The smartphone hasn’t just transformed the
way you communicate. It has also significantly altered the way you see and
access healthcare. With Google search at your fingertips, you can easily
research an ailment and find ways to self-treat it. Hence it is no wonder that
almost every ache and pain today is at the mercy of Dr. Google. It’s true that
rising healthcare costs, steep insurance deductibles, and the frenetic schedule
of modern-day living has made it difficult for people to seek the advice of experienced
doctors. As a result, they turn to Google to find cheaper self-help options and
it’s no different for foot ailments.
Though Google can be a valuable resource to help you understand what’s troubling you, it’s important to realize when things demand a specialist’s care. Google search results should never be followed blindly. It is necessary to understand when you can treat yourself safely and when you are required to visit your doctor. When it comes to foot ailments, here are the top four reasons why you shouldn’t rely on Google search to play the doctor:
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| Image Courtesy: Pixabay |
Though Google can be a valuable resource to help you understand what’s troubling you, it’s important to realize when things demand a specialist’s care. Google search results should never be followed blindly. It is necessary to understand when you can treat yourself safely and when you are required to visit your doctor. When it comes to foot ailments, here are the top four reasons why you shouldn’t rely on Google search to play the doctor:
1.
Your Generic Symptoms May Have Other
Underlying Causes
A Google search on swelling
and pain in the lower leg may bring you search results that suggest elevating
your lower leg or using ice packs on the affected area. But your condition may
have underlying causes such as blood clots, tendon tears, peripheral venous
insufficiency, etc. Since Google can’t distinguish between these root causes,
you need to see a podiatrist who would be able to find the root cause and
suggest the proper course of treatment. If you decide to rely on Google, you
may end up doing more harm than good to your leg, and in the long-run, your
overall health as well.
2.
Unreliability of Information Available
The results a Google
search yield varies from reputed sites and blogs of podiatrists to common
people who just share their opinions and suggestions. Thus, the information you
depend on for treating your foot ailments on your own may often be unreliable
as you can’t know whether the person giving the suggestions or talking about
the treatment methods are really qualified to do it.
3. Risky to Play Doctor Without Proper
Diagnosis
Foot doctors can prescribe
different diagnostic tests such as x-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, blood tests, etc.
to find out the underlying problems triggering your foot ailments. Based on the
results of the test they can decide on the proper course of treatment. To
understand why this is way better than relying on Google, imagine a scenario
where a runner is down with leg pain and swelling. In case the runner has Deep Vein
Thrombosis (DVT) or an undetected blood clot, leaving it untreated could result
in its migration into the brain and lungs, which could turn fatal. Seeking
medical attention, in this case, would mean a quick diagnosis via a Doppler or a venogram. This
will help in identifying the condition quickly and blood thinners, if needed, could be started.
4.
The Absence of Personalized Treatment
Plans
Google won’t understand what is triggering
your foot ailment. The same condition, say foot pain and swelling, in A, could
be caused by poor biomechanics or cholesterol-lowering meds, while in B, ill-fitting
shoes or tendonitis caused by overuse could be to blame. Approaching a foot
doctor would mean personalized treatment for the exact cause which Google can’t
provide.
In conclusion, it is safe to say that
Google can be used as an adjunct for treating foot ailments but not as a
replacement for an in-person assessment by an experienced podiatrist.
