2/4/10
Ask the Doc about six myths about foot care
By Dr. Beryl Bachus-Keith

Dr. Beryl Bachus-Keith

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

Old wives’ tales and myths like that example are fun to laugh at. We believed them as children. “Step on a crack and you’ll break your mother’s back.” But there are other myths that are no laughing matter, especially when they involve your health.

From bunions to broken toes, foot and ankle surgeon Stephen Corey, DPM, FACFAS of Pee Dee Foot Center, has heard it all.

Dr. Corey treats patients at offices in Manning, Kingstree and Lake City. He shares six myths about foot care and the realities behind them.

Myth: Cutting a notch (a “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: 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,” says Dr. Corey. “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: Shoes cause bunions.

Reality: Bunions are most often caused by an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot. It is not the bunion itself that is 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: 19 of the 26 bones in the foot are toe bones.

“What I tell patients is, there are things we can do to make a broken toe heal better and prevent problems later on, like arthritis or toe deformities,” Corey says.

Broken toes that aren’t treated correctly can also make walking and wearing shoes difficult. A foot and ankle surgeon will x-ray the toe to learn more about the fracture. If the broken toe is out of alignment, the surgeon may have to insert a pin, screw or plate to reposition the bone.

Myth: Corns have roots.

Reality: A corn is a small build-up of skin caused by friction. Dr. Corey says 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.

Myth: Diabetics can take care of their own foot problem.

Reality: “When you have diabetes, especially diabetic neuropathy, a minor cut on your foot can turn into a catastrophe,” says Corey. “The statistics on diabetic ulcers are sobering.”

• Twenty percent of diabetes patients who develop ulcers will require an amputation.

• Patients who are African American, Hispanic and Native American are twice as likely as whites to need a diabetes-related amputation. •

Half of all people with diabetes who have a toe or foot amputation die within three years.

• The annual cost for diabetic ulcer care in the U.S. is estimated at $5 billion.

I’d like to thank Dr. Corey for dispelling these common myths about foot care. With the horrific statistics of diabetic ulcer complications as outlined by Dr. Corey, it is very important for diabetics to keep their blood glucose in their target range and take measures to prevent foot problems whenever possible. NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetics and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) provides the following foot care tips for diabetic patients.

• Check your bare feet every day. Look for cuts, sores, bumps or red spots. Use a mirror or ask a family member for help if you have trouble seeing the bottoms of your feet.

• Wash your feet in warm, not hot, water every day, but don’t soak them. Use mild soap. Dry your feet with a soft towel and dry carefully between your toes.

• After washing your feet, cover them with lotion before putting your shoes and socks on. Don’t put lotion or cream between your toes.

• File you toenails straight across with an emery board. Don’t leave sharp edges that could cut into your toe.

• Don’t try to cut calluses or corns off with a razor blade or knife, and don’t use wart removers on your feet. If you have warts or painful corns or calluses, see a podiatrist, like Dr. Corey, who treats foot problems.

• Wear thick, soft socks. Don’t wear mended socks or socks with holes or seams that might rub against your feet.

• Check your shoes before you put them on to be sure they have no sharp edges or objects in them.

• Wear shoes that fit well and let your toes move. Break new shoes in slowly. Don’t wear flip-flops, shoes with pointed toes or plastic shoes. Never go barefoot.

• Wear socks if your feet get cold at night. Don’t use heating pads or hot water bottles on your feet.

• Have a doctor check your feet at every visit. Take your shoes and socks off when you go into the examining room to remind the doctor to check your feet.

• See a podiatrist for help if you can’t take care of your feet yourself.

To make an appointment with podiatrist, Dr. Stephen Corey, contact his office at 877-9PD-FOOT or visit his website at www.PDFOOT.com. For additional foot care myths, visit the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons’ consumer website, www.FootHeatlhFacts.org.

This is Dr. Beryl Bachus-Keith reminding you that prevention is the key to good health and wellness, so make a vow and commit to good health. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”