After seeing foot and ankle patients for more than 30 years, I have heard many myths about foot care. Misinformation can pose risks, so
it’s important to sort fact from fiction when it concerns your health.
Here are five common myths about foot care and the realities behind them.
Myth: My foot or ankle can’t be broken if I can walk on it.
Reality: It’s entirely possible to walk on a foot or ankle with a broken bone. It depends on your threshold for pain, as well as the severity of
the injury. But it’s not a smart idea. Walking with a broken bone can cause further damage.
It is crucial to stay off an injured foot until diagnosis by a foot and ankle surgeon. Until then, apply ice and elevate the foot to reduce pain.
Myth: Cutting a notch or “V” in a toenail will relieve the pain of ingrown toenails.
Reality: When a toenail is ingrown, the nail curves downward and grows into the skin. Cutting a “V” in the toenail does not affect its
growth. New nail growth will continue to curve downward. Cutting a “V” may actually cause more problems and is painful in many cases.
Myth: Shoes cause bunions.
Reality: Bunions are most often caused by an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot. The bunion itself is not inherited, but certain foot types make a person prone to developing a bunion.
While wearing shoes that crowd the toes together can, over time, make bunions more painful, shoes themselves do not cause bunions.
Although some treatments can ease the pain of bunions, only surgery can correct the deformity.
Myth: A doctor can’t fix a broken toe.
Reality: Nineteen of the 26 bones in the foot are toe bones. There are things foot and ankle surgeons can do to make a broken toe heal
better and prevent problems later on, like arthritis or toe deformities.
Broken toes that aren’t treated correctly can also make walking and wearing shoes difficult. X-raying the toe will reveal more about the
fracture. If the broken toe is out of alignment, a pin, screw or plate may need to be inserted to reposition the bone.
Myth: Corns have roots.
Reality: A corn is a small buildup of skin caused by friction. Many corns result from a hammertoe deformity, where the toe knuckle rubs
against the shoe. The only way to eliminate these corns is to surgically correct the hammertoe condition.
Unlike a callus, a corn has a central core of hard material. But corns do not have roots. Attempting to cut off a corn or applying medicated
corn pads can lead to serious infection or even amputation. A foot and ankle surgeon can safely evaluate and treat corns and the conditions contributing to them.
The internet is a wonderful tool, but not all sources of information can be trusted. For accurate information about foot and ankle conditions,
visit foothealthfacts.org.
To schedule an appointment for a foot or ankle issue, contact Wentz Foot & Ankle Specialists at 719-539-6600.
Dr. Ralph Wentz is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon and a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.