I just learned yesterday from Dr. Kou that I sprained my ankle approx 6 weeks ago. I was referred to Dr. Kou by my primary care physician. I saw him for about 5 minutes and he told me it would take more time to heal. He did not advise any therapy or exercises just more time. He confirmed my toe fracture had healed but ignored my comment that it still felt funny. At my age any injury is significant, especially because it was not diagnosed or treated right away. My balance and walking has been off and I felt so rushed I didn't get a chance to mention that. I felt quickly dismissed and will not be seeing Dr. Kou in the future. read more

I had a horrible experience with Dr. Kou. I'm needing revision surgery on my foot, so the issues I'm experiencing aren't straightforward. Dr. Kou declined to listen to me, and instead gave general advice. He had an ego and was offended when I brought up alternate opinions I've received from other doctors. I left this appointment feeling unheard and like I wasted my time and money. read more

I visited Dr. Kou at Golden State Orthopedics. His office manner was completely inappropriate he abruptly pulled his computer out of the wall and stepped in a threatening manner towards my caregiver. Apparently he remembered my caregiver from another encounter. And before he started the assault he said I remember you. He chest bumped my caregiver and yelled that he won't do the surgery and to get out! I was so shocked. I complained to the clinic manager, and as of this writing, we haven't had a conversation. She is supposed to call me today. I'll follow up. I went to see another Podiatrist and I have been blacklisted with comments from Dr Kou in my file. read more

Dr Kou ended up seeing me due to the incompetency of his front desk and admin staff. I had asked for a sports medicine doctor, three times, but they booked me with a surgeon, Dr. Kou. He not only weight-shamed me but he played down my injury and said "it takes up to a year" for this type of injury to heal. He also said, out of frustration, because I was so frustrated, "I could put you in a boot". Well, my issue, achilles tendonitis, should not be treated with a "boot", according to many other health professionals. What a waste of an appointment. It costs me time and money due to the incompetency of that staff and Dr Kou appeared to have no knowledge of the issue I had. read more

Very honest, thoughtful manner, and exceptionally skilled surgeon. I highly recommend him for any foot or ankle injuries.

I had not one but two surgeries on the same foot and he still couldn't get it right. I followed up with another doctor that indicated that what was done to my foot was incorrect. Extremely disappointing part of the John Muir group. read more

I shattered my ankle in 1975 and have endured a lifetime of pain. Five years ago, the joint had gone to a place of no return. Independent doctors told me that I needed a joint replacement. After careful consideration and lots of research, I chose Dr. Kou as my surgeon. He explained things in a way that I could understand and I chose him to do the procedure. I'm now walking without limping or pain. Dr. Kou is amicable, very approachable. He visited me at my bedside, in the hospital and sees me in person, at the clinic. Best ever! I highly recommend him. read more

Joseph X Kou, MD - Total Ankle Replacement. The right view is the Before. Amazing! - Orthopedists Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Dr. Kou repaired my Achilles tendon and chronic tendonopathy and modified my calf to increase range of motion. After 15 years, I'm pain-free and able to workout, run and hike without being hobbled the next two days. THANK YOU! read more

He performed surgery on my foot and it was a disaster, every time I went for a follow up and complained about it he would tell me you need another surgery. I know he owns the surgery center with other doctors but to ruin my foot to make money is not right. I am in pain worse than before the surgery my big toe is fused and the one next to it looks like it was severed and reattached. When I told him I am not letting him touch my foot he left the room and said there's nothing he can do for me. read more

He has the best technique for delivering cortisone injections. You can barely tell there is virtually no pain involved and the results are great as well. read more

