Varicose veins in the legs can easily be considered one of the most common diseases. More often, the disease is detected in people of the older age category, as well as people engaged in activities involving physical exertion. When signs of varicose veins appear, everyone asks the question: which doctor treats blood vessels, what is his name and which doctor to contact for advice. The direct choice of treatment option and diagnosis of diseases and pathologies of the vascular system are the responsibility of three specialists: a phlebologist, an angiologist and a vascular surgeon.
The term “phlebology” refers to a direction in the field of practical medicine that studies anomalies and pathologies of the veins. Currently, this industry is actively developing, which is due to an increase in the level of detection of venous system defects in the population. Currently, problems of this kind are identified in almost every second average inhabitant of the planet, which determines the need to deal with the problem more closely.
When problems with veins arise, almost every patient is interested in the following question: which doctor to visit, which specialist will help make a diagnosis and prescribe an appropriate treatment option, and also what is the name of the doctor who treats veins. The presence of problems of this kind is a direct indication for visiting a doctor called a phlebologist. His narrowly focused professional activity covers venous pathologies.
A doctor called a phlebologist is a specialist whose main activity includes the study and identification of anomalies and pathologies of the veins of the lower and upper extremities. Depending on the doctor’s practical experience, in some medical institutions the role of a phlebologist is performed by a surgeon or an angiologist.
The specific practice of a doctor called a phlebologist is limited primarily to several types of diseases of the veins of the lower and upper extremities, including:
Based on the above, we can conclude that the practical field of a phlebologist is limited to the study and identification of pathologies of the veins of the lower and upper extremities. But often illnesses of this kind require the involvement of other specialists, who are called differently and will help determine a more complete picture of the disease and, if necessary, choose the most appropriate treatment option.
It is worth contacting a phlebologist if you have a trophic ulcer.
An angiologist is a specialist whose professional scope includes conservative therapy and identification of pathologies of the arterial and venous systems. This branch of practical medicine is currently developing more and more actively. This trend is due to the dynamics of growth of vascular diseases in the population. The scope of professional activity of an angiologist includes making a diagnosis and developing therapeutic techniques aimed at eliminating a wide range of ailments of the vascular system. Among the most common are the following, for example:
It is recommended to consult a doctor called an angiologist if any, even the most minor, manifestations of damage to the vascular system appear. The specialist will determine the disease, its degree and the causes that led to the development of the pathology, and will also select the optimal option for complex treatment. A timely visit to an angiologist will allow you to avoid a number of complications that are not excluded in advanced forms of diseases of the vascular system.
Vascular surgery is a field of practical medicine, the main activity of which is the identification, diagnosis and elimination of diseases of both lymphatic and blood vessels. A surgeon, who may often be called an angiosurgeon, is a specialist whose field of activity includes the elimination of lesions and abnormalities of the vascular system through the use of minimally invasive methods.
Diseases of the vascular system can be either congenital, for example due to genetic abnormalities, or acquired. In the absence of positive dynamics when using conservative therapy or in advanced forms of the lesion, surgical interventions are required to eliminate the causes and consequences of the disease.
In advanced forms of the lesion, surgical intervention is often required.
Among the main diseases, the treatment of which is included in the main field of activity of the surgeon, are:
The list of diseases, the elimination of which is within the scope of a surgeon’s activity, is much wider. Surgical intervention is mainly required in acute forms of diseases or when a threat to the life and health of the patient is identified. You should contact a doctor who treats the vessels and veins of the legs if even minor disturbing symptoms appear; timely applied therapy allows you to achieve positive dynamics in a short time and almost completely eliminate possible complications.
Some alarming signs include, for example: heaviness in the legs, cramps, swelling, burning in the legs, itching of the skin of the legs. It is also recommended to undergo regular preventive examinations for those who are prone to the appearance of varicose veins due to genetic predisposition.
