Foot & Ankle
Ankle and foot doctors are specialists who have undergone medical training that allows them to expertly diagnose and treat injuries and conditions of the foot and ankle. While these doctors are often able to treat a foot and ankle issue without surgery, they also have the surgical skills needed to perform foot and ankle surgery.
At Orthopaedic Associates, our foot and ankle doctors, Dr. Jason Thackeray, Dr. David Dean, Dr. J. Ryan Cotton, and Dr. Chad Mitchell are recognized experts in the diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle injuries and conditions. Our orthopaedists have extensive training and experience in the surgical and nonsurgical care of the foot and ankle and are dedicated to providing you with the specialized, compassionate care you need to become stronger.
Expert Foot & Ankle Care for a Stronger You
When our orthopaedists develop a treatment plan for a patient with an ankle injury or foot condition, their first step is always to consider nonsurgical treatment options first. Sometimes, there are nonoperative treatments, such as diabetic foot care, physical therapy, or orthotics, that can provide relief for a patient’s injury or condition. However, sometimes the patient’s ankle or foot issue has become so problematic that orthopaedic surgery is the best choice.
If ankle surgery or foot surgery is the best option for you, our board-certified and specialty-trained ankle and foot surgeons will work with you to create a surgical treatment plan that is right for your injury or condition. Our surgical team is equipped with state-of-the-art technology as well as the knowledge and surgical skills needed to treat your ankle or foot problem and get you on the road to becoming stronger.
Having undergone extensive training, our surgeons are highly skilled and are considered experts in the following surgeries and procedures:
- Achilles tendon repair
- Ankle arthroscopy
- Bunion correction surgery
- Charcot reconstruction
- Flatfoot repair
- Foot and ankle fracture repair
- Hammertoe correction surgery
- Ingrown toenail removal
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Tendon and ligament repair
Signs You May Have a Foot or Ankle Injury
Common signs and symptoms you may be experiencing if you have a foot or ankle injury or condition include:
- Ankle instability
- Bump on the side of your big toe
- Difficulty moving your toe
- Difficulty walking
- Foot cramps
- Heel pain
- Lower leg pain, including the ankle
- Pain in the midfoot
- Soreness
- Swelling
- Your toe is bent in a claw-like position
If you are experiencing any of the above for more than a few days or if any of them are getting worse, make an appointment to see a podiatrist or ankle and foot specialist. The podiatrist or surgeon may diagnose you with one of the following injuries or conditions:
- Ankle sprain
- Arthritis
- Bunion
- Flat feet
- Fracture
- Hammertoe deformity
- Heel spur
- Plantar fasciitis
- Sports injury
- Stress fracture
- Tendon or ligament injury
- Tendonitis
- Toenail fungus
Orthopaedic Associates: The Strength of Experience
At Orthopaedic Associates, we are regional experts committed to providing patient-centered care. When you are seen by one of our experienced orthopaedic providers—from our foot and ankle specialists and sports medicine doctors to our physical therapists and physician assistants—you can rest assured that you are receiving treatment from an experienced orthopaedic provider who is highly skilled in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of the musculoskeletal system.
As a team, our goal is to help you, educate you, care for you, and treat you with the same high level of care and respect we would want for a member of our own family. Throughout your entire orthopaedic experience, we will be by your side for every step—from your first appointment to your last.
If you are ready to start your journey to a stronger you with less or no foot and ankle pain, take the first stipe by requesting an appointment online or calling one of our five locations: Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Niceville, Crestview, or Panama City.
