| The American College of Foot and Ankle | | | | most bunions is an inherited faulty structure of a |
| Surgeons have heard all the myths about foot | | | | person's foot. Certain types of feet are more |
| care. However, myths concerning health can have | | | | prone to developing a bunion and although some |
| serious consequences if doctors aren't consulted | | | | treatments can alleviate the pain, only surgery |
| to set the facts straight. Here are five podiatry | | | | can correct the deformity. |
| myths that numerous patients have reported, and | | | | "Doctors can't fix a broken toe." Of the 26 bones |
| the truth behind them. | | | | in the foot, 19 are toe bones. If a broken toe is |
| "Cutting a V notch into a toenail will relieve the | | | | not treated correctly, wearing shoes and walking |
| pain of ingrown toenails." The reality of this myth | | | | may prove difficult. Doctors can x-ray the toe to |
| is that cutting the nail does not affect the angle | | | | learn about the fracture and, if the toe is out of |
| of the toenail growth. The nail will continue to | | | | alignment, a pin, screw, or plate can be inserted |
| grown downward into the skin and cutting a "V" | | | | to reposition the bone. |
| may cause more problems and pain. | | | | "Corns have roots." Corns are small build-ups of |
| "If I can walk on my foot or ankle, it must not be | | | | skin caused by friction. The cause of the condition |
| broken." The truth is that it's very possible tto | | | | is usually a hammertoe deformity, where the |
| walk on a broken foot or ankle but it depends on | | | | knuckle rubs against the shoe. Corns have a |
| the severity of the injury and the individual | | | | central core of hard material but they do not |
| threshold for pain. Continuing to walk on it can | | | | have roots. Attempting to cut off a corn or |
| cause further damage. | | | | applying medicated corn pads can lead to serious |
| "Bunions are caused by shoes." The source of | | | | infection. |