Orthopedic doctor or podiatrist, which to choose?
Back in the 90s, when I had Haglund's Deformity (Bauer's Bump, named after hockey brand). . . I actually wasn't seeing a professional for it. I was "skating through the pain." Rather, I went to an orthopedic doctor for another issue; a HUGE bump above my left ankle, on the outside of my leg. It was caused by breaking in those Riedell skates. It was so big, that it caused the bottom of my foot to go numb when in skates. The orthopedic surgeon took MRIs and a biopsy of it. Because it was affecting a nerve to the foot, the surgeon removed it in a real operation. It was a ganglion cyst. In time, I healed 100%.
Anyway, the orthopedic surgeon had a podiatrist in the office with him (part of HMO where specialty doctors worked together in same office). Both worked on my feet, one on the ankle bump and the other on the Bauer Bump. I was cured.
Then, after having baby #2, I developed very bad plantar facitis. This was caused by pregnancy hormones which loosened all ligaments/tendons, but especially this one. I started at a podiatrist, who sent me to physical therapy, who sent me to an orthopedic doctor after thinking I had internal "lumps & bumps" inside my foot, who did MRIs, who then said nothing major/cancer (yeah, he used that word) was wrong, back to podiatrist . . . Anyhow, I discovered yoga. Basically, yoga's intensive stretching and breathing oxygen helped heal it. The physical therapist was trying to stretch me a day a week, but yoga each day is what cured me.
Anyhow, the devil should make me an Olympic champion. Cuz, he sure has done a number on my tootsies.