Have you checked out your condition on Dr. Google? If so, you’re not alone!

The internet provides lots of useful information but sometimes there’s also lots of incorrect information. We get patients all the time that are following terrible advice from the internet. Soaking your feet in baking soda to get rid of toe fungus? Spraying Windex on them? We have heard them all. How about orthotics? Sometimes patients tell us that Dr. Google says it’s better just to walk correctly instead of getting custom orthotics. Or they hear some about some homemade remedy that’s supposed to be better than surgery.

At times we tell people to research a particular procedure or condition online to get more information, but random advice from non-professionals should never replace a doctor’s diagnosis or recommendation. If you’re confused about what you’ve heard from a doctor, it’s far better to get a second opinion than go to Dr. Google.

Here’s an article that discusses this topic at length: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/turning-straw-gold/201707/dr-google-friend-or-foe

Google, we love you. Dr. Google? Not so much 🙂