Podiatry Frequently Asked Questions

Many people wait far too long to see a podiatrist, allowing whatever lower limb problem they’re facing to worsen significantly. So when should you take the time to go see a foot specialist? Well, that depends on your foot pain. If you have any kind of discomfort, weakness, or visible changes that last longer than a couple of days after you’ve tried home remedies, you should probably have a podiatrist examine, diagnose, and treat the problem. In a few cases, the discomfort you feel is a minor injury that will clear up on its own when you take care of it. If the issues lasts more than a few days, however, chances are it’s more serious than it might first appear.

The key is to avoid waiting too long. Many easily treatable conditions deteriorate into difficult-to-manage, chronically painful problems the longer they go without care. In most cases, it’s better to err on the side of caution and address the condition early. Our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. is happy to help you manage any lower limb pain that arises. Just make an appointment at our Castle Pines, Cherry Creek in Denver or Parker, CO, locations by calling (303) 805-5156.

You want an experienced and caring podiatrist to manage your foot health, so there are a few things you should look for in your foot specialist. First and foremost, you need a doctor with a DPM degree: a doctor of podiatric medicine. These foot specialists attended a four-year podiatry school after receiving their bachelors, and then went on to complete a multi-year podiatry residency. You should also make sure your doctor is board certified—the two main certifying boards for the field at the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. You need a physician with certification from one or both of these.

In general, though, you want to look for a podiatrist who listens to your concerns and wants to work with you to resolve them. He or she should be friendly and understanding of your pain. He or she should also be able to answer your questions and freely discuss all of your treatment options with you. At Podiatry Associates, P.C., this is what we strive for. We’d love to meet you so you can see for yourself. Just contact our Parker, Cherry Creek in Denver, and Castle Pines, CO, offices for an appointment by calling (303) 805-5156.

Yes, ulcer symptoms need immediate professional treatment. They deteriorate without the proper foot care and can easily develop serious infections that could lead to an amputation if they get out of hand. Appropriate ulcer treatment means seeing an experienced podiatrist like Dr. Cynthia Oberholtzer-Classen so the wound can be evaluated and managed before it becomes worse.

In fact, if you have diabetes, you should be seeking professional help or urgent care as soon as you notice any of the earliest symptoms of a wound. Spots of redness, swelling, small cuts, blisters, or even bleeding could signal the start of an ulcer. Don’t let the problem progress. Contact Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Parker, Castle Pines, or Cherry Creek, CO for an appointment the moment you notice a problem. We now offer special urgent care hours on weeknights and on Saturdays so that you get the wound care you need when you need it. Call (303) 805-5156 to make your appointment with us.

Slow wound healing is usually the result of several different problems. Diabetes is the biggest factor—the disease impairs your circulatory system, which weakens your immune response. This extends your healing time from a few weeks to longer than a month, even if you receive proper care. However, other factors can certainly play a role.

An infection prevents your body from restoring a wound quickly; your immune system is so busy fighting the invading pathogen that it can’t repair the tissue damage. Excessive or repeated pressure to a diabetic wound causes tissue breakdowns. Dehydration dries out cells, while being over-hydrated erodes them away. Poor nutrition doesn’t provide your body with the nutrients it needs to effectively heal a wound. If you have any kind of foot ulcer that isn’t healing, contact our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Parker, Cherry Creek, and Castle Pines, CO. We’ll help you eliminate the problem. Use our online request form, or call (303) 805-5156, to make an appointment with us. 

Many running injuries can be prevented by wearing the right shoes and investing in your foot strength.

Choose footwear that fits well—not too tight, too short, too narrow, or too loose. Make sure you wear the right type of shoes for your stride and your foot type. Replace worn out pairs as well. Use orthotics to correct your biomechanics if you need to. Wear socks that wick moisture and reduce friction; this helps prevent blisters.

Strengthening and conditioning can also prevent many overuse sports injuries in your feet and ankles. You need strong calves, arches, and toes to absorb the hard impacts of striking the ground and pushing off again repeatedly. Calf raises and heel drops strengthen and stretch your calf muscles and Achilles tendons. Toe spreads work the small, supporting muscles in your feet. Warm up and cool down before and after your run, and ease into any routine changes so your feet can adjust.

