Why People Avoid Podiatry (And Why They Shouldn’t)

Many people with foot pain wait months or even years before seeking podiatric care. Some worry the problem isn’t “serious enough” to warrant a specialist visit. Others are anxious about what the evaluation might involve. Some simply don’t know what a podiatrist does or how a visit will unfold. If any of these describe you, this guide will demystify the process and hopefully prompt you to make that appointment sooner rather than later.

The reality is that foot problems almost always respond better to earlier treatment. What starts as minor heel pain or an irritating ingrown toenail can progress to chronic pain, structural deformity, or serious infection when left untreated. A first podiatry visit is generally straightforward, painless (except in the sense of examining what’s already hurting), and often results in a clear diagnosis and treatment plan on the same day.

Before Your Appointment: How to Prepare

Taking a few minutes to prepare for your first podiatry visit will help you get the most from the appointment. Gather relevant medical history including a list of all current medications (including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements), any relevant past medical conditions (especially diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, arthritis, or previous foot surgeries), and a list of your allergies.

Bring any relevant prior medical records, X-rays, or imaging if you have them. If you’ve had prior treatment for your foot problem — physical therapy, injections, previous orthotics — bring that information or devices if possible. Knowing what has and hasn’t worked helps the podiatrist guide treatment more efficiently.

Bring or wear the shoes you typically wear for the activity that causes your symptoms. If your heel hurts when you run, bring your running shoes. If work-related foot pain is the issue, wear or bring your work shoes. Examining your footwear provides valuable diagnostic information about contributing factors.

Write down your questions before the appointment. It’s easy to forget what you wanted to ask once you’re in the exam room. Common questions worth addressing include: What is the diagnosis? What caused this? What are my treatment options? How long will treatment take? What happens if I don’t treat it?

Insurance information and any required referral documents should be ready. If you’re uncertain whether you need a referral to see a podiatrist under your plan, contact your insurance company or primary care office beforehand to clarify.

The Intake Process: What You’ll Be Asked

Like any medical visit, your first podiatry appointment begins with intake paperwork covering your medical history, current medications, allergies, insurance information, and the reason for your visit. Our office provides this paperwork electronically before your appointment when possible, so you can complete it at home rather than in the waiting room.

A medical assistant or nurse will review your information and take basic measurements including blood pressure and weight, which are relevant because conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity have direct implications for foot health and treatment planning.

You’ll be asked to describe your foot problem in detail. Be prepared to explain when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, what activities are limited by the pain, what treatments you’ve already tried, and how the problem is affecting your daily life. The more specific you can be about the nature, location, and timing of your symptoms, the more efficiently we can identify the cause.

The Physical Examination

The podiatric physical examination is comprehensive but typically very comfortable. You’ll be asked to remove your shoes and socks so your feet can be examined thoroughly. The podiatrist will visually inspect your feet for structural deformities, skin changes, nail problems, swelling, and color changes. Gait observation — watching you walk in the hallway or on a treadmill — provides important information about biomechanics that can’t be obtained from examination alone.

The hands-on examination includes palpation (pressing on specific areas to identify tender points), range of motion testing of the foot and ankle joints, and assessment of muscle strength. Neurological screening tests the sensation in your feet and reflexes. Vascular assessment checks your pulses to evaluate circulation to the feet and ankles. For patients with diabetes or peripheral vascular disease risk factors, these neurological and vascular components are especially thorough.

The examination should not be significantly painful — we work carefully to examine the affected areas without causing unnecessary discomfort. When we do press on a particularly tender spot, it’s because identifying the precise location of maximum tenderness is diagnostically valuable. Let your podiatrist know if any portion of the examination is causing significant pain.

Imaging and Diagnostic Testing

Many foot conditions are diagnosed primarily from the history and physical examination. When imaging is needed, we have digital X-ray capability in our office, allowing us to obtain and review images during your appointment rather than sending you to a separate radiology facility.

Weight-bearing X-rays of the foot or ankle are the standard first imaging study for most structural foot and ankle problems. They provide information about bone alignment, joint space, arthritis, fractures, and bone spurs. Some conditions — particularly soft tissue injuries like tendon tears or plantar fascia pathology — are better evaluated with MRI, which we can order to be performed at a convenient imaging facility.

For suspected nail fungus, we may take a nail culture sample to confirm the diagnosis and identify the specific organism before prescribing antifungal treatment — this is important because some nail discoloration that looks like fungus is actually caused by other conditions that require different treatment.

Getting Your Diagnosis and Treatment Plan

By the end of your first visit, you should have a clear diagnosis or a clear path to diagnosis if additional testing is needed. We take time to explain the diagnosis in plain language — what the condition is, what caused it, and why it produces your specific symptoms. Understanding your diagnosis helps you follow through with treatment and recognize warning signs that warrant follow-up.

Treatment options will be discussed with you, along with the rationale for each approach. We believe in shared decision-making — your values, goals, lifestyle, and preferences matter in determining the best treatment approach. We’ll explain what to expect from treatment, how long improvement typically takes, and what happens if initial treatment doesn’t work.

Many first visits result in same-day treatment — injections, nail procedures, orthotics prescriptions, or other interventions that can begin immediately. Others require a plan that unfolds over several weeks or months, with follow-up visits to assess progress and adjust the approach as needed.

Our goal is for you to leave your first visit feeling heard, informed, and hopeful — with a clear understanding of your condition and a specific plan to address it. If you’ve been putting off a podiatry visit for your foot or ankle problem, we encourage you to call (810) 206-1402 or book online today.

Foot or Ankle Pain? We Can Help.

Balance Foot & Ankle — Howell & Bloomfield Township, MI

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Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.