Dr. Kou may be known as a good surgeon, however, when I was scheduled to see him for an initial evaluation, it was proficient, yet cursory. At maximum, the duration of the appointment lasted 10 minutes. In addition, during my treatment, I began experiencing symptoms that I was told would resolve by both Dr. Kou and his PA, Megan Smith. These symptoms were later diagnosed by a second MD as an additional condition with which she was familiar, but that Dr. Kou or Megan may not have been. Unfortunately, there appears to be a great deal of miscommunication between staff and patients, in addition to the minimizing of patient symptoms, and curt treatment by support staff. Calls of consults to Dr. Kou's MA, Isabelle, were not recorded in my record nor did my record appear to be reviewed prior to my visits. Neither was it clear when follow up visits were to be scheduled nor did staff express concern or give explanations of wait times. After my final appointment with Megan, when it was suggested that I needed an MRI and possible surgery, I decided to suspend my treatment at MOS and seek a second opinion. It took three days after my appointment with Megan for an MRI request to be submitted -- two days after I had already had an appointment with a new MD for a second opinion -- and who had approved me for an MRI within one hour of my visit. No surgery was needed. Perhaps the systems at MOS need to be re-visited, which might improve both the staff and the patient experience. read more

I am remiss in not having shared my positive experiences with Dr. Kou and Megan, his PA. I had surgery on both my feet to correct pronated feet. The first procedure occurred in early 2017, followed by a surgery for removing the pins. The second surgery, on my other foot, happened last March and it was, again, followed by pin removal. During all four procedures, Dr. Kou and Megan were extremely professional. I was particularly impressed with Megan's kind and caring support. I also appreciated the fact that Dr. Kou was very clear in setting expectations. This type of foot surgery involves a very long recovery and it was not easy, but I am so pleased that both my feet are now upright and I am able to walk without the pain I was previously experiencing. I highly recommend Dr. Kou and Megan. They make an awesome team!! read more

I've had bunion pain for over two years after a basketball accident and I was convinced by three other doctors I need to have surgery. I saw Dr. Koo today and all the pain is gone. It also turns out I may not need surgery after all. Thank you for the attention to detail and giving me instance relief. Words can't express how thankful I am for not having this pain anymore but also the cost of surgery and more importantly, being able to walk and run without any pain. There's a few distinguished doctors out there that are not after money and I'm lucky to have come in contact Dr. Kou. Thanks again. read more

I saw Dr. Kou recently for an ankle issue. I found him to be very knowledgeable, approachable and patient. I highly recommend him.

I had foot surgery recently. I was impressed by the staffs response to all my needs . PA Megan Smith made my recovery easy . She promptly called me back when I was in pain .She is very empathic, knowledgeable and pleasant. She listened to my questions and answered without rushing me . She was very sincere and respectful in all interactions . Isabel is Dr Kou ' s nurse and was also very kind ,helpful and knowledgeable. Thank you so much. Aneela read more

I like Dr. Kou, I'll start there. I do get the feeling that the folder with my information in it is looked at minutes before entering my room and no additional research is done. I've had a surgery in which my insurance company has paid most of the bill and I'm refusing to pay my portion as I still am unable to walk and now my "good" foot is just as bad. The office will not allow me to schedule a appointment anymore because I am unwilling to pay my $700 because I can barely walk. I'm not sure if this is normal but it certainly sucks. read more

I had an Achilles repair surgery with Dr. Kou and his PA Megan Smith. Though it was an unfortunate situation I had a wonderful experience. My appointments were always on time and I never felt rushed. Dr. Kou and Megan were both kind, thoughtful, knowledgeable, thorough, and happy to answer my many questions. They made me feel cared for during a very stressful time. Not only that, my surgery went well, I did not have any complications and I felt like I was in good hands. read more

Dr Kou recently did my foot surgery after I broke it badly in a recent car accident. I was quite nervous since I had never been through surgery before but he even came in over the weekend in his personal time to consult with me about the options and put me at ease about the whole procedure. Not too many doctors would do that! He was very personable and knowledgeable and I liked the fact that he was confident in his recommendations. Thankfully the surgery went smooth and I'm still going through the rehab process. Hopefully the healing will continue per plan and I will be able to walk again normally soon! Thank you again doc! read more