To identify the causes of discomfort, you should first go to a doctor called a phlebologist; it is also possible to visit a general practitioner - a general practitioner. After making the initial diagnosis, the treating doctor will prescribe the necessary tests, determine the option of complex therapy that will help cure the disease, and also, if necessary, involve specialists in other fields.
According to statistics, 98% of people suffering from bunion deformity are women, only 2% are men. It's pretty easy to explain. The pursuit of fashion, the desire to stand out, to be attractive, forces a woman to wear shoes that contribute to bone curvature. This includes: high heels (doctors recommend not to exceed a height of 4 cm), tight or narrow shoes.
The danger is that the disease does not manifest itself immediately. Only after some time has passed, a year or two, or 5 years may pass, do the first signs of deformation appear:
Attention! It is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it! If the first signs appear, consult a doctor. You can start treating bunions at home with folk remedies only after consulting a doctor.
Many women cannot tell which doctor treats a bunion, so it will be interesting to find out. A trip to the clinic begins with a visit to the local general practitioner. The medical record is in his office and illnesses throughout his life are entered into it. By the way, many highly specialized doctors do not see a patient without medical assistance. cards.
After an initial examination of the legs and general tests, the therapist will write a referral to a traumatologist, orthopedist or surgeon. Ask why so many doctors treat a bump on the leg - the explanation is simple. It all depends on the degree of development of the disease and the complexity of the case.
An orthopedic doctor provides treatment at the first stage of the disease. During this period, a small bump forms and the thumb deviates. If the cause of the changes is flat feet, it is recommended to purchase special orthopedic insoles or instep supports that will help you position your feet correctly when walking. Toe rollers can also effectively help and visually straighten the foot. In combination with insoles, they evenly distribute the load and promote bone restoration.
The task of the traumatologist is to help the bone fall into place as much as possible when the development stage has entered the second stage. During this period, the lump reaches a medium size, the thumb deviates so much that the second begins to rise and settles above the first. With such a deformation, it is almost impossible to wear tight or narrow shoes, there is a constant feeling of pain and discomfort.
There are several devices for recovery at this stage:
A referral to a surgeon is issued if the deformity of the thumb bone has reached the third, advanced stage. At this stage, a large bump has already formed, protrudes strongly, the toes are completely deformed and pronounced corns have appeared.
In this case, treatment with various devices, ointments, tinctures, etc. will not bring the desired result. After conducting a full range of examinations, including x-rays of the foot, the surgeon sets a date and time for the operation.
Today, medicine has reached great heights, so the operation is performed as quickly and efficiently as possible, sometimes under local anesthesia and painlessly. According to statistics, the patient can already walk the next day. During the operation, reconstruction and stabilization of the joint is carried out, the thumb is fixed with knitting needles or screws in the correct position.
The advantage of the operation is that there is no need to apply a cast or wear crutches afterwards. The entire process of treatment and postoperative recovery takes 1-2 weeks.
Attention! After surgery, you must strictly follow all the doctor’s recommendations and remain under observation for another 2-3 months. Read our article on how to get rid of pain in a bunion.
To ensure that the question never arises about which doctor treats bunions, it is recommended to carry out complex gymnastics as part of preventive measures. It is convenient because it can be done under absolutely any conditions and wherever you are. It’s good to do it every evening, after a hard day’s work.
So, here are the simplest gymnastic exercises for the toes:
Exercises help to strengthen all muscles well, engage inactive ligaments in the process, and restore normal blood circulation in the foot. Doctors recommend carrying out this procedure daily, devoting as much time as possible.
Always remember that health is more important than chasing fashion. Therefore, choose shoes whose heels do not exceed 3-4 cm. If you need to wear high heels, the time should not exceed two hours, then change your shoes.
Get tested for flat feet, and if necessary, start using orthopedic insoles.
The most important thing to do is not to be afraid on time, seek advice and treatment from a doctor, and which one - you already know!
