Orthopedic Surgeons vs. Podiatrists: What’s the Difference and Who Should You See?

When you’re dealing with foot or leg pain, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the different medical specialties. Two types of doctors you might hear about are orthopedic surgeons and podiatrists. They both treat conditions that affect the bones, joints, and muscles—but there are key differences in their training, focus, and the types of problems they treat.

Let’s break it down in simple terms.

What Is an Orthopedic Surgeon?

An orthopedic surgeon is a medical doctor (MD or DO). They go to medical school or Osteopathic school and once finished, can become any of the specialist you commonly think of as “Doctors”. We could be your family doctor, cardiologist or Orthopedic surgeon. Orthopedic surgeons specialize in the entire musculoskeletal system from the base of the head all the way to the tip of the toes.

Orthopedic surgeons treat everything from broken bones to torn ligaments, and they can perform surgery on any part of the body, including the spine, shoulders, hips, knees, and feet. Some orthopedic surgeons further specialize in certain areas, like Sports Medicine, Joint Replacement, Pediatrics, Tumors, Hand, Shoulders, Spine, and even Foot and Ankle.

Education and Training:

What Is a Podiatrist?

A podiatrist is a doctor who focuses specifically on the feet. They can prescribe medication (for treatment of the foot only) and even perform surgeries on the foot. Their official title is DPM or Doctor of Podiatric Medicine just like your veterinarian is a DVM (Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine) and your dentist is a DDS (Doctor of Dental Science).

Podiatrists are licensed to care for and even operate on the foot. Through the court system, not legislation, they have “expanded” the definition of “foot” to include the ankle and leg! Who knew your foot went all the way up to your knee! Remember, “Doctor” is a somewhat vague term. My pastor is a doctor (Th.D) and Dr. Jill is a doctor (ED.D)

Education and Training:

Podiatrist

4 years of podiatric “medical” school

3 years of podiatric residency (focused solely on foot and ankle care)

Orthopedic Surgeon

4 years of comprehensive medical school (Getting into medical school is extremely hard as most podiatrist found out the hard way!)

5 years general orthopedic residency

1-2 years fellowship in a subspecialty of Orthopedics

What’s the Main Difference?

The biggest differences are scope and experience.

Orthopedic surgeons are trained in and taught to treat the entire body’s musculoskeletal system as well as the systems that sustain and control body. We are doctors of the whole body with feet being one part of the whole body.

Podiatrists specialize only in the feet with no or only rudimentary training/understanding of the complex parts of you attached to those feet.

Think of it like this: if you’re having foot and ankle problem, pain let’s say and suspect it’s part of a larger issue—like hip or knee misalignment, Low back problems, or systemic conditions—a visit to an orthopedic surgeon might be a better first step. But if your issue is clearly centered in your foot or ankle (like toenail issues, callouses or non-complex foot problems), a podiatrist can be a substitute provider.

Final Thoughts

Both orthopedic surgeons and podiatrists play roles in keeping us moving and pain-free. The right choice depends on your specific issue, but you can always start with your primary care doctor for a referral if you’re unsure.

Remember: Taking foot or joint pain seriously can help you avoid bigger problems down the road—so don’t wait to seek expert care.