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Saturday, February 20, 2010 – Daily News – 5A Raley's Physical Therapy & Wellness Pepsi Cornerstone Community Bank St. Elizabeth Community Hospital Lassen Medical Dudley's Excavating, Inc. "Dr. Joe" Busey & Family Mt. Lassen Trout Moore & Pascarella Dental Corp. Bev Howard Red Bluff Round Table Moule's Tehama County Glass, Inc. Food Mart Valero Donald A. Young, D.D.S. Gentry Media Bud's Jolly Kone California Parks Companies Re/Max, Ken Robison Robert R. Chase, M.D. McCarthy & Rubright, L.L.P. McGlynn, McGlynn & Bottke Lee Shoop, M.D. and Family Simpson University Mr. & Mrs. David Barnes Red Bluff Daily News Red Bluff High School would like to thank our 2009 VIP Sponsors Dear Annie: My former girl- friend and I dated for 14 months. She is 49, and I am 52. We loved each other, but were not ''in love.'' While we had some differ- ences in personal- ities and opinions, we still enjoyed a variety of activi- ties together. We also had many of the same dreams for our retire- ments. I thought we had a solid foundation — that our basic compatibility and the love we had for each other made for a great long-term relation- ship. My girlfriend, on the other hand, feels the glue that holds a relationship together is to be totally ''in love'' and to have but- terflies in the stomach whenever we are with each other. We continue to speak on the phone. I miss her, and she misses me. Please share your thoughts. — Confused in Connecticut Dear Confused: Ann Landers used to say, ''Love is friendship that has caught fire.'' The con- stant ''butterflies in the stomach'' is infatuation. It's excitement mixed with anxiety — and isn't intended to last. Over the long haul, those butter- flies should settle into something comforting and loving, with the underlying foundation being a solid friendship. If your ex-girlfriend insists on fluttering bugs for all of eternity, we wish her luck. Dear Annie: My hus- band lost his job at the age of 50. He was out of work for more than a year and eventually accepted a job well beneath his previous position. Not only was this a blow to our finances, but the impact to his self- esteem was tremendous. He became depressed and began to drink in the evenings and on the week- ends. The more he drank, the more depressed he became. After begging and threatening, I finally walked out when I discov- ered he had consumed an entire bottle of alcohol in one day and was walking into walls. This seemed to be his wakeup call, and he made an appointment with the doctor. He quit drinking and began taking an antidepressant. His old personality has started to emerge again. My question is, now that the underlying depression is being treat- ed, can he ever go back to being a social drinker again? The doctor did not really address that. He felt my husband was suffering from depression and the alcohol was a form of self-medication. It was also a binge-type drink- ing. He would go for days with no alcohol, and then quietly consume a large amount on the weekend. All the information on binge-alcoholism seems to address only the col- lege student variety. We used to enjoy occasional glasses of wine with din- ner and beer at ballgames, but I have given that up in an effort to be supportive and remove temptation. Can we ever go back to that, or has a line been crossed? — Sober Reader Dear Sober: There can be side effects when anti- depressants are mixed with alcohol, so your hus- band should abstain for that reason alone. Also, doctors often advise those who are predisposed to depression to stop drink- ing entirely since alcohol has an effect on the cen- tral nervous system and those who suffer from depression are already at risk. We believe you are better safe than sorry. Dear Annie: ''Mem- phis Belle'' was upset that her mother loaned out part of a collection that she had been storing at her parents' home. I have a solution for parents whose kids leave their valuables with Mom and Dad when they move out. When my five kids left the nest, I told them they had 10 years to claim their belongings, after which they were fair game. This seemed a decent allowance of time, espe- cially since I didn't charge storage fees. When the 10 years were up, everything was claimed. They now have the same agreement with their kids and thank me for the idea. — Grand- ma in New York Dear Grandma: Our readers will appreciate the sensible suggestion. Ten years is a generous time frame and in most instances should be suffi- cient to decide what is worth keeping. 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.n et, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Ex expects eternal exoskeletons Annie's Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar FEATURES DEAR DR. GOTT: My 63-year- old mother has complained every day for three months about a sore heel. It feels better when I massage it for her, and it also helps if she stays off her feet. She believes it's only the sole that hurts but refuses to see her doctor, so we would appreciate your thoughts on the matter. DEAR READER: There are a number of reasons for a person to complain of foot pain, whether it presents in the heel or in the sole. Unfortu- nately, I didn't get a full history from you, such as whether your mother is still employed and stands on her feet all day, whether she is dedicated to fitness and jogs to stay in shape, whether she is somewhat sedentary and has recently gained or carries excessive weight, or whether she simply prefers to wear shoes that don't support her feet properly. Therefore, I will discuss sev- eral of the more common conditions that might provide some answers. A condition known as plantar fasciitis occurs when a ligament known as the plan- tar fascia, which runs the full length of the bottom of the foot, is stressed, causing the tissue to tear. Irritation and inflammation of the fascia can result in bruising and extreme pain. Causes for the tear are sudden weight gain, repetitive or excessive stress, or wear- ing shoes without adequate support. Achilles tendonitis is similar to plantar fasciitis, yet differs because of the location of pain, because it affects the tendon that runs down the calf, along the back of the foot and connects to the heel bone. Severe pain can result when the Achilles tendon or a calf muscle is stressed. Often seen in mid- dle-aged recreational athletes, the condition is common when people fail to stretch and bend prior to strenuous physical activity. Other causes are repetitive movements and excessive physical stress. Heel spurs are bony projections that occur along the edge of the heel bone. They typically develop on the front of the heel bone and point toward the arch of the foot. They often irritate the plantar fascia and cause inflammation but don't always cause pain. Morton's neuroma is a benign growth of fibrous tissue around a nerve, commonly between the third and fourth metatarsal heads. The pain experienced is commonly the result of wearing high-heeled shoes. Metatarsals are the long bones at the base of each toe. Excessive pressure on the ends of the toe bones can cause pain and symptoms in the ball of the foot. The medical term for this is metatarsalgia and is primarily the result of tight shoes and from wear- ing shoes with high heels. People suffering from this condition should forgo shoes that are narrow or have pointed toes or high heels and opt for wider shoes that will allow the foot ample room to stretch appro- priately. Without knowing the true cause of your mother's pain, I recommend you begin simply. Purchase a nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory over-the-counter pain med- ication. If you have any questions about the numerous brands available, speak with your pharmacist for his or her recommendation. If shoes are the issue, depending on her gen- eral activity, have your mother purchase a pair of relatively flat or athletic shoes designed to cushion and provide extra sup- port. She may wish to purchase cushioned shoe inserts and/or arch supports that can relieve stress. She can likely benefit from using a whirlpool-type foot bath at home and might relax in the evening with her feet propped up on a foot stool or pillow. An ice pack, either the real thing or one made from a frozen bag of vegetables placed against the foot, might also lessen the pain. If all my recommendations fail to pro- vide relief, attempt to convince her to see her physician or a podiatrist. A noninvasive X- ray, CT scan or MRI can be performed that will likely provide the answers her doctor needs to determine the correct diagnosis. While her doctor can make recommenda- tions, your mother (perhaps accompanied by you) should be in complete control and call all the shots. She should be the one, with the guidance and knowledge of a healthcare professional, to decide what should or should not be done. Good luck. To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my newly revised Health Report "Managing Chronic Pain." Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 enve- lope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title. Dr. Peter Gott is a retired physician and the author of the book "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet," available at most chain and independent bookstores, and the recently published "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook." Give foot pain the boot Dr. Peter Gott