Amazing outcome - Achilles Tendon Repair! Searched and traveled out of state to see Dr. Ferkel- was beyond worth it! It is a strict recovery - non weight bearing but necessary to follow his protocol for proper healing. Back to hiking and doing great. There is a reason he is sought after by Pro Athletes! read more

I had a horrible experience as a result of the surgery Dr. Ferkel performed. I have been permanently disabled as a result. I reached out to Dr. Ferkel's team after my surgery several times to discuss my situation and they never responded. I highly recommend Dr. Kenneth Jung at Kerlan Jobe. read more

I broke my fifth metatarsal on my right foot. Richard Ferkel came highly recommended as in the past he'd worked on famous athletes. He's in his 70s now. I questioned him on several pre-op visits about possible negative outcomes but was given essentially none. He did say that if I left the bone broken bad things could occur. After the surgery to fix the bone break, I was in a huge cast for weeks. After that, two more casts, followed by a boot. His cast room staff assured me that the swelling and redness which started in my foot, and over the course of the casts and boot went to my hip, was normal. I asked them at every visit. Finally, they sent me for an ultrasound to check for a blood clot. The orders were written for arteries, not veins. Thus, no clot was found. I was told all was great. The pain, swelling and discoloration of my leg became unbearable. At my wife's urging, I went to urgent care. The doctor took one look at me and I was quickly admitted to the hospital. I had a solid clot from foot to waist, and bilateral pulmonary embolisms. I was told I was possibly days from dying. I had blood clot surgery, then a second surgery. My lower leg clot was left so long that it will be there forever. Due to the negligent care, foot numbness, botched blood clot detection, and continued pain while walking, I no longer trust him. read more

Richard D Ferkel, MD - my massive blood clot - Orthopedists Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Just wanted to come on here and share my beautiful experience from beginning to end. My mother had surgery in December 2024 and Dr.Ferkel did such a an amazing job. My mom is recovering just as planned. Dr.Ferkel's team matched how amazing the Dr is as well. One of their employees by the name of Crystal was very kind, patient and compassionate with my mom. She was very professional throughout the entire processes! She always had a smile on her face when we go into the clinic and talks us through the long wait times (but so worth it) and even offered  us snacks one time. Natalie is also great. She is funny and very thorough in explaining the surgery process and post op recovery. Great team and great doctor! A These girls deserve to get some recognition for their amazing work. I can tell that they love their jobs by seeing their smiles that lighten up the room! read more

Dr Ferkel is a fantastic surgeon. I had my first ankle surgery in 2021, my second 2022, and my third and hopefulky last 2024. Im recovering really well and started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. His staff Natalie and Crystal are more than amazing and kind. Im amazed at the level of care these girls give as well. read more

Dr Ferkel recently repaired what I believe was a botched rotatory cuff surgery that was previously performed by another surgeon. The repairs made during the previous surgery had fallen apart, and there was not a lot left to work with. My shoulder was a disaster before Dr Ferkel repaired it, and I give him all the credit for being able to fix it and get me to a place where I am light years ahead of where I was after the previous surgery. Dr Ferkel has a great sense of humor and is just really a good guy. I also like his staff. Lastly, I had a surgical complication that was not the fault of Dr Ferkel, and he stuck with me during that entire issue. I have no doubt that Dr Ferkel truly cares about his patients, and I feel very lucky that I chose him. read more

I was very pleased with the surgery Dr. Ferkel did on my ankle-fusing it. By the time I reached him, I couldn't walk at all due to arthritis in the joint. I searched around before selecting him-good old Google. Nothing like knowing the doctor you're about to see WROTE one of the textbooks on the procedure you're about to have. I found the whole experience positive. Yes, we had to wait for our appointments, and that after driving 2.5 hours in LA traffic from our home. Every part of my contact with Dr. Ferkel and his staff was professional and reassuring. (Even when he got mad at me for not getting my pre-op exam and labs done in time. He was totally right-I spaced big time. They should have been done weeks before the surgery. But he still got the labs and EKG ordered and done in time for the surgery. He got them organized at the local hospital WHILE ON A TEACHING GIG IN CHICAGO. He flew in like a hero and fused away, bright and early the next morning! What a display of competence and devotion to duty.) I've had about 10 years of pain free walking since then. I haven't been able to be as active as I would like because the knee on the same side has been replaced. But I'm WALKING, and it doesn't hurt. I can ride my mule, no sweat, and get around fine. That's enough!! Thank you, Dr. Ferkel! read more

