Your feet work hard every day, bearing your weight and allowing you to walk, run and jump. Everyone’s feet can get tired or feel sore or achy from time to time which can usually be remedied with rest, self-care, or maybe even a change in footwear. However, it’s important to know that foot pain should not be ignored.

Signs That You Should See a Podiatrist

Your feet work hard every day, bearing your weight and allowing you to walk, run and jump. Everyone’s feet can get tired or feel sore or achy from time to time which can usually be remedied with rest, self-care, or maybe even a change in footwear. However, it’s important to know that foot pain should not be ignored.

You should reach out to a podiatrist if you experience any of the following:

1. An acute injury
2. Pain in the feet or ankles that:
   • is severe
   • persistent
   • lasts more than two-to-five days
   • comes and goes
   • occurs in both feet
   • is accompanied by redness or swelling
3. Difficulty putting weight on the feet or walking
4. You have diabetes or another underlying condition
5. Wounds on your feet
6. Changes in the skin or nails on your feet
7. Severe peeling, cracking, blisters or scaling on your feet
8. Signs of a bacterial infection in the affected area:
   • Swelling, tenderness, redness, numbness or heat
   • Red streaks that extend out
   • lasts more than two-to-five days
   • comes and goes
   • occurs in both feet
   • Pus or discharge
   • Symptoms that do not improve with OTC products after two weeks
   • Spreading of the condition to other areas of the feet or nails
   • Fever
   • Tingling or persistent pain in the heel, even when it is not bearing weight
   • Thickening nails that are causing you discomfort
   • Pain that doesn’t respond to OTC painkillers or icing therapy

Never ignore foot or ankle pain, or delay seeking professional care from a podiatrist. They will physically examine you and run various tests to diagnose your condition and present you with options before implementing an appropriate treatment plan.