Podiatrist or Chiropodist?

I have an excellent podiatrist who over the years has helped me with orthotics and as a result sorted my knee problems.
He feels very much like a “top end” foot doctor, with all the modern computer equipment to look at how I walk.
Both OH and I are at the stage in our lives where we are getting toe and toenail problems and we need someone professional to sort us out. I’m reluctant to ask my podiatrist to do this as it feels that asking him to cut tough nails and sort out ingrowing nails is a bit beneath him, but maybe I’m wrong.
Is there a difference between podiatrists and chiropodists in France? And are the latter more likely to do what we need?

I’d ask your podiatrist who will tell you if what you want isn’t what they do and in that case no doubt recommend someone who does.

2 Likes

My podiatrist is straight out with the snips if she feels they are necessary without asking on my part. She tells me that it is part of her job!

3 Likes

It’s what they do… their stock-in-trade.
My feet were terrible and as a T2 diabetic, I have an ordonance from my MT for free visits to the Podiatrist every 2 months and since these consultations began, the condition of my feet have improved immensely to the extent that my endocrinologist comments favourably at each consultation.

2 Likes

What he says.

2 Likes

My podiatrist does sessions for “soins” as well as the interventionist stuff, same price, same person and I gained the impression that he considered this very much part of his role in looking after my feet. But sadly he is off on long term sick and unlikely to return. So I have transferred to a “cabinet pédicurie et podologie”. There there is a pédologue who does the “soins” and a pedologist who doe the other stuff.

The institut de beauté also does pedicures that include nail cutting and hard skin smoothing, but I wouldn’t go to them for more than that.
Don’t quite know what a chiropodist is in France?

1 Like

Podologue - 100%

1 Like

I’ve been looking for an answer to the same question and saw this thread from last year.

The reason I’m looking is because of a long-standing fungal nail problem so I would have thought is was a bit borderline as to who I should see? I’ve never visited a podologue or podiatrist or whatever either here or in the UK so am a bit at sea…

Personally, I’d show my Doc… and be guided by him… (just a thought…)

1 Like

I did think about that but each time I’ve seen the doc lately it’s been for something considerably more important so I haven’t felt I wanted to extend the rdv. You’re probably right though… :thinking:

1 Like

I’d forgotten I posted this. In the end I asked his secretary and she pointed me in the direction of his wife who also worked at the clinic and did the stuff he thought beneath him! In fact I wouldn’t go back to her - I’ve seen someone more local who gets good reviews and has a good website explaining what he does - I’d try him next time. (My MT would be hopeless at this - he never recommends anyone and expects me to find my own specialists.)
Look for the word “pedicure” in what they do.
Do you have anyone you could ask? I found my podiatrist on word of mouth.

1 Like

Thanks Sue. We’re running out of topics for the conversation group - perhaps I could raise it there :rofl:

My MT rarely recommends anyone either - I understand it could be seen as corruption since these people are sort-of private. Most of the people I know round here are younger than me so are unlikely to be using the facility - will think about who I could ask…

I did wonder whether a pharmacy might tell you? We live in ours these days (sadly!). I got my info from a friend of the pharmacist’s wife - hearsay really, but it worked.

1 Like

That’s an idea, @SuePJ - thanks!

1 Like

You want a pédicure médicale and your Dr should prescribe it rather than you going there directly. But do ask around to get intel :slightly_smiling_face:

3 Likes

Thanks @vero - I’ve made a note of the term and will ask her when I next go. Will be useful to find out who there is locally though so will follow up on Sue’s suggestions as well.

2 Likes

Have you previously had the prescribed topical treatment? I think you can buy l’amorolfine and ciclopirax nail varnish over the counter, which works for some.

After years of trying everything - from tea tree oil (not bad) to vicks vapour rub (useless) and these nail varnish treatments (marginal) the only thing that seems to have worked is getting the oral antifungals from my GP. Very hard on the liver, so not a popular choice.

I haven’t had treatment prescribed before @JaneJones but like you have tried various of the proprietary varnish-type ones, some of which were completely useless and one was, as you describe, marginal.

Never tried tea tree oil but was recommended neem oil (which works well on various fungal infections in the garden apparently) and gave that a go. To be fair, it might have worked if I’d persisted but it was such ghastly stuff, I abandoned it :rofl:

My last visit to a podiatrist was basically a pedicure, but with a scalpel!
I do watch a lot of foot treatments :scream:

Could you please edit that to show a less repulsive thumbnail (no pun intended!)

1 Like