MYTH: If you can walk on it, it’s not broken.
“I hear this one all the time,” says orthopedic surgeon Clifford L. Jeng, M.D., medical director of the Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. “When patients can still walk [after a foot or ankle injury], often they don’t seek medical attention. Then they come in six weeks later because it’s still hurting and we find a fracture.” Delaying proper treatment for a broken bone (especially if you walk through pain just because you technically can) may extend and even complicate your recovery process. For instance, a cast or boot used right away might do the trick, but if you wait, you may need surgery or metal plates and screws to fix the problem. Also, improper treatment or none may cause the break to heal out of alignment, which could lead to issues like arthritis down the line.
DO THIS INSTEAD:If you’re not in incredible pain
