Clinical

Evaluate the patient’s foot pain.  Is there any: History of trauma? Chronic or acute pain? Obvious swelling or deformity? Appropriate range of motion? Point tenderness? Neuropathy or peripheral vascular disease? Urgent Referrals–refer to our office: Displaced or rotated foot fractures Lacerations with tendon, nerve or bony injury Diabetic wounds Sub-acute infections such as paronychia, ulcerations … Read more

Recently a patient expressed to me that he would rather perform exercises instead of custom orthotic therapy to help his pronation.  He felt that orthotics would be a crutch. In our office we use custom functional orthotics a lot in treatment of various foot conditions.  Orthotics can be compared to eyeglasses.  Eyeglasses change the orientation … Read more

Osteoarthritis is a wear and tear arthritis that causes cartilage erosion and pain with activity or cold. Treatment involves stabilization of joints such as through rigid soled shoes, orthotics. Surgeries to resect spurs and clean up joints, create new cartilage, or eliminate movement of joints may be needed. What Is Osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is a condition … Read more

The treatment of the diabetic foot is a specialty of our office.  Dr. Hoy has had much experience in working with the diabetic foot.  Podiatrists work to prevent foot problems and to save life and limb when it becomes infected. Diabetes Complications and Amputation Prevention People living with diabetes are prone to having foot problems, … Read more

One of the most common areas of foot pain is in the ball of the foot.  This is an area that bears the weight of the body when you walk.  There can be many causes of pain here.  These are just a couple: Fracture.  Many people have active lifestyles.  It is easy to break one … Read more

One of the most common questions we receive from patients is: 1) whether there are exercises they can do for certain foot deformities such as bunions, hammertoes and flat feet, and 2) whether those exercises will resolve the problem. A bunion is a prominent head of the 1st metatarsal bone, which is the bone behind … Read more

Corticosteroid injections, also known as cortisone shots, are often used in the treatment of foot and ankle problems.  A therapeutic cortisone injection consists of a combination of cortisone or other steroid preparation and a local anesthetic.  Cortisone as a steroid hormone that is made by your body to help handle stress.  The compounds used for … Read more

There are various causes for foot swelling, including liver, kidney and heart problems, as well as vein problems in the leg, injuries and infections. Treatments for foot and ankle swelling include elevation, water pills (diuretics) and compression stockings. One type of swelling in the foot and leg that is dangerous is deep venous thrombosis. Surgical … Read more

Dr. Hoy attended The Podiatry Institute’s Pacific Coast Conference which took place August 3-6 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Portland, Oregon.  The following are topics of the continuing education lectures he attended on August 6: Midfoot fractures Considerations for Charcot reconstruction The pregnant patient Three forefoot surgical pearls Occult pathology in the cuboid Common … Read more