Podiatry

A podiatry provider diagnoses and treats conditions affecting the feet, ankles, toes, toenails, and lower legs. This can include heel pain, bunions, ingrown toenails, diabetic foot concerns, wounds, arthritis, fractures, ankle instability, tendon injuries, and other conditions affecting mobility.

A certified nurse practitioner can provide nonsurgical care for concerns such as diabetic foot health, wounds, skin and nail conditions, fungal infections, corns, calluses, and warts.

A podiatrist, also called a doctor of podiatric medicine or DPM, diagnoses and treats musculoskeletal foot and ankle conditions. Adena’s podiatrists also perform foot and ankle surgery.

Consider scheduling an appointment if you have foot or ankle pain that does not improve, difficulty walking, numbness or tingling, a wound that is not healing, an ingrown toenail, painful or thickened toenails, heel pain, a bunion, or foot concerns related to diabetes.

Seek prompt medical attention for severe pain, a significant injury, a visibly deformed foot or ankle, signs of infection, or an open wound.

Referral requirements depend on your insurance plan. Some patients can schedule directly, while others may need a referral from a primary care provider. Contact your insurance company or Adena Health if you need help determining your next step.

Medicare may cover podiatry services that are considered medically necessary, including certain services related to diabetes, foot wounds, nerve damage, or diagnosed foot conditions. Routine foot care is not always covered. Coverage depends on your condition, treatment plan, and insurance benefits.

Yes, podiatry providers can provide toenail care when it is medically needed. This may include care for thickened nails, painful nails, fungal infections, ingrown toenails, or nail concerns related to diabetes, circulation issues, or other health conditions.

Yes. Regular diabetic foot care can help identify wounds, skin changes, nail problems, nerve-related symptoms, circulation concerns, and other issues that may increase the risk of infection or delayed healing.

Contact a health care provider promptly if you have diabetes and notice a wound, blister, discoloration, swelling, redness, drainage, or another change affecting your foot.

Yes. Treatment for an ingrown toenail depends on its severity and whether it has become infected or continues to return. Care may include trimming the nail, removing part of the nail, treating an infection, or recommending steps to reduce the likelihood of another ingrown toenail.

Yes. A podiatrist can evaluate whether heel pain is related to plantar fasciitis, a heel spur, tendon irritation, foot structure, footwear, or another condition.

Treatment may include stretching, changes in footwear, orthotics, physical therapy, injections, or other options based on the cause of the pain. Surgery is generally considered only when symptoms continue despite nonsurgical treatment.

Yes. Adena’s doctors of podiatric medicine perform procedures for bunions, fractures, arthritis, ankle instability, tendon and ligament injuries, complex deformities, Charcot foot, and other foot and ankle conditions.

Minimally invasive bunion surgery uses smaller incisions and specialized instruments to realign the bones and joint of the big toe. It may be an option for certain patients, depending on the type and severity of the bunion.

A podiatrist will evaluate your foot, symptoms, overall health, and previous treatments to determine which surgical approach may be appropriate.

Total ankle replacement is a procedure used to treat severe ankle arthritis. During the procedure, damaged portions of the ankle joint are replaced with an artificial implant.

The goal is to reduce pain and preserve more ankle movement than would be possible with an ankle fusion. Total ankle replacement is not appropriate for every patient, so the podiatrist will consider the condition of the joint, bone quality, alignment, circulation, nerve function, and overall health.

Many foot and ankle conditions can be treated without surgery. Bracing, orthotics, physical therapy, footwear changes, injections, immobilization, and other nonsurgical treatments may provide relief.

Surgery may be recommended when conservative treatment has not worked, the condition is getting worse, or an injury or deformity requires surgical correction.