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Wednesday, June 16, 2010 – Daily News – 3B FEATURES Is surgery always right for bunions? DEAR DR. GOTT: I have had a bunion on my right foot for a long time. It is very painful. My foot doctor has cut the side of my shoe off so the bunion can extend out. This is the only pair of shoes I can wear. I may have to have Dr. Peter Gott surgery, but some of my friends have told me the bunion will probably grow back. Do you know of any ointment that I can put on it? Or what else would you suggest I do? DEAR READER: A bunion is a bony protru- sion on the joint at the base of either big toe. There are a number of reasons for them to form, the most common of which are poorly fitting shoes, congenital defor- mities, foot injury and arthritis. Symptoms include the obvious bulge of the bunion, intermit- tent or constant pain when wearing footwear, swelling and skin thick- ening at the base of the great toe. The toenails may grow into the sides of the nail bed, and some bones may bend perma- nently at the joint. Treatment commonly begins with a conserva- tive approach, such as wearing shoe inserts, using appropriate padding, taking over-the- counter pain relievers and wearing better-fitting shoes. As your physician apparently pointed out and took measures to cor- rect, cutting the shoe at the site of the bunion is yet another means of accommodation; howev- er, if you live in a cold cli- mate, this could certainly present its own set of dif- ficulties during the winter. When conservative measures fail to be effec- tive, surgery might be appropriate. A podiatrist has several options, depending on the severity of the deformity. In some instances, a patient will be able to walk as soon as the procedure is complet- ed. In other cases, it may take two months or longer before complete recovery occurs. Recur- rence occurs post-surgery if a patient continues to wear ill-fitting shoes. Thus, appropriate footwear is vital. This may be what your friends refer to when they indi- cate a bunion can grow back. I recommend you make another appoint- ment with your podiatrist to determine what might be best for you, based on your age and pos- sible medical con- ditions. Get all your questions answered before making any deci- sion to undergo even the simplest surgical proce- dure. If questions still remain, request a referral to another podiatrist for a second opinion. Until a firm decision can be made, consider using bunion pads, icing the area a couple of times each day and using ibuprofen or aceta- minophen. To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “An Informed Approach to Surgery.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092- 0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.co m. DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 70-year-old female who began experiencing restless legs at age 20. I understand you have dis- cussed using hawthorn berries for control and would like to know more about this alternative treatment. Thank you for your help. DEAR READER: Hawthorn berries contain antioxidant properties and improve blood flow to the heart. Readers have also indicated the supple- ment has helped with the muscle twitches and tremors associated with restless-legs syndrome, Parkinson’s and hyper- tension. Check with your pri- mary-care physician before using hawthorn berry, because some herbals can cause unwanted side effects if taken with other drugs. If you choose to continue, be sure to follow the packaging directions for recommended doses. Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including “Live Longer, Live Better,” “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook,” which are available at most bookstores or online. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com. Worried about parents’ ongoing largesse Dear Annie: I am 32 and the youngest of three children. My parents have always been generous — refinancing our homes, sending each of us to the college of our choice, as well as graduate schools, and offering financial help. All of us are now married with children of our own, and my parents still help us out. Mom and Dad have no hope of retiring anytime soon. While we are all extremely grateful, where does it end? I don’t begrudge my parents how they spend their money, but I worry that they are burdening themselves too much and can’t say ‘‘no.’’ There also seems to be some sibling rival- ry developing. Does one child deserve more because she has more children and a lower salary? How about when my wife lost her job? Or when my nephew needed a car? We are all extremely close, and I hate to have financial issues dividing us. Is it possible to avoid these brewing battles while still accepting financial aid from our parents? — Figuring Out Finances in the Family Dear FOF: None of you should be accepting financial help from Mom and Dad unless it is an emer- gency. Since you are a close fami- ly and are grateful to your parents for their help, perhaps you could initiate a sibling conference and discuss the issue calmly. Explain Perfect Attendance: Ivan Alvarado, Summer Andrews, Jessica Drake, Nicole Graham, Oscar Valencia, Ana Carrillo, Samantha Slimick, Roberto