# What kind of doctor should I see about my foot pain?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-should-i-see-about-my-foot-pain/448661>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 9, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-should-i-see-about-my-foot-pain/448661 "2008-05-09T03:43:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Marconi\_Schmeese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Marconi\_Schmeese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_Schmeese)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-should-i-see-about-my-foot-pain/448661/1 "2008-05-09T03:43:36Z")

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I have an old injury to one of the bones in my foot. I think I may have re-broken it or it might need to be removed. Anyway, the injury is 15 years old and I don’t have the foggiest idea what kind of doctor took care of it the first time.

Podiatrist?

Orthapod?

Orthapaedic Surgeon?

Whom should I see? The pain is an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 - the same as when my gallbladder went south… The worst part is that it fades in and out - it feels like a white hot scalpel is being put between two bones in my foot. It’s awful.

Tell me who to go see and I’ll call tomorrow!!!

THANKS!

PS - I have the best insurance in the world and money isn’t a problem, so I can go straight to who I need to see without referrals and all that crap.

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**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-should-i-see-about-my-foot-pain/448661/2 "2008-05-09T10:00:59Z")

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I’d go to the podiatrist first. He’ll make an initial assessment and send you to the appropriate specialist.

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**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-should-i-see-about-my-foot-pain/448661/3 "2008-05-09T10:25:28Z")

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I’d see one who’s down to earth.

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**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-should-i-see-about-my-foot-pain/448661/4 "2008-05-09T12:59:30Z")

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I too would see a podiatrist first. He may well be the appropriate specialist.

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**Author:** ![Marconi\_Schmeese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Marconi\_Schmeese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_Schmeese)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-doctor-should-i-see-about-my-foot-pain/448661/5 "2008-05-09T13:39:52Z")

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Thanks. Podiatrist it is.