Seattle Foot & Ankle Center | Dr. J. John Hoy, DPM
Foot Pain Not Getting Better? Get Relief
Foot and ankle pain can interfere with walking, work, exercise, balance, and independence. Many conditions worsen over time when the underlying cause is missed or treatment is delayed. At Seattle Foot and Ankle Center, Dr. J. John Hoy provides specialized diagnosis and treatment for foot and ankle injuries, deformities, diabetic foot conditions, sports injuries, infections, and reconstructive foot surgery.
“Dr. Hoy had an outstanding medical education and is a kind and excellent doctor. I wouldn’t go to any other foot doctor.” -May G.
If you are experiencing pain, swelling, numbness, wounds, or changes in your feet or ankles, early evaluation may help prevent complications and get you back to normal activity sooner. Persistent foot pain may still have a treatable structural cause.
Schedule an Evaluation or call: 206-682-8741
When to See a Foot and Ankle Physician First
Schedule an evaluation with Dr. Hoy if you experience:
- Heel pain, especially with first steps in the morning
- Persistent foot, heel, ankle, or lower leg pain
- A sprain, fracture, or sports injury
- Pain limiting walking, running, work, or exercise
- Foot problems related to diabetes, neuropathy, or poor circulation
- Swelling, redness, or unexplained changes in foot shape
- A wound, ulcer, or infection that is slow to heal
- A painful growth, nail problem, or skin condition
- Numbness, tingling, burning, or balance problems
Early diagnosis often means simpler treatment and faster recovery.
Seattle Foot and Ankle Center provides comprehensive foot and ankle medicine and surgery. Dr. Hoy evaluates and treats everything from heel pain, sports injuries, fractures, bunions, and Achilles problems to diabetic foot complications, wounds, infections, biomechanics, custom orthotics, and forefoot surgery. He emphasizes conservative treatment whenever appropriate and works closely with referring providers when patients need specialized foot and ankle care.
Common Foot & Ankle Conditions We Treat:
Evaluation and treatment are provided by a foot and ankle physician and surgeon with expertise in biomechanics, reconstruction, and limb preservation.
Heel Pain & Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It occurs when the plantar fascia ligament, which supports the arch of the foot, becomes inflamed.
Common Symptoms
- Sharp heel pain when taking the first steps in the morning
- Pain after standing or walking for long periods
- Heel tenderness or stiffness
Treatment Options
Dr. Hoy may recommend:
- Stretching and shoe gear changes
- Custom orthotics
- Anti-inflammatory treatments
- Shockwave therapy
- Advanced procedures when necessary
Sports Injuries, Stress Fractures & Tendon Disorders
Common Injuries
- Ankle sprains
- Stress fractures
- Tendon injuries
- Achilles tendonitis
Proper treatment helps prevent chronic instability and long-term pain. Recurrent ankle sprains, untreated stress fractures, and tendon injuries can permanently alter foot mechanics and increase arthritis risk if not properly evaluated.
Active patients and athletes frequently develop injuries from repetitive stress or sudden trauma. These injuries are evaluated by a foot and ankle physician and surgeon specializing in sports-related lower-extremity biomechanics.
Ankle Sprains, Instability & Ligament Injuries
Stretching or tearing of ankle ligaments causing swelling, bruising, and pain—often from twisting the ankle.
Bunions, Big Toe Joint Arthritis & Forefoot Deformities
Bunions and related conditions affect the alignment and function of the big toe joint.
Types of Bunions
Bunion
A bony bump that develops at the base of the big toe.
Hallux Rigidus
Arthritis of the big toe joint causing stiffness and limited movement.
Tailor’s Bunion (Bunionette)
A painful bump that forms at the base of the little toe.
Symptoms
- Swelling and redness around the joint
- Pain when walking or wearing shoes
- Progressive toe deformity
Hammertoes & Toe Deformities
A hammertoe occurs when the middle joint of the toe bends downward, creating a hammer-like shape.
Symptoms
- Toe pain when wearing shoes
- Corns or calluses on the toe
- Progressive toe deformity
Early treatment may prevent the need for surgery.
Neuromas & Nerve Pain
A Morton’s neuroma is a thickened nerve tissue in the ball of the foot.
Symptoms
- Burning pain in the forefoot
- Tingling or numbness in the toes
- Feeling like you’re standing on a pebble
Treatment may include footwear changes, orthotics, injections, or surgical removal if needed.