One of the deviations of the musculoskeletal system is considered to be a bunion. This disease often develops against the background of arthritis or gout. Therefore, when joints hurt and deviations in the formation of the foot are observed, the risk of protrusion of the bone increases. In the initial stages, the disease can be neutralized with the help of orthopedic devices and fixatives, but in its advanced form the pathology requires surgical intervention.
More often, enlargement of the bunion is observed in women who prefer to wear high heels, so men are less susceptible to this disease.
Changes in the structure of the foot only in the early stages make themselves felt with minor discomfort when walking. In its advanced form, the joint hurts so much that one has to resort to drug pain relief. Therefore, to prevent this, you should consult a doctor as soon as redness and slight protrusion of the bone appear. At this moment, the patient thinks about which doctor treats such a deviation.
If pathological abnormalities are detected on the leg, you should consult a doctor. The first thing you need to do is visit a therapist's office. After a detailed examination of the patient and general blood and urine tests, the doctor writes a referral to a specialized specialist. This could be an orthopedist, traumatologist or surgeon. The condition of the affected joint determines further therapy and the doctor who will deal with it.
At an early stage of the disease, a small bump and slight deviation of the finger are observed. During this period of illness, an examination by an orthopedist is sufficient. A common cause of tumors on the leg is flat feet. In this case, it is recommended to wear orthopedic shoes or use special insoles and arch supports. These products, in combination with special toe rollers, help to evenly distribute the load on the foot and restore the affected bone. In addition, if a lump forms on the leg, therapeutic massage and gymnastics for the feet are recommended.
If the bump on the foot has increased to a medium size, and the toe has deviated so much that it rests on the neighboring one, this means that more serious therapeutic measures are needed. In this case, consultation with a traumatologist is necessary. A characteristic sign of this development of the disease is severe pain and discomfort when wearing narrow and tight shoes. To treat a bunion on the leg, a traumatologist will recommend using the following devices:
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In the advanced form of the disease, the formation of a large lump and obvious deformation of the fingers are observed. The following symptoms are characteristic of the third degree of the disease:
With such a foot lesion, one cannot do without the help of a surgeon. The doctor prescribes additional tests and x-rays of the foot. After examining the clinical picture of the disease, an operation to neutralize the bone is performed. During surgery, the joint is reconstructed and stabilized. To secure the finger in the correct position, special knitting needles or screws are used. The rehabilitation process takes up to 3 weeks. During this period, the patient is observed by an orthopedist.
Diagnosis of pathology by a doctor at an early stage helps to start treatment on time and avoid unwanted complications.
It is easier to prevent any disease than to treat it. Protrusion of the bone near the big toe can also be prevented. Doctors strongly recommend wearing shoes with heels from 1 to 4 cm in height. Since this factor affects the formation of not only the foot, but also the entire spine. Flat feet are a common cause of bunion formation, so timely treatment of this disease will prevent further deformation of the foot. For this purpose, special orthopedic insoles and instep supports are used. If there are relatives in the family with similar deviations, then you should be more vigilant to factors that interfere with the correct formation of the foot and posture. You need to think about the health of the musculoskeletal system from a young age. Proper nutrition and daily exercise help strengthen bone and cartilage tissue.
People suffering from pain and discomfort while walking due to a hallux valgus deformity often do not know which doctor to consult with a bunion. Despite the fairly large assortment of various medicinal and corrective drugs offered on the Internet, in no case should you self-medicate.
When the first symptoms of a growing bone appear, you should contact a therapist at your local clinic. The local doctor will conduct an examination and refer the patient to a specialist. Here, as a rule, there is a medical record, where all the person’s diseases throughout his life are noted. With the help of records, it may be possible to determine the cause of the lump.
To visit a specialist doctor, the patient will need a medical card.
Which doctor should I go to with a bunion that is just starting to grow? The initial stage of the disease is treated by an orthopedist. Symptoms of the first stage of hallux valgus:
The doctor will determine the cause of the disease and prescribe appropriate treatment. For example, with transverse flatfoot, the situation can be corrected with the help of orthopedic insoles, arch supports or special shoes, which fix the correct position of the foot when walking and gradually correct the deformed joint. A course of physiotherapy, massage, exercise therapy, etc. may also be prescribed.
Which doctor should I consult with bunions on my feet, when the bunion rapidly increases in size, the displacement of the big toe causes many problems when choosing shoes, and when walking or spending a long time on my feet, pain appears in the foot area.
The described symptoms indicate the transition of the disease to the second stage, which will be treated by a traumatologist. The doctor, based on the examination, prescribes corrective measures:
Along with wearing correctors, the doctor prescribes additional procedures that are necessary to quickly achieve and consolidate the result.
Which doctor treats bunions and bumps on the toes when the deformity is in an advanced stage and is accompanied by severe pain, swelling, inflammation in the joint, lameness and other attributes of the third or fourth stage of the disease? In this case, only a surgeon can help.
The type of operation is prescribed only on the basis of information obtained from a thorough examination of the patient.
Methods of surgical treatment:
All operations are carried out quickly, under anesthesia (local or general), using high-tech medical equipment. The patient can put weight on the foot within 24 hours after surgery.
The rehabilitation period, during which the patient must follow all the doctor’s recommendations, lasts from 2 weeks to 3 months, depending on the complexity of the disease.
Excessive levels of uric acid and salts in the body cause their crystallization in various organs. The joints of the legs are often affected, which leads to complete or partial loss of motor activity. Timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease allows you to avoid serious complications. For proper therapy, it is important to decide which doctor treats gout.
Gout develops gradually, often occurring in a latent form for many years. Uric acid and urate crystals form in the joint cavity, affecting cartilage and surrounding tissue. An experienced doctor who treats gout on the legs identifies the disease after a thorough diagnosis. At the initial stage, the disease manifests itself with the following symptoms in the area of the affected joint of the foot and toes:
At the first signs of damage to the joints on the legs, it is recommended to seek professional medical help. These symptoms are common and may have different etiologies. An experienced doctor makes an accurate diagnosis after appropriate laboratory examination.
At the first sign of discomfort in the joints, you should go to the clinic. At the emergency department, you can find out which doctor to contact if you have gout on your legs. In small district hospitals, specialists often combine several areas. If symptoms are mild, it is recommended to consult a therapist. Based on the results of the external examination and the patient’s complaints, the doctor gives a referral to specialists:
A rheumatologist is a specialist in the treatment of gout. His field of activity includes accurate diagnosis and selection of an appropriate therapeutic program. To determine the cause of the disease and treatment, different doctors may be involved, depending on the individual characteristics of the patient. An integrated approach allows us to find out the etiology of the disease, prevent its progression and negative consequences.
Accurate diagnosis and timely diagnosis of gout allows you to avoid serious diseases - pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, kidney failure.
If there is no rheumatologist, his functions are often performed by an orthopedist or trauma surgeon. A preliminary diagnosis is established by visual examination and medical history. To identify the disease and distinguish it from other joint pathologies, a laboratory examination is prescribed. The most commonly used methods are:
If gout is detected, the patient is registered at a dispensary, since the disease cannot be completely cured. The disease takes a chronic course and requires proper care and regular treatment from an experienced doctor. Competent therapy increases the duration of periods of remission, reducing the frequency of gout attacks.
The doctor diagnoses gout based on laboratory tests, X-rays and observational results. The visual pathology of the joints and surrounding tissues can be determined by radiography. The photographs clearly show whitish spots, indicating the formation of crystals of urate and urate. A detailed analysis can be done using MRI and CT images, which determine the location and extent of the lesion.
The doctor treats gout on the legs using different methods, the choice of which depends on the form and degree of neglect of the disease. In severe cases, surgical intervention will be required to forcibly remove uric acid crystals from the joint cavity. In the early and middle stages, doctors treat the disease with conservative methods:
Gout is a serious illness that has dangerous consequences. Advanced forms of the disease are accompanied by deep damage to cartilage and bone tissue, leading to disability. Qualified diagnostics allows you to detect the disease in a timely manner and take effective therapeutic measures.
Vasculitis is a group of pathologies characterized by inflammation of blood vessels. The disease leads to a complete breakdown of capillaries, veins and arteries, which poses a danger to human health.
Vasculitis on the legs, or angiitis, is a complex pathology that affects tissues, internal organs and skin.
A gradual disruption of the blood supply leads to tissue necrosis, so it is necessary to treat the disease as early as possible.
Depending on what caused the development of the disease, there are 2 forms of vasculitis on the legs:
Based on which vessels are affected by inflammation, vasculitis of small, large and medium vessels is distinguished.
Angiitis is also divided into hemorrhagic and erythematous nodosum, which differ in pathogenesis, course, symptoms and consequences.
Cutaneous vasculitis, which can appear on the lower extremities, is also divided according to clinical manifestations into:
To date, the causes of the development of the disease have not been fully studied. There are several theories that can explain the development of the disease.
According to one assumption, the development of vasculitis is associated with previous viral/infectious pathologies.
In this case, there is an abnormal immune response of the body to pathogenic agents, which can provoke inflammation of the blood vessels.
In addition to the immune response, autoimmune processes can affect the development of vasculitis. There is a version that pathology occurs when the immune cells of the human body do not “recognize” vascular cells, mistaking them for a foreign element and developing a special response.
Other reasons that can lead to the appearance of vasculitis on the legs include:
Each form of pathology has its own distinctive features
Onychomycosis is a parasitic disease associated with nail fungus caused by a number of pathogens. This disease is very difficult to treat due to difficulties with diagnosis and the high resistance of fungal parasites to drugs. That is why the success of therapy depends on contacting the right specialist.
Fungal diseases of the toenails require qualified treatment. Although it should be recognized that these days there are a large number of traditional medicines used by supporters of self-medication. In certain situations, this makes it possible to reduce symptoms. But still, there are a number of factors due to which, in case of mycoses, it is best to consult a doctor:
Fungal infections fall under the purview of a dermatologist as a generalist. He treats skin diseases. However, there are also more specialized specialists who are deeply familiar with specific types of skin diseases, namely mycoses. There is no clear answer to the question of which one to go to. It all depends on a number of factors, and both options have their pros and cons. However, it should be taken into account that the correct choice of a doctor comes from many conditions, which also include the individual properties of the patient’s body.
Pros of visiting a dermatologist:
Advantages of treatment with a mycologist:
Ultimately, the choice of a doctor depends on his professional qualities, experience and ability to cure. Therefore, in any case, you should contact a trusted specialist with a lot of positive reviews.
Regardless of which doctor you contact, the procedure for treating onychomycosis of the legs will be as follows:
The main test for suspected fungal infection of the toenail plate is scraping from the affected area. Microscopic examination of a piece of tissue, together with laboratory cultivation of the detected culture, makes it possible to identify the pathogen and even test certain medications on it. In addition to the main diagnostic method, there are additional tests that make it possible to determine the degree of development of the disease affecting the nail and clarify the diagnosis:
On average, the diagnosis takes about a week. It should be borne in mind that suspicions of a fungal infection are confirmed in only 50% of patients, since similar symptoms are characteristic of a number of other health problems:
Preventing the development of infection on the toenails is much easier than treating the disease. Therefore, these rules should not only be remembered, but also actively followed:
Modern medicine has thoroughly studied fungal infections that affect toenails. However, it is better to prevent the disease from developing. A large number of preventive agents can help, the regular use of which will minimize the risk of developing pathogenic fungus on the nails. And if you still couldn’t avoid the development of the disease, knowing which doctor treats toenail fungus more effectively will help you.