OrthoInfo podcast puts its best foot forward with patient education on foot pain

In episode 4 of the new OrthoInfo podcast, Arianna Gianakos, DO, and Kamran Hamid, MD, MPH, FAAOS, tackled the question, “Why Do My Feet Hurt?” The episode is a great resource to help patients understand what might be causing their foot pain — and what they can do about it.

Dr. Gianakos and Dr. Hamid discussed:

• why foot pain is so common and which conditions Dr. Hamid most frequently sees in his practice. He said heel pain is one of the most common complaints, and it often stems from plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis.
• how traumatic injuries are another key cause of foot pain, explaining that although fractures and acute injuries can be frightening for patients, they are often highly treatable. Dr. Hamid spoke about how caring for patients after traumatic foot and ankle injuries is particularly rewarding, as he is able to guide patients from one of the worst days of their lives to a meaningful functional recovery.
• less obvious causes of foot pain, such as congenital deformities (e.g., clubfoot) and degenerative conditions that patients may not realize are treatable.
• when foot pain should prompt patients to seek medical evaluation.
• the growing influence of artificial intelligence in online searches for health information. Dr. Hamid acknowledged that search engines and AI tools can offer helpful general education but cautioned that they may lack nuance or provide misleading information.
• how patients should navigate care pathways when deciding which type of specialist to see for foot and ankle concerns. Dr. Hamid explained that although there is overlap between orthopaedic surgeons and podiatrists, differences in training and clinical focus can influence which is the best fit.
• the value of patients coming prepared to their first visit with a foot specialist: in particular, bringing a list of questions (so they don’t have to remember in the moment what they want to ask) and being able to point with one finger — or, Dr. Gianakos amended, maybe two — to the location of their pain.

Members and their patients can listen to the OrthoInfo podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the Health Podcast Library, and full video episodes are available on the OrthoInfo YouTube channel. Bookmark the podcast landing page, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast for access to new episodes as they drop.