Just a reminder that not all surgeries work. I Approached my survey optimistically and was told by both Dr. Kou and M. Smith , his PA, that the surgery would provide pain relief and stabilize my foot. They didn't see any issues with the surgery. However, that was not the case. During recovery I mostly saw the PA. She would tell me something and then when I saw Dr. Kou he would correct her This was very misleading and confusing to me. After 9 months and still in pain, I went to see Dr Kou. He acknowledged that the surgery left my toe joint bone on bone. he tried a cortisone shot but it provided no relief. The mobility in the joint has continued to decrease. I am in daily pain and joint is essentially fused. I went back twice to inquire what can be done and was told 'nothing'. The only thing was to permanently fuse the joint together. The PA shrugged and told me, "I guess you aren't in the percent of people where the surgery didn't work." My pain and discomfort is 100x worse than before the surgery. so sad and extremely depressing. Went to another doctor recently and xrays confirmed the joint condition and also that 2. screws used in mid foot stick out past the bone, another point of pain for me. I am planning another surgery to try to alleviate the pain. Like I stated, please be aware that not all surgeries work and there is always a risk involved. read more

Six weeks ago I made a big mistake. I thought that it would be wise to jump over a gas hose while it was pumping gas into my car. Let's just say I didn't clear the hose and came down on my ankle. My foot actually looked like it wasn't attached to my leg. I broke three bones (tibia and fibula) are the two names I remember. I also tore some cartilage. My first surgeon called me at home and said he couldn't fix my ankle. He said that he recommended an ankle specialist named Dr Kou. Dr Kou and his staff were amazing. I was nervous and in more pain than I have ever been in. 2 1/2 hours later, 14 screws and two plates...and I would soon be back to my new normal. Dr Kou is an excellent surgeon, a kind human being and somewhat of a magician. I highly recommend him!!! read more

Thank you to Dr. Kou and his staff for giving me back the mobility of being able to walk again with the new STAR Ankle replacement. I have one tenth the pain in my ankle since having the ankle replacement in June 2017. My ankle had deteriorated to bone on bone after injuring it 30 years ago from a 30 foot fall onto cement and 3 surgeries initially to repair it back then. I am very thankful for the job done by Dr. Kou and thankful for the staff in helping getting it done. I appreciated the professionalism and expertise displayed by Dr. Kou and his PA Megan Smith. When first meeting Dr. Kou for consultation, my wife and I were impressed by his professionalism and expertise to my issues. As an orthopedic surgeon, we were pleasantly surprised by his approach in providing us with a diagnosis and that I would benefit from either a total ankle replacement or fusion and that we would discuss pros/cons of each, but in the end, he was going to allow for what I felt was most appropriate for my situation. I never felt pressured or directed to either option. Follow up appointments for pre-op and post-op have been just as informative, allowing for question/answers without feeling pressured for time and that he or staff are in a hurry to move on to next patient or bail out of room, either in hospital or office. My wife and I commuted almost 2 hours for his initial consult due to limited options in our small community and we would recommend Dr. Kou to anyone who is in similar situation with foot/ankle injury/pain. We are forever grateful for your skills and look forward to many adventures with the STAR ankle replacement. Thank you so much, Will R. read more

Very Disappointing. I was at wits end having severe pain in my left foot for 8 months. Finally I was referred to Dr. Kou. He read my MRI. I told him I cannot put weight on it and cannot walk. So he recommended that I wear a walking boot. Wait - What? Is that a joke? I just said I could not walk on it. He was obviously pre-occupied and I left feeling like I was on an assembly line - e.g. "get em in - get em out". "If I can't identify the problem right away - put em in a walking boot". I told him I cant walk in this walking boot - I need crutches - he was "Oh - OK that will be $32. Then he left - and I still don't know what is wrong with my foot. The next day I ended up at the clinic because the heel had swollen up considerably in lots of pain. - So here I am back on my couch unable to walk on my foot - with no diagnosis. I don't know what Dr Kou was going thru that day - but I felt it to be dis-respecful, and not in keeping with a "Dr / Patient" responsibility. Maybe he was having a bad day. If he would like another shot at this - I can be reached at rwbassett@comcast.net. read more