Terrible place, not professional whatsoever. Do your self a favor and go elsewhere. This Dr doesn't care about you or your time! Very disappointed Grade-F read more

As someone who enjoys hiking, I owe Dr Ferkel a lot. Several years ago, I was hiking on a familiar trail near Joshua Tree National Park after it had rained 3 days in a row. A sink hole opened up under my foot, causing a bad fall. Because I played sports throughout high school and college, I thought I had a bad sprain and elevated my foot for several days and iced it. I proceeded to go on a planned trip back to see my family on the east coast where the pain got worse. I was placed in a temporary boot and advised to see a Dr when I got back to CA. Over a period of approximately one year with another Dr., I had 2 MRIs and one CT scan. I was placed in multiple hard casts, soft casts, etc. When I complained that I could barely walk and could hardly sleep at night, I was told I was not 20 anymore. I went to another Dr 6 hours away who was a friend of the family for a second opinion. By having a CT scan, it finally showed the magnitude of my problem. I then went to 4 doctors who recommended drastic action that would probably prevent me from hiking and walking more than one or two miles for the rest of my life. (One of those doctors was highly impressed with himself because he had appeared a few times on a TV show.) Needless to say, I began doing extensive research and found that part of my injury was fairly rare and not many doctors specialized in it. I narrowed it down to 3 doctors in three different states. Dr.Ferkel was one of those doctors. Yes, he is a bit taciturn at first but not in a bad way. Yes, he does run behind on appointments; however; I know that when he saw me, he was going to give my case his undivided attention. The last time I saw him, I actually gave him a big hug because of his caring attitude and work on my ankle, foot, and lower leg. Yes, my ankle and foot will never be the same. Yes, I had.many months of physical therapy. Yes, I rarely wear high heels over 2 inches. I can but I choose not to. No, I will not hike 20 miles up and down hills again. But you know what? I can walk in my daily life. I can easily hike 6 miles per day. I just got back from a 3-week vacation to Europe where I hiked, walked on cobbled streets, climbed steep hills, and enjoyed myself because I could walk where I wanted to go. So yes, I do owe Dr. Ferkel a lot and will always be grateful. read more

Dr Ferkel is AMAZING. Thankfully most people don't go to Yelp for medical advice. But since I see these negative reviews, I feel the need to defend him. I broke the sesamoid bone in my left foot a few years ago. After seeing a different doctor I spent months wearing a walking boot because they thought it would heal on its own, and someone sent me to Dr. Ferkel. From the minute I got there I felt welcome. I was eventually informed the broken bone would never heal since it was shattered. Dr. Ferkel performed my surgery and I've never had another problem. Everyone in the office was wonderful. Did it take a month to schedule my surgery, yes. But a tiny broken bone in my foot, that I can still walk on is not an emergency. And he has to save room in his surgery schedule for people who need immediate attention. If you were that person you would be thankful he had an opening. And sometimes you just have to wait. Bring a magazine or play a game on your phone. I don't pick my doctors based on the receptionist. I pick them based on their experience, how they treat me, and how well they do their job. And Dr Ferkel gets five stars for the things that matter. read more

I drove over a hour away and got there 30 min early!! I waited over a hour before i asked if they had any idea when i was getting in she said 20 min ! After waiting 30 min longer i came back and asked again and she said i have no idea? He is always like this and he sucks! Don't ever come here you will wait all afternoon and they have no when u will get in! I left and never coming back read more

