In most cases, you'll walk out of your podiatrist's office a lot more comfortable than when you came in. They are however never routine. If your doctor orders X-rays of your feet before he has even looked at them, find another doctor. If you have a structural foot problem such as a corn due to a hammertoe or underlying bone spur, your podiatrist may need to take an X-ray of your foot. X-rays may also be necessary to locate a foreign body such as a pin or a piece of leaded glass.
Nobody likes X-rays.
Fortunately, the X-ray machines used by most podiatrists are similar to the low dose machines used by dentists. The exposure you receive will be a small fraction of that from a large X-ray machine. It is still strongly recommended, though, that you insist on having a lead apron placed over your body. These portable machines allow a doctor to instantly scan your bones in the same way that a fluoroscope is used. This allows the doctor to immediately determine if a bone is broken, for instance.