Know when to see a doctor

Dont attempt to self-treat painful foot woes. I see many patients who have attempted what I call bathroom surgery, and theyve made the problem worse, says Kurtz. Any pain, redness, swelling, or discoloration that persists should be checked out by a podiatric physician. Usually the problem can be cleared up with prescription medicine or a minor in-office procedure. Allowing a doctor to take a look will help prevent minor problems from becoming major ones.