Preparing for an appointment

You're likely to start by seeing your primary care doctor or a foot specialist (podiatrist or orthopedic foot specialist).

What you can do

To make the most of your time with your doctor, prepare a list of questions before your visit. Your questions might include:

• What's causing my foot problems?
• Is this condition likely to be temporary or permanent?
• What treatment approach do you recommend?
• Am I a candidate for surgery? Why or why not?
• Are there other self-care steps that might help?

Don't hesitate to ask any other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Some questions your doctor might ask include:

• When did you begin having foot problems?
• How much pain do you have in your foot?
• Where is the pain?
• What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
• What type of shoes do you wear?