Dr. Rubin - What is Podiatric Medicine?
Judith E. Rubin, DPM, FACFAS, is a top podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon who lends his skills and expertise to serve patients at The Foot Wellness Center in Cypress, Texas. She opened her private practice in 1982 and was joined by Amr El-Khashab, DPM, in 2017. With thirty-eight years of experience as a podiatrist, Dr.... more
Podiatric medicine is a branch of medicine that is devoted to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions associated with the foot and ankle. Podiatric physicians can specialize in surgery, sports medicine, pediatrics, biomechanics, primary foot care, and trauma. They perform surgery, administer medicine, and prescribe physical therapy. Diabetes can make it more difficult for your body to fight off infections, which can damage your nervous system. This damage can affect the ability to feel sensations in your feet, and your feets ability to produce sweat that keeps the skin lubricated. Without proper lubrication, the skin, bones, and joints of the foot can become injured. Treatment includes wearing properly fitting footwear (along with orthotics).
Ingrown toenails occur when the edges or corners of your nails grow into the skin next to the nail. This can become significantly painful with frequent infections resulting. It is important that ingrown toenails are treated by a physician at the onset of symptoms. Treatment includes careful trimming of the nail or removing the affected edge of the nail. A bunion is a painful, bony enlargement of the big toe joint, where the toe stops pointing straight ahead and drifts towards the little toe. The foot becomes wider, especially when compared to the heel, which causes difficulty wearing shoes comfortably. Treatment varies depending on the severity of pain and deformity. It typically includes wearing different shoes or surgery.