While Dr Kou is kind, honest, and respectful, the overall experience is quite poor. DO NOT go to this practice if you are a workmans comp patient or you will be ignored. Each time I visited the practice there was a breakdown in communication between the office and the insurance adjuster or with the occupational medical group.Requests and reports are never faxed or sent although I was assured they were. Furthermore no one at the office takes accountability for their errors. The practice is so large that no one seems to communicate with one another and no one really seems to care. read more

I met Dr. Kou a few years back now. I had a previous surgery on my right foot which was around 9 years before at the time (by a different doctor). I started experiencing pain in my ankle and foot again and I could not walk for more than 20 min without my knee, hip and back killing me. It became so bad I sought help from many doctors. I eventually saw Dr. Bell in Pleasanton who referred me to Dr. Kou at John Muir Orthopedic. Dr. Kou had reviewed my X-rays, MRI and CT and we discussed what was actually wrong with my foot. Unfortunately, I had a Tarsal Coalition but it was fixable. Dr. Kou was very reassuring and confident about the correction. I went on to have the surgery which did have a long recovery. About 6 or 7 months after the surgery I was fully fused and was able to have the hardware removed. I am not able to supinate or pronate as well, but I am free of pain and able to walk. Also, I can now run! Prior to my surgery I had not run in over 7 years. I now am able to work out and comfortably run and enjoy participating in 5k, 10ks and working my way towards a marathon. After my surgery and during the recovery process I saw Dr. Kou several times for my checkups. He is very precise, thorough and honest. I did my physical therapy at the same office which was convenient and helpful. I highly recommend Dr. Kou for orthopedic care. I'm beyond happy with the outcome of my foot surgery as well as lucky. I am almost 3 years out from my surgery and have had no problems. I'm forever thankful to Dr. Kou for giving me the ability to comfortably walk and run again. read more

I had an awesome experience under Dr. Kou's care. I was previously in a car accident and had to have multiple surgeries. When I had gone to another doctor about doing something about the nerve-damage, hammer-toes and bone spur in my foot, the doctor basically said "Well, that sucks, not much we can do." Dr. Kou on the other hand was quick to identify what needed to be done, and I was able to get surgery scheduled within the next month. It has barely been 2 weeks, and I am already back to work. Dr. Kou is the man. read more

Dr. Kou was extremely professional and pleasant. He did a major bunion reconstruction on my adult daughter and made sure that we were comfortable with the surgery plan and follow up, and answered all of our questions. When she had difficulty with the pain medication he took my call and had the new prescription ready and waiting for me in the office. He was comforting and funny at the same time. We would highly recommend Dr. Kou to anyone needing foot surgery in the Walnut Creek area. read more

Dr. Kou is an amazing foot surgeon! I did a lot of research before choosing him and I am so grateful to have Dr. Kou as my surgeon. He is kind and personable, and gave we realistic explanations and expectations. I had a total of three surgeries on my feet to resolve injuries I sustained having had my feet crushed from an accident several years previously. He also removed a very painful neuroma.The pain I lived with was huge. Now my feet are pain free. I can walk without any discomfort. Dr. Kou has given me my life back. I highly recommend him, he is the best of the best! read more

Dr. Kou treated my broken ankle that after 5 years was still causing me a great deal of discomfort! I should mention Dr. Kou did not perform the original surgery. He gave me a cortisone shot and the pain is just a bad memory. We discussed ankle replacement surgery as an option. Grateful the cortisone works right now! Thank you Dr. Kou! read more

