DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have two foot related issues. I know that you are not a podiatrist but hope you can help anyway since I reserve doctor visits for physicals and severe illness.

First, my daughter has flat feet and regularly suffers from leg pains that her doctor says is due to her flat feet and over-activity. She is only five and I worry that this is something she will have to suffer with for the rest of her life. Is there anything I can do to help her? I also worry that this will only worsen as she is estimated to be nearly six feet tall when she is done growing.

Second, I have high-arched feet. I have recently developed a heel spur on one foot that over the course of about eight months caused worsening pain. It no longer aches the way it did but it is still painful to stand on it after sleeping at night. [Read more...]