Dr. Marc Lipton

As long as your shoes fit well and are otherwise comfortable, you may be among the many walking around without socks.

Arthritis is a painful condition caused by inflammation of your joints. It can occur anywhere in your body where bones are connected – and that includes the joints in your feet.

If there’s a part of your foot that you don’t give much thought to until it hurts or is injured, chances are it’s your arch. It provides significant relief to your heel by supporting some of your body weight, and yet it’s usually taken for granted. That is, unless you’re one of the many millions of Americans who suffer from fallen arches (or flat feet) each year.

Did you know that you – and everyone else for that matter – were born with flat feet? As we grow and the tendons in our feet tighten, most people form arches while others do not. And still others have normal arches, but they start to flatten due to age, injury or illness.

If you’re experiencing foot pain – especially if it’s from gout – chances are you aren’t drinking enough water. But what does hydration have to do with foot pain? Plenty. When you’re dehydrated, your body responds in the form of pain. In fact, severe dehydration is often confused with other health issues.