These simple tips can go a long way in helping prevent foot injuries. If you’d like more information, contact Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Castle Pines and Parker, CO. Just call (303) 805-5156 to reach us.

 

Urgent care is a great way to receive high-quality, emergency foot care outside of normal doctor’s office hours without going to the hospital. While there are plenty of generic urgent care centers in Colorado, when your feet are in trouble you need to see a podiatrist and not a general care physician. That’s why Podiatry Associates, P.C. now offers evening and Saturday hours for urgent care services. If you break a bone, sprain your ankle, cut your foot, step on a nail, discover a diabetic ulcer, develop a gout attack, or realize you just can’t wait anymore to deal with your ingrown toenail pain, you can now get emergency help after regular office hours.

When you call in, we’ll determine if the problem really does need immediate care, or if you can wait until morning. We will do whatever we can to make sure you get the prompt care that you need. Don’t wait to seek help. Contact Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Castle Pines, Cherry Creek or Parker, Colorado, for an appointment or more information today. You can use our online contact form, but if you truly have an emergency, call us directly at (303) 805-5156.

When you have a broken ankle, you need good foot care fast—both to relieve the pain and to make sure your body starts healing it correctly. Expert podiatrists like Dr. Cynthia Oberholtzer-Classen and the rest of our team will carefully examine your ankle and use X-rays to identify the fracture. From that our team can determine how serious the problem is and what you will need for treatment. If the bones are not aligned, the X-rays will help us see how to put the fractured ends back in the correct position so they can heal. Then your whole foot and lower leg will need to be immobilized and off-loaded to allow your joint to recover.

Don’t wait to get help for a broken ankle. This injury needs prompt treatment, which is why Podiatry Associates, P.C. now offers evening and Saturday hours for urgent care. If you have an emergency outside of normal office hours that can’t wait for the next day, like a broken bone, contact our Castle Pines or Parker, CO, offices. Just call (303) 805-5156 to reach us.

Peripheral neuropathy is a loss of sensation in your feet and lower extremities.  You may feel numbness, tingling, pain, or abnormal sensations in your feet.  It is a common complication of diabetes. Peripheral neuropathy can make you unaware of problems such as blisters, cuts, burns, or sores on your feet, which can in turn progress into ulcers and infection.  If infection results in gangrene, this condition can be one of the main causes of amputation in people with diabetes.

Checking your feet daily and following a pattern of regular visits with our podiatrists can help to prevent these complications. Contact Podiatry Associates, P.C. at (303) 805-5156 and set up an appointment in our Castle Pines or Parker office. We will answer your questions and give you expert care. You can also keep in touch with us on Twitter and Facebook.

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In order for routine nail care to be covered by Medicare you must be an at-risk patient. Diabetes alone does not qualify a person as an at-risk patient. Here is a list of diabetic complications that may qualify you for routine care.

1. An amputation not caused by trauma
2. Two of the following: absent hair growth, nail thickening, thin/shiny skin, or an absence of pulse in your feet
3. Two of the following plus at least one from #2: pain in your legs when walking, cold feet, swelling, numbness, or burning

Only your podiatrist can diagnose you as an at-risk patient for nail care. Come in to Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Parker or Castle Pines, CO, for your annual diabetic check-up and we can help to determine if you qualify for Medicare coverage of related services. Call (303) 805-5156 today for an appointment.

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The type of orthotic you need depends on the problem being treated. There are two different types of prescription orthotics: functional and accommodative. Functional orthotics are made to control abnormal function. They are used to treat structural deformities, which can cause problems like tendonitis and plantar fasciitis. Accommodative orthotics provide a soft cushion to protect boney areas. This type is especially important for people with diabetes or nerve disorders, since rubbing on those hard prominences can lead to open sores.

It is important to have your orthotics custom made by an experienced professional so that they are comfortable, fit in the majority of the shoes that you wear, and manage your condition. One size does not fit all. If orthotics are hard or prefabricated, they can actually cause pain because they press into your foot instead of supporting it. Contact the experts at Podiatry Associates, P.C. for all your orthotic needs. Visit our online contact page, or call us at (303) 805-5156 for an appointment or more information.