If I could give 0 stars I would. This review is 19 years too late. I had surgery with Dr Ferkel in Dec 1995 and unfortunately Yelp did not exist at that time and household internet did not exist. He performed a bunionectomy on my left foot. To clarify I did not have a bunion only what's called a "joint" on my big left toe. Seriously, looking at the before pictures I had a normal joint and he performed unnecessary orthopedic surgery on a 21 year old woman. The surgery left me crippled, not having any mobility in my big toe. I am unable to wear high heels, dance, do lunges or even raise up on my toes. It also made my left foot half a size bigger due to the inability to normally move my big toe. I have had to buy different size shoes ever since then. Fast forward 19 years and am now suffering severe plantar fasciitis with Mortons neuroma and pain to the point I had to stop working because I could not walk. These problems are caused by the inability to properly stretch the plantar fascia because I can not bend my big toe back. The surgery also hampered my ability walk normally and I compensate by hitching my knee up higher than normal. I had to have a second corrective surgery to repair some of the damage Dr Ferkel did. I am in recovery and at this point don't know how much function I will reclaim. My current surgeon states maybe 20-25% of the big toe mobility just enough to get me into low heels which is a very low priority at this point. There is a strong possibility I will have some disability for life. Looking back on it now, Dr Richard Ferkel performed surgery on me for the money and if he had any ethics he would have turned me away. There was nothing wrong with my feet until he cut on me. I will regret having the original surgery for the rest of my life. All I can do now is tell my story and hopefully spare other people some of misery I've lived through. read more

Dr Ferkel is a brillant surgeon!!!!! He is extremely smart and knows he's craft. I'm a professional Figure Skater. I was on Tour in Boston when I had a horrible accident with the stage curtain as I went up in the air for a very advance jump. My foot twisted inside the boot. I honestly thought I would NEVER SKATE AGAIN! Unable to walk correctly , and in so much pain.!! Dr Ferkel reconstructed my foot . It took two surgeries, and a lot of P.T.To get me back on stage doing what I loved. I owe all that to Dr Ferkel. When I saw him it was 1987. His bed side manor wasn't the best, but i know brilliant minds , don't always come of as approachable...:-) When I read that comment on 19 yrs too late it pissed me off! I thought Maybe she has gotten the wrong Dr.? Dr Ferkel works miracles!!! He isn't money hungry, and he doesn't just cut you open without having every T crossed, and I dotted.... As a professional Athlete he is " The doctor you want working on your feet/ankles." Helen E Tamburri read more

Listens very carefully and is able to thoroughly explain, without dumbing down, X-rays taken of my knee. He explained options that had not been offered or considered by other doctors. My only complaint is that their physical therapy is handed off to various assistants, never the actual physical therapists. They don't even watch you but take off to type away across the room. And scheduling? The worst. Just get the prescription and go elsewhere. Ferkel is excellent. read more

Dr. Ferkel is undoubtedly amongst the best in the country at what he does. I suffered for two years from a torn ankle tendon and related joint inflammation -- largely due to a mis-diagnosis by my podiatrist. I sought out Dr. Ferkel's advice, despite the fact that I live more than 300 miles away. He was quick to diagnose the root cause of my problem and put me on his surgery schedule. 5 months later, I can say that I have regained near perfect function in my ankle, and I am completely pain-free. Dr. Ferkel is highly intelligent, compassionate, funny, and an icon in his field. Highly, highly recommended. read more

Wish I could give 0 stars as well. I traveled a far distance to see Dr. Ferkel because he was recommended to me. I was totally unimpressed. His receptionist is a young lady with serious attitude - most unprofessional. As for Dr. Ferkel, he is not much better - devoid of personality and exhibits absolutely no affect. In fact, he came across as uncaring. To add insult to injury, I had to wait hours beyond my scheduled appointment time to see him and was advised by others in the waiting area that this is usually the case. read more

I am grateful to Dr Ferkel for giving my daughter the ability to walk without pain again. No other Dr in Los Amgeles was willing to do the necessary ankle fusion she needed to get off pain killers and live a normal life. She was only 16, so most orthopedic drs said not until she is 18. And most pediatric orthopedists don't have experience with cutting edge orthoscopic ankle fusions. read more

I heard such good things about Dr. Ferkel and he has yet to fall short of expectations. Dr. Ferkel is fantastic. His staff was very helpful in helping me see Dr. Ferkel very quickly. When I did see him, he did not immediately tell me I needed surgery. Rather, he recognized that the root cause of my problem was likely arthritis and wanted to work with a rheumatologist to develop a joint treatment plan. read more