Question 1

What is a Podiatrist?

Accepted Answer

A Podiatrist is a university qualified healthcare professional who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions affecting the feet, ankles, and lower limbs. They help people manage issues like foot pain, injuries, skin and nail disorders, and even complications related to diabetes. Podiatrists play a crucial role in improving mobility and overall foot health, ensuring that people can walk comfortably and live active.

A podiatrist provides footcare to those in pain (ingrown nails, corns/callous/cracks) or to those that can't manage their own footcare (ie the elderly or diabetic).  They can assess your foot health for circulation and sensation issues or arthritic conditions.

Unlike the local nail salon, they must be registered and meet certain infection control standards, have appropriate insurances and update their education constantly. They come under the guidance of the Podiatry Board of Australia.

A podiatrist can also access and manage musculoskeletal injuries from work or sport.  Not only to the foot, but up the whole lower limb and spine.  A podiatrist can access your biomechanics and gait (via slow motion recording on a treadmill) walking or running and advise on appropriate footwear, padding or orthotics.

Don't be embarrassed about your feet, that is their job, a podiatrist has seen it all before. (chances are that beneath their shoes, a podiatrist too has ugly feet)

Question 2

Do you perform permanent Ingrown toenail operations?

Accepted Answer

Yes.
Ben has a particular keen interest in 'partial nail avulsions with matrix sterilization (phenol)'. 
A fancy term for permanently removing the offending nail edge. Suitable for those that regularly suffer painful or infected ingrown toenails. Or those in active jobs or hobbies/sports. 
The procedure is done under sterile conditions to avoid infection, under a local anesthetic. The end result- the thin strip of nail removed doesn't return.

Question 3

Do you provide general routine footcare?

Accepted Answer

Yes.
Ben is happy to provide one off or regular footcare for those that can't manage their own. Or if their feet are too difficult to manage yourself. Be it thick or curved nails, or painful callous/corns. Or maybe your health requires more specialized care, for example poor circulation/sensation to the feet as suffered by diabetics.

Question 4

What are our opening hours?

Accepted Answer

Ben works Monday to Saturday on demand. Offering flexible hours to fit your work or life schedule. Call or email him for an appointment.

Question 5

Does Ben supply orthoses? Do i need them?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ben can assess your biomechanics and gait and supply the appropriate orthoses for your feet, your injury and your lifestyle.

Either custom made or prefabricated devices, depending on your foot type, occupation/sport and budget.

Question 6

Do I need orthoses?

Accepted Answer

Well, that depends. Some do, some don't. Ben does not sell orthoses to every patient that walks through the door.

They definitely help settle the pain, speed up the recovery and avoid reinjury, however orthoses are only one piece of the puzzle.  There is usually more than one underlying factor involved. Ben has numerous treatment options available to offer you: Exercise rehabilitation, footwear, taping/bracing, Shockwave therapy, etc..

But that cannot be answered until a thorough history and examination has taken place.

Question 7

What is Shockwave Therapy? How many sessions do I need?

Accepted Answer

Shockwave therapy uses acoustic waves to basically kickstart the healing process of the injured tissues again. Ben uses it on chronic injuries that have failed to respond to standard treatments.

Some patients respond in 1-3 sessions, others need 5-6 to get full benefit. Best results are achieved in conjunction with load management and exercise rehabilitation.

Question 8

Should i rest my injury?

Accepted Answer

Load management is key to settling pain or other symptoms. Some athletes can keep running to a modified degree, others need to pause for a week or so. This depends upon the severity of injury and tissues involved. 
However, absolute rest or immobilization should be kept to an absolute minimum, depending upon the injury. Ben encourages the patient to begin rehab as soon as their injury allows to avoid unnecessary deconditioning (resulting in a longer recovery period).
Ben does have options to facilitate a quicker return to work or play, such as orthoses, taping, Shockwave (and Laser coming soon).

Question 9

Why can't i just follow the Plantar fasciitis (or any injury) guidelines i see on social media or Dr Google?

