Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/84973
Want an honest answer from ex My boyfriend of seven months recently ended things suddenly. ''Ethan'' is Mor- mon, and I'm Lutheran. We were planning a future together. Ethan claims he wants to go on a mission and cannot prepare to do God's work while having a girlfriend. He said we could still be friends. But here's the thing. He started hanging out with ''Susan'' the same month he broke up with me. He told me she was a ''new friend'' and also Mormon. He denied there was any- thing between them. I am having trouble Dear Annie: Dear Confused: While Ethan is undoubtedly being honest about his upcoming missionary trip, we think he is being less so about the breakup. At least part of that has to do with your religious differ- ences and his new interest in Susan. This is surely what you already suspect. We wish Ethan had the courage to come clean, but don't count on it. Accept that your relation- ship has run its course. Regardless of his next move, yours should be to put him behind you. Dear Annie: My mother gives each of her moving on because I don't feel Ethan is telling me the truth. He's already ripped out my heart. The least he can do is be hon- est. Right now, he barely acts like an acquaintance, let alone a friend. I've lost sleep over this. What should I do? — Confused in California Annie's Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar kids and grand- kids a specific amount of money for Christmas. As far as any of us knew, it has always been an equal amount. Last Christmas, two grandchildren received more money. The oth- ers found out and were hurt. grandchildren lost their father last year. As sad- dened as we were over the loss, we feel this should have nothing to do with the money received from Grandma. After all, my sister's family is well off and not in need of any- thing. We also have noticed that Mom pays for a lot of things for our sister and her kids, including their hotels and plane fares, while the rest of us pay our own way. Please understand that we expect to pay for our own, but how come our sister is taking advantage of Mom's money? Those kids want for nothing and have all of the latest gad- gets that they pay for themselves when Mom isn't around. We know Mom can do what she pleases with her money, but do we have the right to let her know how much it hurts our kids that she favors their cousins? — Trying To Avoid a Christmas Circus this Year Those two Dear Trying: We don't think Mom favors the cousins. We think she feels sorry for them because their father died, and she is trying to make it up to them the only way she can. It's OK to tell her that the other grandchil- dren have noticed and are hurt. What she does with that information is up to her. Dear Annie: This is in response to ''Single Too Long,'' the 45-year-old man who has had no luck with the social scene. You suggested he ask his friends and family to cri- tique him. He is not at fault. There are a number of us out there who have plenty to offer. The shame of it is that there are women who don't want what we have. I say don't change any- thing. Be true to yourself. Be uncompromising. Make them measure up to you, not the other way around. — G. Dear G.: There are plenty of men and women who are perfectly lovely, but can't find a date. But if you keep doing the same things, you will get the same results. An honest critique could help assess whether you come across as too strong, too weak, appear unkempt, talk about yourself too much, etc. No one should be resistant to change. There is always room for improvement. Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.n et, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Neuromas of the foot DEAR DOCTOR K: I have a painful pinched nerve in my foot. What are my treatment options? DEAR READER: The medical term for a pinched or compressed nerve that causes pain and swelling is a neuroma. Neuromas that occur in the sole of the foot are called Morton's neuromas and are particularly common. They occur in between the third and fourth toes or between the second and third toes. (I've put a picture of a Morton's neuroma on my website, AskDoctorK.com.) Morton's neuromas do not always cause symptoms. Some imaging studies have found the neuromas in people with- out any symptoms. In others, though, like you, the neuroma causes sharp, burning pain and numbness in the toes and foot. Typically it flares up when you are stand- ing. You may feel like you've stepped on a tiny hot coal. At the same time, you may not be able to feel your toes. We think Morton's neuromas form because one of the nerves between our toes gets injured. The injury may come from tight shoes, from intense or pro- longed running, or from any other sport that puts the feet under lots of pressure. The injured nerve starts to swell and tries to repair its injury. This causes a bunch of disorderly nerve endings to form into a little ball — a neuroma. The first step in treatment is to change your footwear. If you keep pressure off your toes and wear shoes that provide enough room in the toe box, the neuroma may gradually disappear. Your foot-care BUNNELL, Fla. (AP) — A man was intoxicat- ed while riding his horse as he led police on a half- hour chase through a northeast Florida town, authorities said Tuesday. Charles Larkin Cow- art, 29, was arrested Monday afternoon in the city of Bunnell, about 60 miles south of Jack- sonville. Dr. K by Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D. pain. specialist may recommend lower heels, metatarsal pads, better arch support or custom orthoses to redistribute your weight. For instant relief when pain flares up, take off your shoes and rub the painful area. This may help a trapped nerve to move back to its natural position. For severe pain, your doctor may inject a local anesthetic com- bined with a corticosteroid to relieve the inflammation and Another option is to take a prescrip- tion medication that alleviates nerve pain. The choices include amitriptyline (Elav- il), gabapentin (Neurontin) and prega- balin (Lyrica). Friday, September 28, 2012 – Daily News 5C If your pain is severe or persistent, you may need to consider surgery to remove the neuroma. This involves making an incision in the foot and removing the nerve. A newer surgical option involves a smaller incision and a faster recovery. Once the nerve is gone, you will perma- nently lose feeling in the affected area. With any type of neuroma surgery, complications may occur (particularly infections, or difficulty moving the toes near the neuroma), but they are unusual. Several of my patients have gotten relief with surgery, but I don't know of any large scientific studies (randomized tri- als) that absolutely prove its value. One alternative to surgery is neuroly- sis injections, in which various pain- blocking chemicals are injected into your foot. It's not yet clear if this treatment is effective. Police: Drunken man on horse arrested A police officer was responding to a report of ''an intoxicated male rid- ing a horse'' when he turned on his emergency lights to stop traffic as Cowart crossed the street, according to the charging affidavit. Cow- art said he was on his way to his grandmother's house in nearby Flagler Beach, but refused offi- cers' order to dismount and ''in an aggressive manner reared the horse back'' and took off run- ning. Officers did not imme- diately chase after him, the report said, citing the public and the horse's safety. Cowart continued to ride through town, ''causing a crowd of peo- ple to come out of their homes'' and a train to slow down as Cowart crossed over a set of rail- road tracks. Police kept their emergency lights on, but did not use their sirens to prevent the horse from being frightened and ''potentially making the situation worse.'' Cowart ignored sever- al verbal commands to get off the horse, which after more half an hour, became exhausted. Cow- art eventually jumped off and took off running. He was captured a short time later. The horse returned to Cowart's family and is doing fine, police said. Cowart was booked into the Flagler County Jail on charges that included disorderly con- duct, resisting arrest without violence and cruelty to animals. He was being held Tuesday on $7,000 bond. A message was left Tuesday at a phone list- ing for Cowart in Bun- nell, about 60 miles south of Jacksonville. It was not immediately known if he has an attor- ney. Cowart was arrested for petit theft on Sept. 9 and on a DUI charge in October 2010. The dis- position of those charges wasn't immediately known.