When Should You See a Podiatrist for Foot Pain in Flushing, NY?

Foot pain is something many people in Flushing live with every day, but that doesn’t mean it’s normal. Whether you’re rushing to catch the 7 train, standing on your feet all day at work, or simply walking around your neighborhood, your feet take a beating. Ignoring the warning signs often leads to bigger, more painful problems down the road.

So how do you know when it’s time to stop waiting and schedule a visit with a podiatrist?

Let’s break it down.

Common Signs It’s Time to See a Podiatrist

• Heel pain that won’t go away – If every step feels like you’re stepping on a stone, you may have plantar fasciitis or another condition that needs professional care.

• Foot pain lasting more than two weeks – Mild aches can happen, but if pain sticks around or gets worse, don’t ignore it.

• Bunions or hammertoes – That bump on your big toe joint or curling toes can make shoes uncomfortable and may need treatment.

• Ingrown toenails or recurring infections – Painful or infected toenails should be handled by a podiatrist to avoid complications.

• Diabetes-related foot concerns – If you have diabetes, regular foot care is essential to prevent serious complications.

  
  

Why Seeing a Podiatrist Early Matters

Waiting until the pain is unbearable often means longer recovery times and more aggressive treatments. Early intervention can:

• Prevent small issues from becoming major problems

• Keep you active and mobile

• Save you time, discomfort, and long-term costs

Foot Care for Flushing Residents

Living in Queens means lots of walking, long commutes, and plenty of time on your feet. It’s no surprise that foot problems are common here. The good news? You don’t have to live with pain.

At our Flushing podiatry office, we offer advanced treatments for heel pain, bunions, ingrown toenails, plantar warts, and more. From custom orthotics to modern solutions

like shockwave therapy, we help our patients get back on their feet quickly.

Schedule an Appointment in Flushing

If you’re wondering whether it’s time to see a podiatrist, the answer is simple: if foot pain is interfering with your life, it’s time. Don’t wait until it gets worse.

Book your visit with our experienced podiatrist in Flushing today and take the first step toward healthier, pain-free feet.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis and How Can I Treat It?

If you’ve ever stepped out of bed in the morning and felt a sharp pain in your heel, you’re not alone. Heel pain is one of the most common foot problems we treat in our Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Flushing offices — and the leading cause is plantar fasciitis.

But what exactly is plantar fasciitis, and what can you do about it? Let’s break it down.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, connecting your heel to your toes. Its job is to support your arch and absorb the shock when you walk.

When this tissue becomes irritated or inflamed, it causes plantar fasciitis — a condition that can make every step painful, especially those first few steps in the morning or after sitting for a while.

Common symptoms include:

• Heel pain that’s worse in the morning

• Stabbing or burning sensation in the heel or arch

• Pain that improves slightly with movement but returns after rest

• Tenderness along the bottom of the foot

  
  

What Causes Plantar

Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis can affect anyone, but certain factors increase your risk, such as:

• Walking long distances on hard surfaces (hello, NYC sidewalks!)

• Flat feet or high arches

• Wearing unsupportive shoes

• Sudden increases in activity or exercise

• Occupations that require standing all day

  
  

How Can I Treat Plantar Fasciitis?

The good news? Plantar fasciitis is treatable — and most patients improve with a combination of at-home care and professional treatment.

At-home remedies:

• Rest: Avoid activities that make your heel pain worse.

• Stretching: Gentle calf and arch stretches can reduce tension on the fascia.

• Ice: Applying ice to your heel for 15–20 minutes helps reduce inflammation.

• Supportive shoes or orthotics: Proper arch support makes a big difference.

  
  

Professional treatments we offer:

• Custom orthotics to support your foot mechanics.

• Corticosteroid injections for stubborn inflammation.

• Shockwave therapy – a cutting-edge option that uses sound waves to stimulate healing in chronic cases.

• Surgery (rare) for severe, persistent plantar fasciitis that doesn’t respond to other treatments.

  
  

When Should You See a Podiatrist?

If heel pain is interfering with your daily life, lasting more than a couple of weeks, or keeps coming back, it’s time to see a podiatrist. Early treatment prevents the condition from becoming chronic and much harder to manage.