Flat Feet, Arch Pain & Biomechanical Problems
Flat feet (also called fallen arches) occur when the arch of the foot collapses, causing the entire sole to make contact with the ground. This can place extra strain on the feet, ankles, and legs, especially during walking or standing.
Symptoms
- Pain or fatigue in the arch or heel
- Swelling along the inside of the ankle
- Feet that roll inward when walking
- Discomfort after long periods of standing or activity
Treatment Options
Treatment is based on lower extremity biomechanics and functional alignment. Dr. Hoy may recommend:
- Custom orthotics to support the arch
- Supportive footwear and shoe modifications
- Stretching and strengthening exercises
- Bracing or advanced treatments when necessary
Diabetic Foot Disease (Charcot, Neuropathy, Wounds & Ulcers, Limb Preservation)
People with diabetes are at higher risk for serious foot complications due to poor circulation and nerve damage. Dr. Hoy provides foot and ankle physician and surgeon-level limb preservation care focused on preventing ulcers, infections, and amputations. Management is guided by a limb preservation and reconstructive foot and ankle surgery approach.
Conditions We Treat
- Diabetic foot ulcers
- Charcot foot deformity
- Pressure wounds
- Slow-healing injuries
Early care can prevent infection and amputation. Waiting too long—or treating a diabetic foot wound without specialty offloading, biomechanical correction, and limb preservation planning—can significantly increase the risk of hospitalization, bone infection, and amputation.
Ingrown Toenails & Nail Surgery
An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the nail grows into the surrounding skin.
Symptoms
- Pain along the nail edge
- Redness and swelling
- Infection or drainage
Dr. Hoy offers in-office treatments that permanently correct recurring ingrown nails.
Please click here to learn about the services that we provide in Seattle to get you back on your feet.
In pain? Don’t wait. Early treatment leads to faster recovery. Schedule an Evaluation or call: 206-682-8741
Why Specialized Foot Care Matters
For more than 180 years, podiatry has specialized in diagnosing and treating disorders of the foot and ankle—from calluses and deformities to fractures, wounds, infections, diabetic complications, and complex structural problems. Bunions, hammertoes, tendon injuries, metatarsalgia, neuromas, Charcot changes, diabetic ulcers, pressure lesions, and fractures have long been within the scope of podiatric diagnosis and treatment. Podiatric medicine encompasses both conservative and surgical care.
Healthcare is increasingly fragmented. Patients with foot and ankle problems may be routed to urgent care, physical therapy, dermatology, orthopedics, wound care, sports medicine, or pain management.
However, many foot and ankle problems involve multiple structures and systems—including bones, joints, tendons, nerves, circulation, skin, biomechanics, and underlying medical conditions. The appropriate treatment begins with an accurate podiatric diagnosis, and treatment should follow the diagnosis—not a predetermined referral pathway.
Foot and Ankle Problems Deserve Specialist Evaluation Early
The foot and ankle are an anatomic region, and podiatry is the specialty dedicated to that region.
- Foot pain not improving?
- Foot fracture or stress fracture? Early diagnosis matters.
- Diabetic foot wounds or skin changes? Early treatment can prevent complications.
- Persistent ankle pain after a sprain?
Since 1990, Seattle Foot and Ankle Center has provided comprehensive foot and ankle medicine and surgery. Early evaluation does not automatically mean surgery. Treatment may include physician-directed conservative care, custom orthotics, shockwave therapy, bracing, rehabilitation, wound care, activity modification, or surgery when appropriate. When additional expertise is needed, we coordinate care with physical therapists, vascular surgeons, infectious disease specialists, endocrinologists, dermatologists, orthopedic surgeons, and primary care physicians.
If your foot or ankle problem is persistent, recurrent, or worsening, evaluation by a physician who specializes exclusively in the foot and ankle can provide a direct path to diagnosis and appropriate treatment while reducing unnecessary delays and fragmented care. Reassessing the diagnosis and contributing factors may reveal additional treatment options.
Read more about direct access to specialty care. Schedule online or call: 206-682-8741.
When Should You See a Podiatrist First?
Many patients wonder whether they should see urgent care, an orthopedic surgeon, a dermatologist, a physical therapist, or a podiatrist first.
