I think your podiatrist handled this poorly. You asked a specialist who is already treating you whether a symptom you have is something podiatric. I would have wanted an entirely different approach from my podiatrist.
Perhaps yours believes that when treating nails and being paid for treating nails that the only question you can ask is about your nails. Any other topic requires a new appointment for that problem
If there are podiatric causes for your symptom the podiatrist is supposedly able to diagnosis the presence or absence of those causes without needing some other specialist to rule in or out other reasons.
We have had a podiatrist opine here about how he has a specific recommendation for swollen ankles, socks then a diuretic. But how can he be saying that if treating swollen ankles from fluid retention is not in his diagnostic skill set? Why would a podiatrist ever prescribe a diuretic? He has also told us that diabetes would not cause this.
I would want my podiatrist to ask me a couple questions to see if your symptoms and progression fits a podiatric disease. He said he would be happy to treat gout or arthritis or an infection but apparently is incapable of asking the questions and doing the exam to be diagnosing whether gout or arthritis or an infection is your problem.
I would want my podiatrist to rule in podiatric disease and if he does not find any podiatric disease then tell me to see my PCP. If I see my cardiologist with a complaint of shortness of breath I would hope she would ask questions and do an exam to rule out cardiac causes not tell me that it could be non-cardiac so I should go back to my internist to rule out lung cancer, asthma, TB, anxiety, and every other non-cardiac cause before she can do any evaluation.
What does the Cleveland Clinic say a podiatrist can do?
Quote:
Podiatrists can treat any common issue that affects your feet and toes, including
..
Swelling of the lower extremity.
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Apparently your podiatrist does not feel competent to diagnose a chronic swollen ankle. I'd want one who would have the skills to ask questions and do an exam before sending me to another specialist like an internist. I'd want my podiatrist to do his evaluation then tell me, yes this is a podiatry problem and here is my plan, or this is not and you need to see your internist for further evaluation.