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Talking to Your Doctor About Foot Pain

Authors:
  • Cynthia M. Johnson, MA
Publication Type:

Condition InDepth

Talking to Your Doctor About Foot Pain

Talk openly and often with your healthcare provider. It will help you make the best choices for your care.

Tips for Getting Information

Here are some tips that will help you talk to your doctor:

  • Bring someone with you. It helps to have another person hear what is said and think of questions to ask. They may also be able to provide more details to the doctor.
  • Write down your questions so you do not forget them.
  • Write down the answers you get. Make sure you grasp what you are hearing. Ask for help, if needed.
  • Do not be afraid to ask questions. Ask where you can learn more. You have a right to know.

Questions to Ask

About Your Feet and Your Foot Problem

  • What sort of footwear do you think I should wear?
  • What is causing my pain?
  • Can I do something about this?

About Your Risk of Getting Foot Problems

  • What are my risks for foot problems? How can I prevent problems?
  • Should I see a foot specialist, such as an orthopedic surgeon or a podiatrist?

About Treatments

  • What are my options to treat this problem?
  • Will I need surgery?
  • Should I see a specialist?

About Lifestyle Changes

  • Is there an activity I should avoid because of my foot problem?
    • Will I be able to go back to it later?
  • Do I need a walking aid?
  • How can I prevent more pain?

About Outlook

  • Will this get worse and limit my activities? Is it only temporary?
  • Do I need to worry about this problem coming back?

References

  • Foot care 101. American Podiatric Medical Association website. Available at: http://www.apma.org/files/FileDownloads/myFEETFootCare101.pdf.
  • Foot complications. American Diabetes Association website. Available at: https://diabetes.org/diabetes/foot-complications.
  • Foot pain and problems. Johns Hopkins Medicine website. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/foot-pain-and-problems.
  • Foot pain in adults—approach to the patient. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/approach-to/foot-pain-in-adults-approach-to-the-patient.
  • Getting the most out of your doctor appointment. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/tips-for-talking-to-your-doctor.

Contributors

  • Warren A. Bodine, DO, CAQSM
Last Updated:
2022-12-01

(C) Copyright 2023 EBSCO Information Services

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.