Podiatrists are also known as foot doctors or podiatric physicians and they are the medical professionals who study and treat disorders of the ankles, feet and lower extremities. Foot problems can refer pain to other areas of the body such as the lower back and joints. People who have systemic diseases like diabetes, circulatory ailments, anemia and kidney disease are prone to suffering from foot disorders.

In some cases, it is possible to manage foot problems at home with ice, heat and rest. If such problems cannot be managed, it wise for the afflicted person to consult with a foot doctor. By consulting with a podiatrist Austin TX residents can get relieved of pain, skin irritations, numbness and other symptoms associated with foot disorders.

Pain in the lower extremities, ankle or foot can result from several conditions. Examples include blisters that may be caused by friction, bunions that may become swollen and sore due to shoe aggravation and misaligned joints of the toes and heel pain that is felt when there is stress on the heel bone. Pain in the lower extremities can also be caused by wounds, broken bones, swelling and heel spurs.

Residents of Austin TX can also see a foot doctor when they notice that the skin on their feet is discolored or irritated. Feet discoloration can be caused by problems such as infections, gout, vein disorders, and inadequate flow of blood. If the feet appear purple or blue in color, this may indicate that a person is suffering from vein problems. If they appear pale, this may be an indication of decreased blood flow to the feet.

A podiatric physician can also attend to skin irritations like athletes foot. This fungal skin disease usually affects the area between the toes and if it is not treated, it can spread to other areas of the body. The symptoms of athletes foot include blisters, inflammation, itching and scaly, dry skin. Symptoms like tingling, burning and numbness may indicate neuropathy, which usually leads to reduced sensation in the feet. It can be caused by diabetes and it needs to be monitored regularly by a podiatric physician.

People who are suffering from growths in the toes and feet should also consult with a foot doctor. Growths may be of any shape and size and they may cause pain and other side effects. Some of the common growths that people suffer from include warts, neuromas, calluses and corns as well as blisters and bunions.

You may also consult with a podiatrist if the arches of your feet have flattened arches or if the shape of your feet has changed in any other way. Flattened arches indicate the presence of ruptured or dysfunctional tendons. The failure of tendons to function normally may cause bone misalignment, which can lead to arthritis.

Muscle imbalances in the feet can also cause structural changes which result in painful conditions like Hammertoe. Another common problem that a podiatrist treats is ankle sprains. The severity of the sprain determines the type and duration of treatment. The main symptoms of ankle sprains include pain, bruising and swelling. This professional may also recommend exercises, well fitting shoes and stretching to prevent future sprains.