Similar to the experience of other patients, I was left with worsening pain after surgery by Dr. Kou and Megan. I was left with bone on bone due to his decision to perform a procedure he felt would resolve my foot issues. In addition to this pain,I'm left with nerve damage,screw protrusion, and unsightly scarring due to multiple improper placement of incisions. Yes, there are risks related to any surgery but a truly competent Surgeon will utilize information provided by the patient and their medical history to make the best decision on how to proceed surgically(or not). Dr.Kou was provided my medical records and still decided to perform procedures I recently learned I did not need. The truly upsetting part of this experience is that I attempted to explain my symptoms and suggested what could be causing the complications. I was repeatedly told they were normal and improvements would be seen after Physical Therapy. When Dr.Kou finally admitted not knowing why complications were present(and refused to order further diagnostics) I sought the opinion of a knowledgeable Surgeon at my own expense. The cause was simple and exactly what I'd suggested to Dr.Kou and the urgent care staff. I now need additional surgery to correct the dysfunction inflicted by Dr.Kou. It appears that he performed my surgery simply for the money or experimentation because the efforts displayed are that of a novice. A Board Certification means nothing in the hands of a poorly skilled Surgeon. He is NOT recommended. read more

Dr Kou, Confidence. No problem kind of guy! Pleasant.(loosen up in the humor dept.;)) But easy to laugh Skill. The BEST! I had STAR Total Ankle Replacement Feb. 2014 Not one moment of pain(in cast 34days) Great hospital stay(JM/WC). Now in 'boot' for 30 days. Then xrays, etc. Anyway Kou is a cool guy. He is THE man for your feet!! I hope he has a dog! (rescue one if not). Nan Kreeger read more

Dr. Kou did my total ankle replacement surgery using the STAR ankle replacement in November, 2012 due to traumatic arthritis. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. I fell so lucky to have found Dr. Kou as there aren't that many Doctors doing this surgery. The recovery was very easy with minimal pain. Dr. Kou has a great bedside manner, listened to my concerns and gave me all the information I needed to make an informed decision about having this surgery verses Ankle fusion. It's the best decision I've ever made, no more pain, and I can walk again. If you're considering this surgery, I can't recommend Dr. Kou enough. Thanks again Dr. Kou!! read more

Dr. Kou is an outstanding foot surgeon. He's easy to talk to and is caring and conscientious. He's operated on both my feet which were injured in an accident and has got me back to leading a normal life! read more

I had Dr. Kou and his wonderful Physicians Assistant Megan for my extensive foot surgery in January of last year. It has been a long time recovering, just as they said it would be...I can't say enough good things about this Doctor, about Megan and the entire staff...they are always available to answer questions you may have both pre and post surgery, and are always encouraging you to do the best you can do in your recovery, but to not over do it either....Dr. Kou was recommended to me from another respected Orthopedic Surgeon who said that Dr. Kou was the very best in this field, and after having this surgery I can absolutely state I would not have wanted anyone else to do this for me....Megan is always very friendly, very willing to answer all your questions and offer advice to lead you in your recovery process.... you will not be sorry if you choose to go with this medical team, they are professionals all the way....I also have had two cortisone shots in my foot as I continue to heal, and Megan is great at giving the shots, no pain whatsoever!!!!..I highly recommend this medical team.... read more

In October 2013 Dr. Kou did surgery on my right foot. 6 separate procedures. At the time, I could barely walk as a result of that combination of conditions. I had been through the cortisone shot routine. By the end of six months I was walking normally, comfortably. In October of this year I took a trip to Europe. I spent 4 days in Belgium, and 10 in Amsterdam. I walked EVERYWHERE because that is what you do in Europe, especially the cities. Even with the trams, trains and buses, you are constantly climbing up and down, carrying bags, going up and down stairways in the stations, etc. I walked over cobblestone streets, trudged through museum after museum and even managed to wear some comfortable low heel dress shoes the night we went to a concert at the Concertgebouw. Thank you, Dr. Kou, for giving me the ability and the freedom to roam around like that. Oh, and did I mention our rooms in two of the three places we stayed were on the fourth floor, with no elevator? read more

Dr. Kou was fantastic from the second he talked with my daughter about her ankle surgery. He had a great bedside manner, was unhurried, explained everything carefully, reassured us and gave us time to ask questions. She went into surgery with peace of mind (me too!). Once surgery was over he was in the waiting room with us so we didn't have to wait to hear. Great job. We highly recommend him. Everyone at the Muir Woods surgery center was fantastic! read more

