No, and painless is the usual case rather than the exception. Diabetic ulcers are often painless, because of decreased feeling in the feet.
Often. Not occasionally.
The same gap runs through the warning signs. During a daily foot check, look for dry and cracked skin, blisters or sores, bruises or cuts, redness, warmth, or tenderness, and firm or hard spots. But redness, warmth, or tenderness are often absent because of nerve damage.
So two of the things most people would rely on to tell them something is wrong are often missing.
That is the whole reason to look rather than wait to feel. Check your feet every day. Inspect the tops, sides, soles, heels, and between your toes. If you cannot see well, ask someone else to check your feet.
Here’s what the gap can lead to: if you get a blister, you may not notice, and it may get worse. Even small sores or blisters can become big problems if an infection develops.
The practical conclusion is uncomfortable but simple. A foot ulcer that does not hurt is not a foot ulcer that is doing well, and pain is not the thing to wait for before reporting a change.