Christine Ellie, DPM

First find the Podiatrist that best fits your needs, review their experience, and determine that the location is convenient for you. Then, from that page, upload your insurance information. The Doctor’s office will contact you to verify whether your plan is accepted. 

Many plans allow for access to out of network providers for the same out of pocket cost as in network providers.

Podiatrists are defined as physicians by the Federal government. Podiatrists are DPMs, Doctors of Podiatric Medicine.  Podiatrists complete four years of training in a podiatric medical school and three years of hospital residency training. Podiatrists may go on to complete fellowship training following their residency.

Orthopedic Surgeons treat all bones, joints and soft tissues of the body. Podiatrists are focused on the foot and ankle specifically. A foot and ankle Orthopedist manages the aspects of the foot and ankle that pertain to the bones, soft tissues and joints. A Podiatric doctor manages the same aspects, as well as the dermatology and biomechanics of the foot and ankle.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis that affects the feet. Rest, ice, compression, and elevation are the first line of defense for arthritic pain. Podiatrists can treat all types of arthritic foot pain, but if pain stems from an inflammatory arthritic condition such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, it is very important to see a rheumatologist in addition to your foot doctor.

The scope of practice for Podiatric surgeons is regulated at the state government level. In most states Podiatrists can do surgery, reset broken bones, prescribe drugs, and order lab tests or X-rays. They often work closely with other specialists on problems that affect feet or lower legs.

Podiatrists can perform surgery on the foot, up to and including the ankle if they have been issued a podiatric standard ankle surgery privilege or a podiatric advanced ankle surgery privilege. To obtain this privilege they must be board certified in reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery by a national certifying board having certification standards acceptable to the NY State Education Department. The American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery has certification standards that are acceptable to the NY Department of Education.

Your Podiatrist may request a medical evaluation by your Primary Care Physician before performing your surgery. A medical clearance is essentially authorization from an evaluating doctor that a patient is cleared, or deemed healthy enough, for a proposed surgery.

A preoperative physical examination is essentially the same thing as getting 'medical clearance. It is performed at the request of the Podiatrist to ensure that a patient is healthy enough to safely undergo anesthesia and surgery. This evaluation includes a physical examination, cardiac evaluation, lung function assessment, and appropriate laboratory tests.

The purpose of medical clearance is to assess your personal risk related to undergoing a surgical procedure. If you have comorbidities your Podiatrist may want another doctor familiar with your medical history to offer perspective on whether the procedure is safe for you and ways to reduce risk.

Your Podiatrist may require routine laboratory tests before your procedure to identify potential problems that might complicate surgery if not detected and treated in advance. A blood test will show if you have a blood-clotting problem and may be at risk of too much bleeding during surgery.  Urinalysis may be used to detect urinary tract infections, renal diseases and poorly controlled diabetes.

Your Primary Care Physician is the Doctor who manages your medical care. He/she will provide the appropriate information.

A patient's medical history, physical exam and labs are valid for 30 days. EKG's that are normal are valid for 90 days. These parameters may vary if the patient has comorbidities.

Most podiatry surgeries do not require an overnight stay. If your health, age and surgical procedure do not require a hospital stay after surgery, an accredited ambulatory surgery center may offer several advantages, including convenience, reduced cost and reduced potential for developing infection.

Morton's neuroma happens when the tissue around a nerve that leads to a toe thickens from irritation or compression. Pain, numbness or a burning sensation are the most common symptoms. Conservative treatment includes arch supports, orthotics or foot pads to reduce pressure on the nerve. If those remedies are not effective, steroid injections may be indicated. Severe cases may require surgery to remove pressure on the nerve, or to remove the nerve.

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that destroys the nerve fibers carrying pain signals to the brain. The benefits of radiofrequency ablation include: avoiding surgery, immediate pain relief, little to no recovery time, decreased need for pain medication, improved function, and a quicker return to work and other activities. RF is effective for many foot and ankle conditions, including neuromas, plantar fasciitis, neuritis, and nerve entrapment.

Cosmetic foot surgery is done to correct an aesthetic problem, not a medical problem. Minimally invasive cosmetic foot surgery can correct unsightly conditions such as bunions, hammertoes, corns and calluses. Other popular cosmetic foot surgery procedures include reshaping toes, narrowing of the feet and toe shortening. Toe shortening improves the shape of the feet by bringing the toes into better proportion with the rest of the foot.