I have been going to Dr.Kou for years now. He is the best doctor that I've ever had. He knows what he is doing and he is great at what he does. he has done three ankle surgeries on my ankle and the last ankle surgery was three years ago and my insurance didn't want to ay for it and Dr. Kou did everything that he could have done so that my insurance would cover it, He talked to the insurance everyday for about a week and a half and he had to keep summiting paperwork to the insurance. It was a long process with them but Dr. Kou never gave up and he was there for me and my family. Even though I don't have the same insurance anymore I still keep him posted on my recovery. read more

I had a ankle injury, since I did not have a surgery, I mostly saw Megan Smith, the physician assistance. She is fantastic. Megan is knowledgable, competent, and caring. I totally trust her medical judgment. read more

This is long overdue. I tore my Achilles Tendon 3 years ago, and Dr. Kou performed the surgery to repair it. He did an excellent job, till this day I have 0 issues and 0 pain. It's only when people ask me about my scar or recall me being in a boot that they remind me that I actually tore it. He was exceptional, professional, caring and took the time to explain and answer all of my concerns before and after surgery. He looks young and sometimes (I) was quick to judge in that he may not have much experience but I was WRONG! Don't judge a book by its cover!!! He is excellent, if I had to recommend someone I would say, please go see Dr. Kou before you commit elsewhere! read more

I was previously diagnosed with a ruptured anterior tibialis tendon on my right foot. I had an MRI ordered by the orthopedist referred to me by my primary care physician. I decided to get a second opinion from my wife's podiatrist. I decided I needed a third opinion and was referred to Dr, Kou by my son's significant other (she had not ever seen him but was referred to him by her primary care Dr.). After his initial exam, I had total faith in him because of his demeanor, high confidence level he radiated, plus his experience in doing this surgery that the previous 2 medical professionals lacked. His knowledge and skill came out when the surgery went exactly as planned, the healing/recuperation/rehabilitation went exactly as he said it would, plus his willingness and ability to answer all my concerns and keep me informed of my progress during the entire process. He is in my opinion, extremely knowledgable re. this type of injury and should definitely be considered for doing foot or ankle surgery or for a second opinion. read more

I posted this review under Muir Orthopedic Specialists, but I'm also posting it here because it applies to Dr. Kuo. I've met a lot of doctors in my life, having experienced three car accidents and three surgeries, and I've never had such a bad experience as with Dr. Kuo today. I made an appointment to see him to take a look at my ankle sprain, despite having some reservations after reading some bad reviews on Yelp about this medical practice. Well, I should have believed the bad reviews. My appointment was at 2 pm. The nurse called me in around 2:45 pm. After waiting 10 more minutes in the exam room, Dr. Kuo walked in. More like stormed in--no knock, just barged in. He was very gruff from the beginning. He asked me what happened--I explained that I twisted my ankle in a bad fall, went to the ER, and had an x-ray taken which showed no fracture. The ER didn't give me a copy of my x-ray but I had the x-ray report. He looked at my foot, and said I needed an x-ray. When I hesitated, he asked me what the problem was, and I said I try to avoid x-rays because of the radiation. He said, "The amount of radiation is minimal." I asked him if I could have a couple of minutes to think about it and started to explain that I was worried about the cumulative exposure (I've had a lot of x-rays due to my accidents) but before I could finish, he got up, walked out, and slammed the door behind him. I was there with my sister and 4-year old daughter, and we were literally staring at each other in disbelief--Did he just walk out?? Is he coming back?? What a jerk! All of us sat there dumbfounded for a couple of minutes, and then we got up and left. I wasn't going to let someone treat me like that. To be clear, I don't fault him for wanting another x-ray--I can understand that. What I hold him responsible is for his rudeness, lack of manners, and lack of care. If you want to be treated by a bully, Dr. Kuo is the person for you. But if you want to be treated as a human being, with a right to ask questions and think for yourself, please go elsewhere. read more