In many cases, seeing a foot and ankle physician first may help shorten the path to diagnosis for:
- Heel pain lasting more than 2 weeks
- Recurrent ankle sprains or instability
- Foot fractures or suspected stress fractures
- Diabetic wounds, redness, or swelling
- Progressive bunions or hammertoes
- Painful flatfeet in adults or children
- Skin lesions, nail infections, or wounds
- Burning, numbness, or nerve pain in the feet
Early specialty evaluation can reduce delays, unnecessary referrals, and complications.
Heel Pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Plantar fascia tear
- Heel spur syndrome
- Baxter’s nerve entrapment
- Heel fat pad syndrome
- Calcaneal stress fracture
- Sever’s disease (children)
Achilles Disorders
- Achilles tendinitis
- Achilles tendinosis
- Achilles tendon rupture
- Insertional Achilles tendinopathy
- Retrocalcaneal bursitis
Ankle Problems
- Ankle sprain
- Chronic ankle instability (evaluation and nonoperative management)
- Peroneal tendonitis
- Peroneal tendon tears
- Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (adult-acquired flatfoot evaluation and conservative care)
- Anterior ankle impingement
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteochondral lesions (initial evaluation and referral when appropriate)
Sports Injuries
- Running injuries
- Pickleball injuries
- Basketball injuries
- Stress fractures
- Tendon injuries
- Ligament injuries
- Turf toe
- Sesamoid injuries
- Shin splints
- Overuse injuries
Forefoot Pain
- Metatarsalgia
- Morton’s neuroma
- Capsulitis
- Metatarsophalangeal joint instability
- Plantar plate injuries
- Freiberg disease
Bunion & Toe Deformities
- Bunions (hallux valgus)
- Hallux rigidus
- Hallux limitus
- Hammertoes
- Claw toes
- Mallet toes
- Crossover toe
- Tailor’s bunion (bunionette)
Arthritis
- Great toe arthritis
- Midfoot arthritis
- Foot osteoarthritis
- Inflammatory arthritis affecting the foot
Diabetic Foot Care
- Comprehensive diabetic foot evaluations
- Diabetic foot ulcers
- Neuropathic ulcers
- Pressure ulcers
- Charcot neuroarthropathy (evaluation and ongoing management)
- Diabetic foot infections
- Preventive diabetic foot care
- Off-loading
- Footwear recommendations
Limb Preservation
- Chronic wounds
- Non-healing ulcers
- Gangrene (multidisciplinary management)
- Osteomyelitis
- Partial foot amputations
- Toe amputations
- Ray resections
- Transmetatarsal amputations
- Wound prevention
Nail Disorders
- Ingrown toenails
- Infected ingrown toenails
- Thick toenails
- Fungal nails (onychomycosis)
- Painful nails
- Traumatic nail injuries
- Nail deformities
- Subungual hematoma
Skin Conditions
- Corns
- Calluses
- Plantar warts
- Skin lesions requiring evaluation
- Foreign bodies
- Blisters
- Fissures
- Ulcerations
Pediatric Conditions
- Flat feet
- Heel pain
- Ingrown nails
- Warts
- Toe walking (evaluation)
- In-toeing and out-toeing (evaluation)
- Pediatric sports injuries
Nerve Conditions
- Morton’s neuroma
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome (evaluation)
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Nerve entrapments
- Neuritis
Fractures & Trauma
- Toe fractures
- Metatarsal fractures
- Stress fractures
- Foot injuries
- Crush injuries
- Sprains
- Soft tissue injuries
Biomechanics & Walking Problems
- Flat feet
- High arches
- Overpronation
- Supination
- Leg length differences (evaluation)
- Gait abnormalities
- Walking pain
- Standing pain
- Occupational foot pain
Orthotics & Bracing
- Custom orthotics
- Functional orthotics
- Shoe recommendations
- Bracing
- Walking boots
- Off-loading devices
Circulation & Neuropathy
- Peripheral arterial disease screening
- Peripheral neuropathy evaluation
- Cold feet
- Foot discoloration
- Ischemic foot concerns (coordination with vascular specialists)
Infections
- Cellulitis
- Abscesses
- Paronychia
- Diabetic foot infections
- Soft tissue infections
- Bone infections (osteomyelitis)
Foot & Ankle Conditions Frequently Asked Questions
All evaluations and treatment recommendations are provided by a foot and ankle physician and surgeon specializing in lower-extremity medicine and surgery.
