Nearly one year after undergoing a total ankle replacement with Sheridan Orthopedics’ podiatrist, Daniel Peterson, DPM, FACFAS, equine veterinarian Judy Merriott, DVM, credits both the procedure and Dr. Peterson with restoring her quality of life and getting her back to doing what she loves.
“I was hiking the other day with a good friend, and she asked me, ‘Do you ever think about your ankle?’” Merriott recalled with a laugh. “And I said, ‘I never do.’”
Merriott moved to Sheridan in 2024 after spending 12 years practicing equine veterinary medicine in Australia. Following a work-related accident in which a mare spooked and stepped on her ankle, she experienced significant, gradually worsening ankle pain for years. The injury not only made it difficult for her to continue working, but also kept her from doing the things she loved, like hiking and riding horses.
After getting off a horse in tears due to the pain in the summer of 2024, Merriott knew it was time to seek help.
“That was devastating,” she said. “I wanted my quality of life back.”
She met with Dr. Peterson and, after hearing consistent praise from other community members about his expertise and kindness, chose to move forward with a total ankle replacement in April 2025.
In the year since her procedure, Merriott has been more than pleased with her recovery and the results.
“My quality of life is completely the same as before my accident,” she remarked. “It’s quite miraculous, really. If I were a horse, I’d rate myself on a scale of one to five — with five being the worst lameness and one being a normal gait. Before surgery, I was probably around a four and a half on some days. Now, I’m back to a one or one and a half.”
Despite her overall smooth recovery, the early days after surgery weren’t easy. Like many patients, Merriott experienced pain during the immediate post-operative period, but with patience — along with physical therapy, massage, heat therapy and exercise — she steadily improved.
“The immediate post-operative period wasn’t fun,” Merriott admitted. “I would wake up in the middle of the night in a fair amount of pain, but once I had my staples removed, I’d get up and take a warm bath to soak my ankle. I knew it was going to be short-term, and I knew I would be OK.”
Now, Merriott hikes confidently on uneven terrain, navigates rocky hillsides with ease and has even returned to work.
“There are a lot of times when I’ll be doing something and think, ‘Oh, I wouldn’t have been able to do this a year ago, and now I can,’” she said. “I’m excited to ride again soon. As soon as spring hits, I’ll find a horse.”
While she credits Dr. Peterson and her care team for her successful recovery, Merriott also emphasized the importance of personal commitment throughout the process.
“The best way I can describe it is that I did everything I was supposed to do,” she explained. “I followed the protocols pretty religiously, just like Dr. Peterson asked. I let the bones settle and gave the sutures and incisions time to heal. You have to put in the work and hold up your end of the bargain — and it is work. There were days when I left physical therapy exhausted. But it paid off. So, yes, I was blessed with a great surgeon, but I also did what I needed to do to heal.”
Merriott says the experience also deepened her appreciation for the Sheridan community. During her recovery, friends, neighbors and members of her church regularly checked in, brought meals and offered support.
“I don’t think there are many other places where that would have happened,” Merriott said. “I had this whole cadre of people who looked after me, which was really heartwarming, and I think it helped me recover more quickly.”
Merriott’s positive experiences at Sheridan Memorial Hospital extend beyond orthopedic surgery. From her primary care provider — Dr. Hannah Hall at SMH’s Internal Medicine clinic — to a recent hospital stay and participation in the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program following a bout of pneumonia, she describes her care as consistently personal and compassionate.
“I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Hall. The staff in the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation gym are wonderful. Dr. Peterson is terrific,” Merriott praised. “I wouldn’t want to be treated anywhere else. I feel like I’m looked after very well and with a personal approach.”
Looking back, Merriott has one piece of advice for others living with chronic joint pain:
“Don’t wait,” she said. “We have the facilities here, we have the talented people here — so don’t mess around. Just go do it.”
For Merriott, the decision to move forward with a total ankle replacement wasn’t just about fixing her ankle and easing her pain — it was about reclaiming her life.
“I wanted my quality of life back, and I feel like I got it back,” she said. “People tell me, ‘You’re remarkable. You’re a star patient!’ And I tell them, ‘I don’t care if I’m remarkable or anyone’s star patient. I got my ankle back.’”
If bone, joint or muscle pain is keeping you from doing the things you love, you don’t have to go through it alone. Visit sheridanortho.org to learn how Sheridan Orthopedics can help you restore your quality of life and get back to moving with confidence.