If bunion surgery is performed in the area of the big toe joint, you will be instructed to remain home for at least one week with the foot elevated above the heart throughout the day. If your job requires standing or walking, you may be required to stay home from work  for six weeks. Patients may return to work sooner if they are placed in a removable below-the-knee walking cast. If the surgery is performed further back on the bone, your Surgeon may require you to wear a below-the-knee cast and use crutches for three to eight weeks. Initial bone healing takes six to eight weeks. This period of time can take longer in people who smoke.

When detected early, flatfeet can be corrected by nonsurgical treatment such as: icing, OTC anti-inflammatory medication, orthotics, physical therapy and cortisone injections. If surgery is required, the cause of the Flatfoot condition will determine the surgical procedure.  Flatfeet can result from injury, rheumatoid arthritis, tendon dysfunction and diabetic complications. Flatfoot reconstruction is a combination of surgical procedures that repair the foot's ligaments and tendons, and correct deformities of the bones to restore and support the arch.

Treatments for heel spurs and associated conditions like plantar fasciitis include exercise, custom-made orthotics, anti-inflammatory medications, and cortisone injections. If conservative treatments fail, surgery may be necessary. Gastrocnemius recession surgery or plantar fascia release surgery is usually considered only after 12 months of aggressive nonsurgical treatment.

Conservative treatment for plantar fasciitis involves rest, ice, stretching, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), and massage. Next stage treatment may include physical therapy, a night splint, orthotics, steroid injections and shockwave therapy. For patients with very serious cases a surgical procedure that removes scar tissue or that releases tension on the fascia may be indicated. 

Atrophy of the fat cushion on the bottom of the ball of foot or the heel is a common condition. Conservative remedies for heel fat pad atrophy are viscoelastic orthotic devices, heel cushions, or heel cups that provide at least 3 to 5 mm of cushion. Injections of dermal fillers and autologous fat are usually next stage remedies. Surgical graft material may be placed in the foot as well, either in a stand-alone procedure or during surgery for another condition.

Hammer toe forms because of an imbalance in the muscles, tendons, or ligaments that would normally keep the toe straight. Hammer toe is a progressive condition. If it is not treated promptly, when the condition is mild, the affected toe(s) may become rigid and require surgery. Conservative treatment includes specific exercises, stretching, proper footwear, shoe inserts and cortisone injections.

Diabetes patients are at high risk for foot complications. Diabetes can cause nerve damage in the feet. The resulting loss of sensation can make it difficult to feel injury that when left untreated can lead to major complications. Diabetes also adversely affects blood flow throughout the body. The lack of effective blood circulation makes it harder for a sore or cut to heal. If the foot sustains an injury and inadequate blood flow impairs healing, there may be a risk of the tissue developing necrosis, and eventually becoming gangrene. In serious cases, amputation is necessary to remove a toe, foot or portions of the leg with gangrene.

PreferredMD’s online service allows you to filter for Podiatrists with availability after 5 p.m. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page. 

PreferredMD’s online service uses a purple video icon on the profiles of Podiatrists who offer online video visits. You can filter your search results to show only Podiatrists who offer video consultations. 

Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same rate as in-person visits. You can search on PreferredMD specifically for Podiatrists who accept your insurance for video visits. Select your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page to verify. If that information is not available, we recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits. 

PreferredMD’s online service allows you to search specifically for Podiatrists who have appointments available before 10:00 am, or after 5:00 pm. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page. 

PreferredMD’s online service allows you to see real-time availability for Podiatrists that offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page. 

In your initial visit be prepared to provide your Podiatrist with a list of your symptoms, all medications you are taking and discuss with him/she will want to review all relevant medical records, Doctor and hospital reports, and prior diagnostic testing (including X-rays, MRIs, and lab results). You should know in advance if a procedure will be performed, you may need someone to drive you home.  You may be asked to bring your walking or exercise shoes with you to the appointment.

PreferredMD patients can often get same day appointments; on average within 24 hours. You can search for real-time availability of Podiatry consultations in your area, with Doctors who accept your insurance and make an appointment online. 

You can use PreferredMD’s online service to find Podiatrists who are highly rated by real patients. Every time a patient completes an appointment booked on PreferredMD, they are invited to review their experience. All ratings are based on verified reviews submitted by real patients. Each review must comply with PreferredMD’s guidelines. 

Now that you’re here, you can use PreferredMD’s free online service to find Podiatry consultations and book appointments instantly. You can easily search for a Podiatry Consultation in your desired location and specify your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of Doctors who meet your search criteria, accept your insurance, and their available appointment slots. 

PreferredMD’s online service allows you to filter your results for Podiatrists by gender. That way, you’ll only see Doctors who match your preferences.