Frequently asked questions
Questions we hear often
Appointments, insurance, your care, and how our specialty practices fit together.
Appointments, insurance and referrals
How do I make an appointment?
Book online through Zocdoc at any of our three offices, call 908-215-5953, or send us a message through the contact form and we’ll call you back. Please don’t include medical details in online forms; we’ll discuss them privately when we speak.
Which office should I choose?
Whichever is most convenient. Dr. Ozturk sees patients at all three offices, in Lyndhurst, Paramus and Millburn, and one phone number reaches every office. The office map on our contact page can find the office nearest your ZIP code.
Do I need a referral to see a podiatrist?
It depends on your insurance plan. Some plans require a referral from your primary care physician before a specialist visit; others don’t. Your insurance carrier can tell you what your plan requires, and our office can help when you call.
Which insurance plans do you accept?
Ozturk Foot & Ankle participates with many major insurance plans. Coverage varies by plan and service. Please contact our office or your insurance carrier to confirm benefits before your visit.
Your intake paperwork includes our written disclosure of the plans we participate in and the hospitals where Dr. Ozturk has privileges.
What if I don’t have insurance?
You’re welcome to be seen as a self-pay patient. If you don’t have insurance or aren’t using it, you have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of the expected cost before your visit.
Are visits available in Turkish?
Yes. Dr. Ozturk speaks English and Turkish. Let our office know your language preference when you schedule.
Do you see children?
Yes. We see children and teens for heel pain in young athletes, flat feet, in-toeing, warts and sports injuries.
Your care
What is a podiatrist?
A podiatrist is a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), a physician and surgeon who treats the foot, ankle and related structures of the leg. Podiatrists complete four years of podiatric medical school and a three-year hospital-based surgical residency.
Do you have X-ray on site?
Yes. X-ray and ultrasound are available on site at the practice, so imaging can often be done at the same visit; ask which office when you book. MRI and CT are arranged with outside imaging centers when needed.
Do you treat sports injuries?
Yes. Sports medicine is a large part of the practice: sprains, fractures and stress fractures, Achilles and tendon injuries, turf toe and heel pain, with a plan built around getting you back to your sport safely.
Will I need surgery?
Most foot and ankle problems get better without an operation, and we start with non-surgical care whenever it’s appropriate. When surgery is the right step, Dr. Ozturk performs it himself, at hospitals and surgery centers where he has privileges.
Do you offer shockwave therapy, laser therapy and PRP?
Yes. We offer shockwave therapy (ESWT), Class IV laser therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in the office. We’ll explain honestly what the research shows for your condition before you decide.
Do you make custom orthotics?
Yes. We make custom orthotics from a 3D scan of your feet after examining how you stand and walk. For some problems a good store-bought insert works just as well, and we’ll tell you if that’s the case.
I have diabetes. How often should my feet be checked?
At least once a year, and more often if your feet are at higher risk, for example with numbness, poor circulation, a foot deformity or a past ulcer. See us within a day or two for any sore, blister or area of redness that isn’t healing.
When is foot or ankle pain an emergency?
Seek emergency care for a bone that looks out of place or is pushing through the skin, an injury you can’t put any weight on, a foot that is cold, pale, blue or numb, or a red, hot, swollen foot, especially with fever or diabetes. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Our specialty practices
What are the Lower Extremity Nerve Institute and the Center for Lower Extremity Surgery?
They are the two specialty practices of Ozturk Foot & Ankle. The Lower Extremity Nerve Institute focuses on nerve problems of the foot, ankle and leg; the Center for Lower Extremity Surgery focuses on surgical care. Both share the same physician, offices, phone number and team, and each has its own website with in-depth guides.
Where should I book: here, the Nerve Institute or the Center?
Anywhere. All three are one practice, and every appointment is booked through the same team. If you’re not sure what you need, start here and Dr. Ozturk will guide you.
Didn’t find your answer? Contact us.
Appointments
Let’s get you back on your feet
Book online in a minute, call our team, or send us a message. We see patients in Lyndhurst, Paramus and Millburn, and one phone number reaches every office.