General Foot & Ankle Questions
See a podiatrist if you experience persistent pain, swelling, numbness, wounds that won’t heal, or injuries that limit walking. Early evaluation often prevents complications and speeds recovery.
Urgent care can handle minor injuries, but complex fractures, infections, or diabetic wounds require a specialized podiatrist for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Recovery depends on the injury type, severity, and your overall health. Sprains may heal in 2–6 weeks, while fractures or post-surgical recovery can take several months.
Heel Pain & Plantar Fasciitis
Heel pain is often caused by plantar fasciitis, inflammation of the ligament supporting the arch. Other causes include arthritis, tendonitis, or stress fractures.
Treatments may include stretching exercises, custom orthotics, anti-inflammatory therapy, shockwave therapy, and advanced procedures if needed. Early treatment improves outcomes.
Bunions & Toe Problems
Conservative care—supportive footwear, orthotics, and activity modification—can slow progression, but severe cases may require surgical correction.
A hammertoe occurs when the middle joint of a toe bends downward. Signs include pain, corns, calluses, and visible deformity. Early treatment may prevent surgery.
Hallux rigidus is arthritis of the big toe joint causing stiffness and pain. Treatment ranges from conservative care with orthotics to surgical intervention if necessary.
A tailor’s bunion (bunionette) is a painful bump on the outside of the little toe. Treatment may include shoe modifications, orthotics, or surgery for severe cases.
Neuromas & Nerve Pain
Morton’s neuroma is a common cause, creating a thickened nerve in the ball of the foot. Symptoms include burning, tingling, or feeling like you’re standing on a pebble.
Treatment can include footwear adjustments, orthotics, injections, or surgical removal if conservative care is insufficient.
Ingrown Toenails & Nail Problems
Recurring ingrown toenails can be permanently corrected with in-office procedures. Early treatment prevents infection and pain.
Patients with pain in the nails, neuropathy, circulation problems, or prior amputations, such as in people with diabetes, may need surgical nail care to prevent wounds and infections.
Diabetic & High-Risk Foot Care
Daily inspection, proper footwear, pressure off-loading, and early podiatric evaluation help prevent ulcers, infections, and amputation.
Charcot foot is a severe deformity from nerve damage that weakens bones. Early diagnosis and treatment by a podiatrist are crucial to prevent complications.
Sports & Overuse Injuries
Ankle sprains, stress fractures, tendon injuries, Achilles tendonitis, and overuse injuries are common. Prompt treatment prevents chronic instability.
Yes. Orthotics correct abnormal gait, reduce strain on tendons, prevent injuries, and improve balance and performance.
Pediatric & Geriatric Questions
Many children have flexible flat feet. Persistent pain, difficulty walking, or abnormal gait should be evaluated by a pediatric podiatrist.
Proper foot care, supportive shoes, corrective orthotics, and treatment of deformities help reduce fall risk in older adults.
Treatment & Recovery Questions
Surgery is considered when conservative care fails or for severe deformities, fractures, or chronic pain affecting mobility. Dr. Hoy evaluates all options and recommends the best plan.
Keep the area clean and dry, elevate to reduce swelling, and apply cool compresses if needed until your podiatry appointment. Avoid walking on injured feet if possible.
Yes. Seattle Foot & Ankle Center offers work-in appointments for urgent conditions—call the office for same-day availability.
Logistics / Referrals
Yes. Dr. Hoy collaborates with pediatricians, primary care doctors, and geriatric specialists for streamlined, evidence-based foot care.
Bring your medical history, any imaging (X-ray images, MRI reports), a list of medications, and insurance information.
Foot and Ankle Conditions Library
We have several sources of information, outlined below, for you to learn about some of the foot and ankle problems we treat, many with playable videos.
- Click a Topic below, arranged by organ system.
- Type in a topic in the Search Box above. Click on the magnifying glass. There may be multiple articles on a subject.
- Visit our Conditions and Care Resource Center.
- Visit our Educational Video Library.
- Go to the bottom of the site to your favorite Social Media network and subscribe.
Common Reasons to See Dr. Hoy, a Foot and Ankle Physician and Surgeon:
- Skin and nail problems, such as fungal toenails, ingrown nails, redness or swelling around the nails, plantar warts, corns and calluses, thickened skin, and skin spots that may need testing or removal.
