The facts about feet: knowing the truth can keep your feet healthy.

 
 

“Don’t cross your eyes, they’ll stay that way!”

Old wives’ tales and myths like that example are fun to laugh at. But there are other myths that are no laughing matter, especially when they involve your health. Some foot care myths are so common we may think they’re fact. Instead, this only causes problems in keeping our feet healthy.

Some believe that cutting a notch (a V) in an ingrown toenail relieves the pain. Not only does this not relieve the pain, it may actually cause greater problems and discomfort. If you have an ingrown toenail, call our office to schedule an appointment. In many cases, a simple 10-minute surgical procedure will ease the pain and cure the ingrown toenail permanently.

Have you heard that walking on an injured foot means it isn’t broken?

However, it is possible to walk on a broken foot or ankle, depending on the severity of the injury and your threshold for pain. Not only can walking on a broken foot make the injury worse, it can also lead to serious complications. Stay off an injured foot until it’s examined by your foot and ankle surgeon.

Another myth is that shoes cause bunions, which is not the case. Although wearing shoes that crowd the toes together can, over time, make bunions more painful, bunions are most often caused by an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot. Only surgery can correct a bunion.

We’ve heard some say that a doctor can’t fix a broken toe. The truth is that broken toes left untreated may develop arthritis or become deformed, making wearing shoes and walking difficult. It is important to see your foot and ankle surgeon if you think your toe may be broken.

Has someone told you that foot pain is normal as we get older? The reality is that foot pain is not normal at any age. Your foot and ankle surgeon can provide relief for many painful conditions such as arthritis, corns, bunions, hammertoes, and complications of diabetes. Call our office to schedule an appointment.