An emergency podiatrist isn't necessarily an emergency room (ER) professional. You'll need to see an ER professional if your issue is life-threatening. That said, an emergency podiatrist can handle minor emergencies—that is, issues that aren't life-threatening, like an ingrown toenail, a common diabetic wound, a broken ankle, a tendon rupture, a foot sprain, plantar fasciitis, or a painful neuroma. You can go see an emergency podiatrist for any minor but urgent issue. The nice thing about seeing an emergency podiatrist over your primary care doctor or a regular podiatrist is that the emergency podiatrist can address the problem directly. Here at Bay Area Foot and Ankle Associates, we have emergency podiatrists you can come see right away for a same-day appointment. They can provide surgery when necessary.