are too tight in the toe box, and can lead to increased pressure and discomfort when wearing shoes. To prevent hammertoe, women do not have to stop wearing high heels, but should limit the amount of time they spend wearing them. They can wear comfortable shoes for their commute or when they’re on the way to a party. Change into your heels when you arrive at your destination. Also, when shopping for shoes, look for styles with plenty of room for the toes, a uniform lift (rather than one that’s narrow and spiked) and strong arch support. For more information on hammertoe, click here.

For further information about podiatry and the many other treatments offered by the our specialists at Beverly Hills Physicians, please visit www.BeverlyHillsPhysicians.com, or call 800-788-1416 for a free consultation.