- Foot shape and alignment problems, including bunions, hammertoes, flat feet, high-arched feet, tailor’s bunions, leg length differences that affect the feet, and walking problems related to these conditions.
- Injuries and fractures, such as broken toes or foot bones, certain fifth-toe-side fractures, ankle sprains, tendon or ligament injuries, and follow-up care after foot or ankle injuries or surgery.
- Diabetic and high-risk foot care, including nerve-related ulcers, Charcot foot, recurring calluses or pressure points, and preventive care like nail and skin care, pressure relief, and prescription footwear.
- Arthritis and long-term foot pain, including wear-and-tear arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, or arthritis after injury in the toes, midfoot, or ankle, as well as heel and arch pain, Achilles tendon pain, ball-of-foot pain, and nerve pain.
- Sports and overuse injuries, such as stress fractures, tendon inflammation, heel pain, growth-related heel pain in children, evaluation of walking or running mechanics, and treatment with custom inserts when needed.
- Foot infections, including skin infections, abscesses, infected wounds, and bone infections—especially in people with diabetes or weakened immune systems.
- Care for slow-healing wounds and circulation problems, including ulcers that don’t heal well or are caused by poor blood flow, often treated together with vascular specialists and wound care centers.
- Children’s foot and ankle concerns, such as toes turning in or out, painful flat feet, and foot problems present from birth.
- After-surgery and reconstructive care, including planned correction of foot problems, repeat surgeries when needed, tendon repairs, joint fusions, and procedures to improve foot stability.
Dr. Hoy is a foot and ankle physician and surgeon providing comprehensive evaluation of all lower-extremity musculoskeletal, neurologic, vascular, and dermatologic conditions, including:
Gout, Ganglion Cyst, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Foot and Ankle, Sports Injuries, Stress Fractures, Arthritis, Bursitis, Sprains, Strains, and Fractures, Tendinitis
Toes:
Hammertoe, Crossover Toe, Toe and Metatarsal Fractures
Ball of the Foot/Metatarsals:
Bunions, Hallux Rigidus (Stiff Big Toe Joint), Tailor’s Bunion (Bunionette), Fractures of the Fifth Metatarsal, Sesamoid Injuries, Neuromas
Mid- and Rearfoot:
Tendon Injuries, Lisfranc Injuries, Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction, Charcot Foot, Accessory Navicular Syndrome, Plantar Fibroma, Cavus Foot, Flatfoot, Pediatric Flatfoot, Tarsal Coalition
Heel:
Heel Pain, Haglund’s Deformity, Fractures of the Calcaneus, Pediatric Heel Pain, Achilles Tendon Disorders, Achilles Tendon Rupture
Ankle:
Ankle Sprain, Os Trigonum Syndrome, Ankle Fractures, Talar Dome Lesion, Chronic Ankle Instability, Equinus
Skin:
Ingrown Toenail, Malignant Melanoma of the Foot, Plantar Wart, Soft Tissue Biopsy, Puncture Wounds and Foreign Bodies, Diabetic Complications and Amputation Prevention, Nail Fungus, Corns and Calluses, Athlete’s Foot, Diabetic Wounds and Ulcers, Infected Wounds, Pressure Ulcers, Arterial Ulcers, Psoriasis, Sweaty Feet, Blisters, Cracked Heels, Frostbite, Skin Cancers of the Feet
Nerves:
Morton’s Neuroma, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, Peripheral Neuropathy
Circulation and blood vessels:
Deep Vein Thrombosis, Peripheral Arterial Disease, High Blood Pressure
Schedule Your Seattle Foot and Ankle Consultation
If you’re dealing with foot or ankle pain, don’t wait for the problem to get worse.
Early treatment can:
- Reduce pain faster
- Prevent complications
- Avoid surgery when possible
- Restore mobility and activity
Contact Seattle Foot and Ankle Center today to schedule your consultation with Dr. J. John Hoy, foot and ankle physician and surgeon in Seattle, or call: 206-682-8741. Insurance & cost information
Anatomy of the Foot from Chicago Health SMB Brands on Vimeo.
In pain? Don’t wait. Early treatment leads to faster recovery. Urgent appointments available. Read about Conditions We Treat. Request an Appointment 5am-5pm M-F or online. Call: 206-682-8741 or Contact Us. If you like our content, please link it to your website and Collaborate With Us. Thank you.