Perhaps you spend a substantial amount of your time on your feet, whether while playing sports or working, which can place excessive stress on your feet and ankles. Over time, this stress can lead to injuries and conditions such as heel spurs. Luckily, the sooner you seek treatment for these symptoms the better your chances of recovery will be. 

Continue reading to discover the signs that mean you need to see a podiatrist sooner rather than later.

1. Your feet are painful, swollen, or numb 
It's common to have aching or swollen feet from time to time (for instance, after running a marathon or spending an entire day on your feet), but sudden pain, swelling, or loss of sensation in one foot for no obvious reason can indicate a significant problem that necessitates scheduling an appointment with a doctor.

2. Toenail fungus
As nail salons are becoming increasingly popular, the number of cases of fungal infection on toenails has expanded tremendously. If the infected nail is not treated, it will thicken and darken, and the disease will spread to the other toes.

3. Persistent heel pain
A lot of factors might contribute to heel pain. To establish the primary reason and develop a treatment plan, a podiatrist will perform an examination and obtain x-rays. If you believe your ankle or foot has been sprained or fractured, visiting an orthopedist should be your top priority. A specialist has extensive experience diagnosing and treating foot and ankle ailments.

4. A case of athlete's foot that keeps coming back
It's one of the most common infections caused by a fungus, and it's usually treatable with over-the-counter lotions and sprays. If your condition keeps recurring despite the use of over-the-counter solutions, consider asking a podiatry specialist whether it’s possible to prescribe a more effective cream or oral medicine to keep the infection at bay. 

5. You’re diagnosed with diabetes 
Foot problems such as reduced blood flow, peripheral neuropathy, ulceration, and infection are significantly more common in those with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes, it’s important to visit a podiatry specialist for a foot exam yearly to help prevent these potentially serious complications.

6. Ingrown toenails
If you want to get rid of an ingrown toenail, see a doctor rather than trying to do it yourself or visiting a nail salon. Numbing the area and prescribing you appropriate medicine is an important part of treatment essential to prevent unwanted complications.

7. Bunions
Bunions are bony bumps that develop on the outside of the big toe joints. Bunions can become increasingly painful as they grow in size. Based on the severity of the bunion, your podiatrist can perform an x-ray to diagnose the cause and identify treatment options.

8. Painful corns or calluses
These prevalent foot conditions can result in painful symptoms if the skin becomes too thick. To relieve the pain, a podiatrist might either strip away the hardened skin or prescribe you a topical medicine.

9. Joint pain in the foot or ankle
Even if the pain is easily controlled with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin or ibuprofen, it's crucial to contact a doctor to identify the source of the discomfort, especially if it persists. The doctor and you can build out a long-term treatment strategy together.

10. Walking abnormalities 
Another indication that you should consult a podiatry specialist right away is if you are having an unstable gait. Walking should be natural and comfortable, but heredity or bad habits might cause internal problems in the foot. A foot specialist can figure out the proper culprit behind your walking problems.