Accepted Answer

Injuries are multifactorial, with many risk factors at play. Following a standard 'recipe' for a set injury may help, it may do nothing, or it may make things worse.
What works for one person may not work for another. If you don't address the specific underlying factors behind your injury/body/lifestyle, the device or action won't resolve your injury.
The body is complex. There is also the possibility the injury is something else, another structure within that area.

Consult an expert to get a correct diagnosis and rehab plan suited to you.

Question 10

What exercises can i do to heal my injury? How long do I have to do them for?

Accepted Answer

Again, that depends upon the injury, the underlying causes, your body type, your strength or mobility deficits, the physical demands of your occupation or activities you plan to return to, etc...

Following a thorough history, examination and assessment, Ben will prescribe a manageable number of exercises relative to your specific needs. These will take into account your current symptoms and capabilities, with the aim to address any deficits observed, taking into account time and equipment available. They will progress in volume, intensity or complexity as you improve.

How long? This will depend on how big the gap is between your current capacity to tolerate load (exercise) and your desired capacity (the activities or sport you wish to return to).  Unfortunately, some injuries take longer than others.

Often we find areas of weakness further up the leg that need addressing too, especially around the hip/core.

Question 11

Can i claim Podiatry through my Private Health Insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we can swipe your card through the Hicaps terminal and process your refund immediately.

Question 12

Can I claim through DVA or Workcover?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if you qualify and have the correct paperwork from your GP or case officer.

Question 13

Can i claim Podiatry through Medicare?

Accepted Answer

Yes, IF you meet the criteria for an Enhanced Primary Care Plan which needs to be set up by your GP. 
Unfortunately, we cannot Bulk Bill, there will be a gap payment. Our consultations are longer and more comprehensive than others. But we do our best to help those in need.

Question 14

Where is Ben Steele Podiatry located?

Accepted Answer

Ben has set up this clinic out of his house, in a large purposefully converted, air-conditioned garage. But rest assured, the set up is first class with all the equipment necessary to provide a quality service.  
A hydraulic chair, vacuum drill, vascular doppler machine, autoclave for comfortable and safe footcare. 
A treadmill, slow motion video and gym to assess your individual needs.
A workstation for orthotic or footwear adjustments.
A Shockwave machine as part of injury rehab management.

He is also not so stressed to pump out 15-20 clients a day, allowing a more relaxed and thorough consultation.

He is located at 16 Haslewood Court Mermaid Waters. Easy parking out front.

Question 15

Do you address sports or work injuries?

Accepted Answer

Yes.
Ben Steele Podiatry specializes in the rehabilitation of all sorts of Lower Limb injuries. Or biomechanical concerns.

All types of Musculoskeletal injuries involving muscle, tendon, ligament and bone. ie plantar fasciopathy, Achilles Tendinopathy, bunions, stress fractures, ankle sprains, Morton's neuromas, heel spurs, shin splints.

Biomechanical concerns like flat feet, pronation, high arched feet, limb length discrepancies can influence injuries higher up the legs/pelvis/spine. Especially if you stand for prolonged periods or walk or run a lot of kilometers.

The footwear you wear can also impact your sore feet. Not just at work or during sport, but also our day to day footwear and around the home.  Ben can assess and advise you on appropriate (but still fashionable) footwear.

Question 16

What does a Podiatrist do?

Accepted Answer

Simple answer- anything feet related.
Ben Steele Podiatry provides footcare, biomechanical/gait analysis, injury diagnosis and management. Footwear advice.
Footcare can include toenail cutting/filing/burring, debriding corns/callous/cracks, sanding back dry skin, massaging feet.
Injury management can include plantar fasciopathy, achilles tendinopathy, forefoot and toe pain, ankle issues, shin/knee/hip/back issues.  The way we stand/walk/run influences the loads through these joints/muscles/tendons/bones.  A podiatrist can address malalignment and help reduce the load on the injured tissues.

Question 17

Appointment Availability?

Accepted Answer

Ben runs a very relaxed clinic, not pumping through 20+ clients a day. He has flexibility. He will do all he can to fit you in, to suit your busy life. The advantage of working from home, he can schedule you in whenever suits.
Feet can be painful to get around on, Ben will do all he can to fit you in at the earliest convenience.

Call 041 951 0745

FAQ