Elisa Schneider had been running for most of her adult life. She first saw Dr. Alfandre due to hip pain, then again while training for the Philadelphia Marathon for severe muscle strain two weeks out from the race. Each time, Dr. Alfandre helped ensure she could continue running.
Then in the fall of 2022, her calf began to hurt. She went to physical therapy and even the chiropractor because her mechanics seemed off. Thinking she didn’t need surgery, she went to another local provider and the unthinkable happened.
That doctor said, “You will never run again.”
She immediately called OrthoNY and went back to Dr. Alfandre now knowing that surgery was potentially on the table. And Dr. Alfandre’s words put her at ease, “we’re going to get you back running.”
In December of 2022, Dr. Alfandre performed a Medial Meniscal Repair on Elisa’s left knee. With time, her knee began to get stronger. “Injuries like Elisa's do not mean the end of the road. With current advanced surgical techniques, patients like Elisa can not only safely get back to running and sports, but the surgery also supports long term preservation of the knee joint, oftentimes preventing the need for knee replacement in future," Dr. Alfandre shared.
After giving her knee time to recover and completing a home exercise program provided by Dr. Alfandre, she felt she was ready and laced up her running shoes. She soon began training for her first race. Since then, she has run three races with her most recent begin the Delightful (formerly Freihofer’s) Run for Women on June 1, 2024.
“I am so thankful to Dr. Alfandre. He gave me hope. I went to that first appointment with him holding so much fear. I had been told by the other doctor I would never run again and that was crushing. Dr. Alfandre was confident and calm. And when he said, I’m going to get you running again – I believed I would. I knew I was in the right hands.”
The comprehensive orthopedic & sports medicine care at OrthoNY covers everything from sprains and complex fractures to sports injuries and total joint replacement. If you are suffering from chronic pain or if a recent injury is keeping you from doing the things you love, learn more about how OrthoNY can help you by visiting.us at orthony.com or by calling (518) 489-2663.
Dr. Charles Buttaci
Dr. Buttaci, Greatest pain Management specialist I have ever met. He has a senses of humor and I always feel at ease and trust him. I met him 10 years ago for a back injection , I was scared to death, never had an injection before he made it seem like a piece of cake. what a pleasure from that day on I have always trusted his advice. He understands that being a person in recovery for 34 years and I did not want to be prescribe narcotic's he has done everything in his expertise to make sure that I am not given narcotics if I don't have to have. and he is not one to push narcotics also. Thank You so much Dr. Charles Buttaci, I appreciate you and your team, in order to be good you have to have a great squad also tell them thank you also!!!!!. I appreciate you all. I had a hip injection on 3/1/2024. so far so good!!!!!Feel great!!!!!!! THANK YOU ALL !!!!!