Your feet are complex and endure stress every day. Pain is common, and many people avoid seeing a podiatrist because of myths. Worse, they may use at-home remedies that cause more harm. It’s essential to understand the truth about foot care. Use the helpful guide below so you truly know how to care for your feet.

Foot Care Myths Debunked

1. You Can’t Walk on a Broken Foot or Ankle

A broken bone doesn’t render your foot useless. While extremely painful, some people have a higher tolerance and can still walk. Some partial fractures also don’t render the joint useless, which is why some people can still walk.

Don’t delay an exam because you can walk on the foot. You may further break or dislocate the bone. If it doesn’t heal properly, you may develop a limited range of motion and joint pain.

See a podiatrist; they can properly diagnose which bones are broken and then create a treatment plan to get you back on your feet. Depending on the severity, a podiatrist will provide a supportive boot, joint brace, or cast to immobilize the joint while it heals.

2. Cutting a Notch Alleviates Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails develop when the toenail curls and grows downward into the skin. Many people go through the painful process of cutting a V into the toenail to stop it. However, this doesn’t halt downward growth. You may accidentally cut skin and introduce bacteria that cause an infection.

Ingrown toenails only worsen, which is why you need a proper exam. A podiatrist will numb the toe and surgically remove the ingrown nail. They’ll then show you how to cut your toenails to prevent future issues.

3. Podiatrists Can’t Fix Broken Toes

A podiatrist is the only person who can ensure a broken toe heals properly because they’re foot experts. Poor healing could result in arthritis and deformities. They’ll assess the severity of the break and then create a treatment plan. Rest often resolves most breaks.

They may fix a splint to hold the bones in place or tape the toe to its neighbor. This is an effective treatment for most cases. If a break is bad enough, they’ll also perform surgery. Examples include bone that has broken the skin, multiple bone fractures, or when two pieces of a broken bone dislocate from one another.

If you’re looking for a podiatrist in Cleveland, OH, contact Dr. Eric D. Trattner. Dr. Trattner and his team provide a variety of services. He’s a skilled foot and ankle surgeon and addresses everything from corns and callouses to heel spurs. Call (440) 333-5350 to schedule an exam and visit the website to learn more about the practice.