Patients arrive at my office having heard a lot of things about foot pain. Some are true. Many are not.
Myth: “Heel Pain Is Always a Heel Spur”
Truth: Heel spurs show up on X-ray in about half of people with heel pain - and in 15–25% of people with no heel pain at all. The spur is usually not what hurts. The inflamed tissue around the attachment is. Treating the spur surgically rarely fixes the pain when conservative care of the underlying tendinopathy or fasciitis hasn’t been tried first.
Myth: “Bunion Surgery Is Awful - It Hurts for a Year”
Truth: Modern bunion surgery is far better than its reputation. Most patients are walking in a boot within days, off pain medication within 1–2 weeks, and back in regular shoes by 6–10 weeks. There is real recovery, but the lurid stories often come from procedures done decades ago with very different techniques.
Myth: “Cracking Knuckles or Joints Causes Arthritis”
Truth: No good evidence supports this. Arthritis is driven by genetics, prior injury, and mechanical loading - not by joint cracking.
Myth: “If You Can Walk On It, It’s Not Broken”
Truth: Many patients walk into my office on broken feet. The ability to bear weight does not rule out a fracture - particularly stress fractures, which often hurt mostly during and after activity.
Myth: “There’s Nothing To Do for Flat Feet”
Truth: Symptomatic flatfoot - particularly progressive adult-acquired flatfoot from posterior tibial tendon dysfunction - is very treatable, especially when caught early.
Myth: “Pain Is Just Part of Getting Older”
Truth: Some changes are normal with age. Pain that limits walking is not. Most chronic foot pain has a treatable cause.