Ayala, Raul Barrera, Mary Blan- cas, Rocio Campos, Vanessa Cisneros, Hailley Crawford, Sara Frias, Erica Hoffer, Michael Kilmer, Austin Long, Guadalupe Miron, Alonzo Munoz, Miguel Rios, Chrystal Short, Roy Smith, Rosario Mar- tinez, Alejandro Ocampo, Emily Rowland, Rogelio Silva and Dakota Woodard. Top 10 percent of Eighth Grade class: Roberto Ayala, Jessica Beckley, Kyle Hansen, Erica Hoffer, Kaitlyn Huntley, Michael Kilmer, Maria Bernal, Maria Diaz, Michael Shoemak- er, Michael Levica, Marisol Bernal, Chrystal Short, Chayce Maday, Nicole Graham, Tristan McIntyre, Emily Rowland, Kyle Dickens, Brandon Olsen, Durante Rodriguez, Alejandro Ocampo, Raul Barrera, Tristan Sims. California Junior Scholarship Federation Members: Jessica Beckley, Maria Diaz, Nichole Graham, Kyle Hansen, Erica Hoffer, Kaitlyn Huntley, Chayce Maday, Tristan McIntyre, Guadalupe Miron, Linda Monroy and Michael Shoemaker. Avid Awards: Patty Aguilar, Ariel Beltran, Maria Blancas, Maria Diaz, Kyle Dickens, Amanda Dominguez, Luis Espinoza, David Foss, Esmeralda Munguia, Alejandro Ocampo, Joscelin Ortega, Annberlyn Slye and Arnulfo Garcia. Senate Awards: Kaitlyn Hunt- ley and Kyle Hansen. Athletic Awards: Outstanding Athlete:Chayce Maday and Tay- lor Barr; Scholar Athlete: Nick Hoag and Maria Diaz; Fighting Cougar: Mario Campos and Kaitlyn Huntley. Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar that the folks aren’t getting any younger and eventually will need this money. Your siblings should make the effort to wean themselves from their parents’ generos- ity. It would be better for everyone involved. Dear Annie: I believe my son-in-law, ‘‘Carl,’’ is cheating on my daughter, and I don’t know what to do. Carl works for a home- renovation company. His employer recently hired a 19-year- old woman, and it is obvious that Carl has become infatuated with her. He now tries to dress and act as if he is her age. He even got his ears pierced. This girl has been texting him often. My daughter is a little suspi- cious, but doesn’t want to question or check up on her husband. Carl leaves the house early in the morn- ing and comes home late at night, but she buys into the excuses he gives her. She is very busy with their three young children. Should I be concerned, and if so, what can be done about his behavior? — Worried Mother-in- law Dear Mom: Let your daughter handle her husband. With three lit- tle children to raise, she may not want to deal with the possibility that Carl is cheating. And he may not, in fact, be sexually involved with this young woman. Say noth- ing derogatory about Carl to your National Physical Fitness Awards: Chris Castro, Jaimie Cea, Alex Davilla, Jaidequel Garcia, James Hansen, Dustin Messmer, Ryan Plummer, David Solorio, Alan Torres, Alejondo Espinosa, Kevin Huff, Chad McFall, Joel Aguilar, Christian Cisneros, Isaiah Jones, Brady Meeds, Jasmine Damian, Ron- nie Hammond, Vincent Villicano, Francisco Novoa, Fredy Torres. Seventh: Rebecca Juels, Chloe Maday, Concepcion Paz, Irvin Rodriguez, Tyler Cox, Britany Dagen, Brandin Dodd, Tyler Downen, Ashley Edmiston, Nancy Jacobson, Luis Lopez, Maricruz Ocampo, Mirella daughter. Should she confide in you and ask for advice, however, please suggest she talk to a mar- riage counselor. Dear Annie: ‘‘Out of Ideas’’ wrote about a girl at school who sits at her lunch table but doesn’t talk. I am a girl with Asperger’s syn- drome, which is a social disorder that makes it hard to read social cues and communicate with others. I’ve also been the person at the end of the table and wish someone had been kind enough to offer their friendship. It was hard not know- ing where to sit at lunch because I had no friends and no one was nice enough to ask me to sit with them. I’m older now and a little more understanding, but still, I remem- ber how hard it was. Kudos to ‘‘Out of Ideas,’’ who at least was trying. I hope she will continue. — Understanding Aspie in N.H. Dear N.H.: Thank you for reminding our readers to be kind. You never know what someone else may be going through. A friendly smile could make their day. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Maywood School awards Ocampo, Eduardo Pahua, D’An- gelo Rico, Joshua Shults, Rachel Snow, Leshia Cha, Elias Lopez, Maria Maldonado, Nadia Martinez, Zack Capistrand, Leonel Macias, Ashlee Mishoe, Alex DeJesus, Lucero Santos Jesus Serrano, Matthew Slim- ick, Madeline Caputo, Daisy Carrillo, Quincy Jones, Taylor May, Jazmine Robledo, Alex Torres, Hector Valencia, Hillary Souza, Marissa Arriaga, Jesse Bennett, Jairo Cruz, Brayan Damian, Austin Dickens, Sal- vador Mora, Patrick Sasso, Kim- berly White, Shawnee Winter- son. Eighth: Annberlyn Slye, Rogelio Silva, Monica Decasper Ester Diaz, Philip Burt, Allan Cervantes, Durante Rodriguez, Chrystal Short, Ivan Alvarado, Kyle Hansen, Arturo Carrera, Maira Cruz, Dayanna Garcia, Erica Hoffer, Johnathan Hed- strom, Noe Zavala, Arnulfo Gar- cia, Raul Langarica, David Edson, Hannah Rice Presidental: Seventh: Leonor Reyes, Christopher Malfavon, Chance Nelson, Sophia Oliv- erez, Josh Cortez, Joseph Aguirre, Esmeralda Hernan- dez, Cristian Loera and Luis Mendoza. Eighth: Jessica Beckley, Ana Carillo, Maria Diaz, Jose Meraz, Marisol Valencia.