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment in Manhattan, Brooklyn & Flushing

Living with heel pain is frustrating, but you don’t have to. At Total Foot & Ankle Care, our experienced podiatrists use the latest technology, including custom orthotics, shockwave therapy, and advanced treatment plans, to help patients find lasting relief.

Schedule an appointment today at our Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Flushing locations and take the first step toward pain-free walking.

Does Swift Therapy Really Work for Plantar Warts?

Walking around Manhattan in flip-flops seemed like a great idea until you picked up that stubborn plantar wart. Now, months later, you've tried every drugstore remedy imaginable, and that annoying bump on your foot is still there, maybe even bigger than before.

If this sounds familiar, you're definitely not alone. We see patients at our Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Flushing offices all the time who've been battling the same wart for months or even years. The good news? There's a newer treatment called Swift therapy that's been a game-changer for many of our patients.

What Are These Stubborn Things Anyway?

Plantar warts are basically your foot's unwanted houseguests. They're caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) that sneaks in through tiny cuts on your feet (think public pools, gym showers, or even just walking barefoot around the city). Unlike warts elsewhere on your body, plantar warts get pushed inward from all the pressure of walking, which makes them particularly stubborn.

You'll know you're dealing with one if you notice a rough, grainy bump on the bottom of your foot that hurts when you press on it or walk. Sometimes they look like thick calluses, but if you look closely, you might see tiny black dots—those are actually clotted blood vessels, not dirt.

The frustrating thing about plantar warts is they're contagious and persistent. You can spread them to other parts of your foot or pass them to family members, and they have an annoying habit of coming back even after you think they're gone.

What Is Swift Therapy?

Swift therapy takes a completely different approach than those painful freezing treatments or harsh acid applications you might have tried. Instead of trying to burn or cut out the wart, Swift uses controlled microwave energy to heat up the infected tissue and essentially wake up your immune system.

Think of it this way: your immune system hasn't been recognizing the virus as a threat, so it's been ignoring it. Swift gives your body a gentle nudge to say, "Hey, there's something here that doesn't belong," and then your own immune system does the heavy lifting.

Does It Actually Work?

Here's what we've seen in our practices: Swift has been incredibly effective, especially for those stubborn warts that laugh in the face of over-the-counter treatments. Clinical studies show success rates around 83% after just 3-4 treatments spaced about a month apart.

What our patients love most about Swift:

• It's genuinely quick. We're talking 5-10 minutes total, and you're done.

• No recovery time. You can literally walk out and catch the subway to work.

• No open wounds. Unlike freezing or cutting, there's nothing to bandage or keep dry.

• It's tolerable. Most people describe it as feeling like a brief hot sensation—uncomfortable for a few seconds, but nothing compared to liquid nitrogen.

• It works on resistant cases. We've had success with warts that have been around for years and haven't responded to anything else.

What's It Really Like?

When you come in for Swift treatment, we'll clean the area and then apply the microwave probe directly to the wart. You'll feel heat for about 2-3 seconds per application—some people compare it to someone pressing a warm coffee mug against their foot. We typically do several applications in one session, but the whole thing is over quickly.

The best part? You walk out normally. No limping, no special shoes, no keeping your foot dry for days. You can head straight back to work or hit the gym if you want.

Don't expect the wart to disappear overnight, though. Your immune system needs time to do its job—usually a few weeks to a couple of months. But unlike surface treatments that just remove the visible part, Swift is working to eliminate the virus itself, which means a much lower chance of the wart coming back.

Is Swift Right for Your Situation?

Swift tends to work well for most people, but it's especially worth considering if you've been dealing with warts that won't quit, you're tired of painful treatments, or you just want something that won't disrupt your busy NYC lifestyle.

During your consultation at any of our offices, we can take a look at your specific situation and let you know if Swift makes sense for you. Every wart is a little different, and we want to make sure you're getting the treatment that's most likely to work.

Ready to finally say goodbye to those stubborn plantar warts? Let's talk about whether Swift therapy could be your solution.