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Thursday, July 14, 2011 – Daily News 5A Dear Annie: My best friend, ‘‘Bob,’’ Crocked cohort circumvents conundrums Natural remedies for arthritic hands has struggled with alcoholism for many years, and has been in and out of rehabilita- tion programs. Two years ago, he found a pro- gram that worked. He went into a men’s halfway house, where he received coun- seling, attended A.A. meetings and got a job. After 18 months, he was promoted and even set a goal of becoming an addiction counselor. Bob seemed on top of letting him stay, but I don’t want him on the streets. What can I do? — Up a Creek Dear Creek: Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar the world until two weeks ago, when he started drinking again. He was kicked out of his residence and is now staying with me. He may also have lost his job. His employers are willing to give him another chance, but he refuses to call them. He is now drunk or sleeping all the time, spending whatever money is left in his bank account. This situation is not new. I have put up with it before. If I kick him out, he may end up passed out in an alley, a hospital, jail or worse. At least he is safe here, but I can’t do this forev- er. The local detox cen- ter offers emergency protective custody, but all they can do is hold him until he is sober. Even though many people care about Bob and are willing to help him, he seems to have given up hope. I think he has unresolved mental health issues. I have tried contacting his for- mer counselor and even urged him to go to a priest. Friends tell me I am ‘‘enabling’’ him by You are a kind friend, but you cannot help Bob until he wants to be helped. And yes, it’s possible he has some underlying depression that sabo- tages his efforts to remain sober. We strongly urge you to find suggestions and support through Al-Anon (al- anon.alateen.org) and Sober Recovery (sober- recovery.com), which offer forums for family and friends of alco- holics. Dear Annie: I have a female friend who’s never been to Disney- land. I offered to take her this summer, my treat. We are excited, but now I’m a little less thrilled because she insists on bringing her 1-year-old baby girl with us. I told her we are not going to have much fun if the baby comes, but she is adamant. I like children, but would it be wrong of me to cancel the trip and risk ruining our friend- ship? Or do I just bite the bullet and see if we can enjoy ourselves with the baby? — D.T. Dear D.T.: You are very generous, but not all mothers are willing to take vacations and leave their infants behind. While a year-old child is a bit young for Disneyland, it is possi- ble to have a good time with a child in tow. In fact, there are some delights that are only possible when seen through the eyes of a child. But you must understand the limita- tions and set the rules in advance. Are you willing to help care for the baby? Does the child wake up in the middle of the night? Will a large Mickey Mouse frighten her? Will your friend take advantage of avail- able babysitting ser- vices? It is not unreasonable to cancel, but keep in mind that your friend may be equally unwill- ing to leave the child with a caregiver for the next 10 years. If you ever plan to take her to Disneyland, this may be as good a time as any. Dear Annie: Please tell ‘‘Kuttawa, Ky.’’ to get a wireless head- phone set for her hus- band, who can’t hear the TV. They are comfort- able and allow the lis- tener to walk around the house. I can hear much bet- ter with mine than I could with my hearing aids. And other family members are thrilled that I no longer ask them to turn up the volume. — Pennsylvania Dear Pennsylvania: Many readers suggested headphones, wireless or otherwise. Our thanks to all who wrote. 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. FEATURES DEAR DR. GOTT: My 67- year-old husband has recently become affected by arthritis pain in his hands. They swell and his knuckles seem to “stick.” What are some ways of dealing with this problem? He is currently taking aspirin for the pain, but we’d like to know if a supple- ment or anything else would be helpful. DEAR READER: There are more than 100 types of arthritis, the most common of which is osteoarthritis. This form typically occurs as we age and is the result of joint cartilage breakdown. While typi- cally seen in seniors, anyone can devel- op osteoarthritis; it generally affects weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees and spine, but may be present in just about any joint in the body. To determine if this is the cause of your husband’s hand pain, I suggest he make an appointment with his physician for an examination, blood work and X- rays. Other types of arthritis can cause similar symptoms but may require dif- ferent treatment. I will answer your question as though he has osteoarthritis since it is the most likely cause. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin can relieve pain and swelling, but do not use more than the recom- mended dose because they may upset the stomach. Glucosamine chondroitin may pre- vent further damage and rebuild lost cartilage. Topical castor oil, or castor oil-based lotions with capsaicin or menthol (such as Castiva), applied to the affected areas twice a day can reduce pain. A purple grape juice and liquid pectin combination has been found to reduce pain and swelling while increas- ing mobility. Simply mix 8 ounces of the juice with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the liquid pectin; drink up to three times a day. When pain levels have been low- ered, reduce the pectin to 1 to 2 tea- spoons and drink the mixture once or twice a day as a maintenance dose. Other readers have had success using 4 ounces of grape juice and 8 ounces of apple juice, and a few brave souls have even taken the pectin without any juice at all. Apple pectin capsules have also been found beneficial by some, but they may be difficult to find. Beyond that, prescription anti- inflammatory and pain medications may be recommended. Exercise and Dr. Peter Gott damage. Readers who are interested in learning more can order my Health Reports “Osteoarthritis,” “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies” and “More Compelling Home Remedies” by sending a self- addressed, stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 U.S. check or money order per report to Dr. Peter Gott, P.O. Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title(s) when writing, or print an order form from my website’s direct link: www.AskDrGottMD.com/order_form.pd f. DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 13-year- old girl. I have excessive arm hair, mostly between my elbows and wrist. Is there some reason for it? DEAR READER: Unless you have other health concerns, the most likely reason is genetic. If your mother, grandmother and/or other close female relatives also have excess forearm hair, you can blame them. Some ethnic back- grounds may be more prone to develop- ing heavier amounts of arm, body or facial hair. I suggest you speak with your physi- cian regarding your concerns. Perhaps an examination and blood work may be in order if you are experiencing other symptoms you did not mention in your brief note. 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. If readers want to contact Dr. Gott, they may write to him at his website, or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott, c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64106. However, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Connecticut address listed above. physical therapy will keep the joints moving. Heat or ice applied to the affected areas several times a day may also relieve pain. There are many options, so I urge your husband to see a physician to get to the bottom of the situation. Together, they can then come up with a treat- ment plan that will successful- ly ease pain, improve hand mobility and prevent further