John Keeling

John Keeling was no stranger to playing through the pain. A years-long athlete active in Nordic skiing, tennis, basketball, trail running and soccer, the 42-year-old wasn’t going to let ankle pain slow him down, “I’ve had long-standing right ankle pain and instability following repetitive ankle sprains through many different sports,” John explains. “It was never a major sprain — I’d just take three or four days off and I’d be back at it.” In addition to a high level of sports activity, John also is on his feet for 12 or more hours a day at work. A Physician Assistant (PA) for CareNow Urgent Care, John had become accustomed to a deep, aching pain in his ankle. But it was after a strenuous hike with a friend that John realized his knee had become affected too, “I thought, ‘this is pretty simple, I’m either going to have two surgeries or one’ — it’s either knee and ankle surgery or just ankle surgery and I decided let’s just knock the ankle surgery out this year.”

‘Clear he’d done this for decades’

As a PA, John understood that his knee was compensating for his damaged ankle — and he knew he needed to have his ankle treated to avoid further damage. He’d referred many of his own patients to Gary Schmidt, MD, a board-certified foot and ankle specialist with OrthoONE at Swedish Medical Center. “I did my research. I’d sent countless patients to Dr. Schmidt and heard feedback from the many cases I’d sent to him. Everyone was very satisfied.” John made his own appointment with Dr. Schmidt and was immediately impressed when his MRI was already on the screen as he entered the consultation room. “He thoroughly explained the corkscrew nature of the osteochondral lesion to my talus and how it was setting me up for the deep aching pain I’d been experiencing for years,” John recalls. “He pointed out the tendon tears as well. He said through surgery he may find ligament damage as well that could be repaired during that time.”

“The primary injury we saw in John’s imaging is an osteochondritis dissecans of the talus, also called OCD. This is an area of abnormal, damaged cartilage and bone on top of the lower bone of the ankle joint — known as the talus,” Dr. Schmidt clarifies. John recalls feeling understood and truly listened to, sensing that he was in good hands with the ankle expert. “He had this immediate expertise on what I know to be a somewhat obscure injury. It’s clear he has done this for decades — he could even cite studies for me on why he was planning to treat me how he was.”

‘All taken care of by 10:30 in the morning’

The surgery was set for a few weeks later. An outpatient procedure, John was impressed with how simple the process was. “Next thing you know, it was all taken care of — all that stuff I had dealt with for years — by 10:30 in the morning.” While John was set to be non-weight bearing for a short time after recovery, Dr. Schmidt had explained to him that it was important to increase range of motion as soon as possible. Per post-op orders, John was off his right side for a few weeks progressing from a scooter, crutches and onto a boot. He kept up with all the doctor’s recommendations and stayed loose with physical therapy. By just six weeks after his surgery, John is back to activity, walking and standing on his feet for work.

While John is excited to get back to pick-up basketball, games of tennis and days on the mountain, he understands that importance of going back to his high level of activity at an appropriate pace. “I’m definitely looking forward to getting back into cross country skiing, tennis, basketball, trail running, especially without that dull aching pain. I’m moving in that direction slowly. I think I’ll be able to hit the back end of the ski season and then tennis and running in the spring.”

‘Don’t push it too far’

For those who may be facing similar types of injury coupled with an innate desire to be active, John encourages listening to your body. “It's okay to fight through a low degree of pain for a short amount of time. Rest, do physical therapy and wait but don’t push it too far,” he reassures. “If you let it linger too long, your symptoms can worsen, and you can almost get used to the pain. If you’re dealing with continuing ankle pain, get imaging. It’s amazing the advancements in medicine that can help you live a healthier pain-free life. It may be that you need surgery, but that may help you enjoy your activities to the highest possible level.”

Learn more about foot and ankle care at Swedish Medical Center.

Gary Schmidt, M.D., is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon specializing in post-traumatic reconstruction of the foot and ankle, foot and ankle deformity in adults and athletic injuries. He also treats patients with common foot problems, including bunions and heel pain. Dr. Schmidt has more than three decades of clinical experience and has been active in teaching and research with publication in various medical journals. Dr. Schmidt also gained valuable sports medicine experience while working with the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Expos as well as serving as a team physician for the McGill hockey team. From bunions and heel pain to post-traumatic reconstruction and deformity correction, Dr. Schmidt is highly experienced in providing advanced care for conditions of the foot and ankle. After earning his medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine in Saskatoon, Canada, Dr. Schmidt completed an internship and an orthopedic residency at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. He then furthered his training with a foot and ankle fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin. After practicing for more than 20 years in Missouri, Dr. Schmidt relocated to Colorado where he provides advanced care for conditions of the foot and ankle to patients in the Denver metro area. Dr. Schmidt is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Royal College of Surgeons, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and Academy of American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgeons.