Chiropractor Dr. Joel S., 56 of Malone, NY, has a busy practice with plenty of patients and plenty of demand on his body as a manual adjuster for nearly 30 years. After dealing with chronic hip pain for over three years, Dr. S. had enough. He did his research and decided it was worth the trek to The Bone & Joint Center to see board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Dionisio Ortiz.

As a busy chiropractor, Dr. S. refers patients to orthopaedists frequently, and he was very happy with the results he was seeing in patients he’d sent to The Bone & Joint Center. He also had his own experience of eight previous orthopaedic surgeries, and he had a very informed opinion of what to look for. Combined with his own research into Dr. Ortiz’s background and expertise, Dr. Ortiz put him at ease right away.

“From the first meeting, he just put my mind at ease that I was not only in the right facility: I chose the right surgeon,” says Dr. S.

Dr. Ortiz has completed over 200 Mako SmartRobotics™ joint replacements to date. He was also the first surgeon in the Capital Region to perform Mako anterior total hip replacement in 2022. The approach and technology of this procedure was exactly what Dr. S. was looking for.

For patients considering hip replacement, Dr. Ortiz says, “Any patient who is otherwise eligible for a hip replacement can have it done with Mako robotic assistance. It is especially helpful in patients with existing hardware, severe deformities, etc.”

Eager to get back to his patients, Dr. S. returned to work full time within two weeks of his procedure. This made his recovery very remarkable, especially considering the physical demands of his practice.

“Dr. S. is ahead of the curve being back to taking care of his patients so soon,” Dr. Ortiz explains. “With that said, it speaks to the power and effectiveness of hip replacement surgery when done for the right patient and reason.”

Not only did Dr. S. get back to his busy practice with a quick turnaround, but he also got back to one of his passions only days later: snowmobile sledding.

“It was pretty amazing. I didn't think I'd be riding my sled until at least mid-February. I was back on it mid-January, a month early,” Dr. S. states.

This year, he’s skipping the Adirondack Cup Ice Oval snowmobile race, but next year, Dr. S intends to come out of retirement and race again. He’s also back to weight training and anything else he puts his mind to.

Dr. S. was impressed by his experience at The Bone & Joint Center, as his patients have been. Today, he says, “all of my orthopaedic patients from now on, whether it's shoulder, knee, whatever, they're all going to go to The Bone & Joint Center in Albany. I'm sending them there exclusively. Actually, I've already referred two or three patients to Dr. Ortiz.

“If I can get the word out there and get more people to the right place, we're going to get better,” Dr. S. added. “I'm in healthcare. I've been in it for 29 years. I just want the best for people, and a lot of people just have no idea where to go.”

If you or your loved one is in need of the right care for chronic joint pain, our experts at The Bone & Joint Center have you covered. Call (518) 489-2666 or request an appointment online today. We have offices conveniently located in Albany, Catskill, Clifton Park, Latham, Malta, Saratoga, and Schenectady.

As a retired attorney and former ballet dancer, Amy M. was no stranger to pushing through discomfort. But when her lower back pain began to limit even the simplest joys of life, like walking to the library or visiting friends, she knew something had to change.

After physical therapy stopped helping, her therapists recommended The Bone & Joint Center—and Dr. Matthew Tetreault. In a procedure performed at the Center for Advanced Ambulatory Surgery in Malta, Amy underwent a left hip replacement. The results were nearly immediate.

Now? Amy’s walking daily, tending to her gardens, quilting again, and even preparing full family meals—like her unforgettable St. Patrick’s Day dinner.

“I did the whole dinner. My children looked at me and one started crying,” Amy recalled. “They said, ‘Mom, you’re walking—and you’re not limping.’”

Amy credits the compassionate care and expert guidance of Dr. Tetreault and our team for giving her that second chance, saying, “If my other hip goes down the same road, I certainly would not be hesitant to repeat the surgery.”

At The Bone & Joint Center, we’re proud to help people like Amy return to the activities that bring them joy—without pain holding them back.

As a professional athlete and leading a very active lifestyle, it was crucial to eventually fix my left hip. An old fracture, bone spur, and bone on bone pain was unbearable in the end. Dr. Harbin came very highly recommended and promised me to be back in the saddle. After 3 months I'm riding, back in the gym, hiking, and I can't wait to ski this winter with my grandkids. Thank you, Dr. Harbin, for getting my life back, pain free!

16 months of various types of treatment, and I finally got an MRI, which showed encrusted disc area at L5 and S1 at my spine. Dr. Riccio showed me my scan and assured me that I would be pain free. I worked every day with pain and aggravation no pain pills. I had the surgery and was cured with no pain after healing. My first golf outing that next spring I shot my lowest round. Thank you, Dr. Riccio, for making me well again to enjoy work and life.

On May 29th, I had my right replaced and Dr O’Leary is my doctor. Everything he told me would happen, happened. I only used my walker for 4 days and then I was able to use just my cane. I followed his directions exactly and I can say that after 3 months, I still have some issues getting up from a seated position, I am doing amazingly well. I graduated from PT and I am continuing my exercises and feel like I am getting better each day. Thank you Dr O’Leary and the team who made me so comfortable and eased my fears. I was even able to go on vacation early August as shown in the photo!

I underwent ACL surgery in May 2023 with Dr. Daniel T. Phelan. His expertise, professionalism, and genuine compassion made all the difference in my recovery journey. He not only provided excellent surgical care but also took the time to ensure I felt informed and supported every step of the way.

Today, I’m happy to share that I am doing exceptionally well and have been able to return to my normal activities with confidence. I am deeply thankful to Dr. Phelan and his team for their outstanding care and dedication.

I’m have a small consulting business that allows me to pursue my passion of being a “professional grandma”. For the last year or so, my leg pain made it harder and harder to be there for the many young families who needed a playmate for their cuties. I was recommended to AB&J by a friend and my experience has been amazing. It’s now three weeks out from surgery and I am pain free and walking great. Dr. O’Leary and the support professionals have been outstanding and I’m looking forward to playing with all my little friends.

I was 54 years old and my left shoulder was just about always hurting. Went to a few different doctors to get a diagnosis and landed at The Bone and Joint Center because I felt that they listened to my needs and understood my situation. I own a small locksmith business and a the soul proprietor. Getting the surgery done could mean possibly going out of business. When you’re in a lot of pain it’s hard to think positive. I opted to get cortisone injections and take Advil and Tylenol to the prescribed limit. At first the injections were twice a year then three times a year. And then 4 times a year. At this point I can’t move my arm when I get out of bed. (I say get out of bed because there was no real sleeping to wake up from) I do stretches for about 30 minutes in the morning so I can move my arm and PT in the afternoon. Now I have no strength at all and can’t even pick up a salt shaker. The constant pain is there always! It was well past time to do the surgery. Made arrangements and pulled the trigger. What can I say, from that day on it has gotten better every day. I was out of work for 8 weeks. Recovery went really well. I’m now 14 months from the replacement day and I’m very appreciative of everyone at the Bone and Joint Center for all the care from start to finish. I will recommend doing PT before the surgery as well as not putting it off for too long like I did. And of course Bone and Joint Center comes highly recommended from me.

Wayne A Stinson

March of 2024 while in Myrtle Beach, I was playing golf with friends. Took a swing on one of the holes and heard and felt a pop in my left shoulder. Along with the shoulder problem, I was faced with another health problem. I had contacted Dr Das and found damage to the rotator cuff. I tried playing golf with a shoulder brace which wasn’t fun. This past March, Dr Das went in and cleaned the shoulder. I am back to playing golf 5 times a week and am usually scoring my age. Thanks Dr Das.

I fell on ice and instantly knew I broke something. The ER confirmed a spiral fracture of my fibula. I saw Dr DiPreta and has surgery the following week. My surgery involved a plate and many screws. The immediate recovery was hard- both mentally and physically. I am a busy mom, wife and social worker. I love the outdoors and working out, so the immobility was terrible. Before I knew it, I was transitioning to weight bearing, a boot, physical therapy and then slowly building up my strength and flexibility. I am a little less than 6 months after my surgery and am thankful every day for my ability to walk. I’m actually stronger now than I was prior to the fracture and have resumed all of my normal activities with minimal discomfort. I recommend this office for any Ortho needs and can’t thank my Dr enough for helping me heal.

After setting a surgery date, I went to my PT for exercises to strengthen my knee, in hope of a speedier recovery (it worked!!).
On surgery day, I encountered kindness and efficiency at every step of my journey, from receptionist to surgical staff to post recovery, right down to the guy who got me into our truck to go home! I knew what to expect beforehand and was armed with easily-understood post surgery instructions for home.
Tip: pay attention and follow instructions, especially walking as often as possible!
In a very short time I had ditched the walker and progressed quickly to twice-weekly PT work sessions, which were not easy, but YOU CAN DO IT...bend that knee!
Long story short, at 3 month follow-up with Dr.Tetreault, he quipped that I was 'ahead of the game' and it's been the same ever since. No pain. Strong knee. Barely visible scar. My one and ONLY concern; what will I experience if I should fall on that knee?!?!
That thought aside, I am going to schedule replacing my right knee with absolutely no qualms at all. Thank you, Dr. Tetreault and team!!

In middle of camping, kayaking, hiking, paddle boarding, I tore my right rotator cuff. Dr Alley surgically repaired it at Washington Ave; I listened to the wonderful staff and took the pain med for 3 days-then Tylenol. Pain level was 0-3 during first 3 days. Dr Alley doesn't "sugar coat" but informative and open about this surgery which I admire. My active life style has supported this successful recovery. I'm grateful for staff involved at surgery floor.

I was never a runner...until I was. And when I fell in love with running, I fell hard. Seven days a week, no rest days, no easy runs. Every day was a push to PR, and I thought that was what made me strong.

Until it didn’t.

The pain came suddenly, sharp and unrelenting. My leg hurt so badly I couldn’t sit, stand, walk, or even lie down without agony. Something I loved so deeply was taken from me overnight. Physical therapy brought more tears than progress, and I began to wonder if I’d ever get my life back.

That’s when I turned to Dr. Riccio. He listened, he understood, and he assured me he could help. Within a month, I was scheduled for a microdiscectomy to remove the damaged piece of spinal disc that was pressing on my nerve.

I’ll never forget waking up from surgery and thinking, “Wow, I'm back.” The relief was instant.

The last 13 months since surgery haven’t been perfect. Every little pinch still scares me, and I’ve hit a few bumps along the way. But this journey has taught me to slow down, to listen to my body, and to appreciate the gift of movement.

Thanks to Dr. Riccio’s guidance, I’ve learned proper technique and found my way back to running, something I prayed for but never truly believed would be possible again.

I am forever grateful to him and his team, not only for their skill but also for their kindness, patience, and faith in me when I had lost my own.

This isn’t just a comeback. This is a second chance.

After several years of Dr. Andrew Morse, seeing me at the Windham Mountain Ski area I was finally convinced that a replacement is due. I was slightly nervous getting a shoulder replacement, especially after I had both knees replaced by Dr. Lozman years ago. Dr. Lozman did a fantastic job so I was sure this shoulder replacement will be as good. Doctor Morse did a fantastic job as well, and his bedside manner was the best I've ever received by a doctor. So several years later, I had my other shoulder replaced with the same care and concern as the first. Great thanks to the Bone and Joint center and especially to Dr. Morse.

I ruptured my quadricep tendon on October 1st, 2014. I was able to get in to see Dr Schneider and he immediately diagnosed the issue and scheduled surgery
for 3 days later.

The surgery was successful and he stated that it was a "bad one". Recovery was not easy, but I was encouraged by Dr. Schneider and had an excellent physical therapist.

One of my goals was to get back to refereeing basketball, and just over 12 months from the injury I was back running up and down the court. It has now been 11 years since my
surgery- I have full range of motion and don't even think about my quad tendon.

I'm thankful to Dr. Schneider and the Bone and Joint Center for the care and encouragement I received.

We were hiking Dorr mountain in Acadia nation park and I fell at the very top and ruptured my quad tendon. Due to the weather I couldn’t be air lifted out and had to hike out on one leg. 2 and 1/2 hours of agony. I was in the hospital in Bar Harbor and returned home the next day. I was put in contact with Dr. Flaherty through a friend (Danny) a nurse at the Bone and Joint Center and had surgery a few days later. Months in a full leg brace followed by many months of physical therapy and I am happy to say that at the young age of 70 I am back skiing, playing pickleball and most everything that I did before the injury. The care provided by Dr. Flaherty and the staff at the bone and joint center was great. I have other orthopedic injuries treated by others at the center and have had excellent care by all. Being an active senior takes care and attention to remain on the move and I am so happy to have the B&J Center as part of my health care team.

I had a freak accident at a family wedding and tore all my hamstrings completely off my left leg resulting in extreme bruising, pain and almost inability to walk. Primary care didn’t diagnose properly so I sought out Bone and Joint Center where I initially saw Dr. Alley who immediately pinpointed the issue, obtained a quick MRI and referred me to Dr. Flaherty who specialized in the needed surgery. This was after I had been suffering from the misdiagnosis from primary care for two weeks and I was so grateful! Dr. Flaherty explained the options and the needed surgery. He was direct, fact based, and did not sugarcoat what it all meant— basically a full year for a total recovery. The surgery was scheduled and from start to finish everything was professional, caring and all members of his staff and the office took care of everything, answered questions and supported me. I am an active person who hikes, swims and travels so recovering from this was essential. I appreciated the honesty from the doctor and the team on what recovery would take—definitely not for the faint hearted! They arranged excellent physical therapy and followed my recovery. It’s almost a full year since my mishap and although there are some activities I’m not willing to do anymore because of the risk of re-injury, my newly retired life is back in full with the knowledge that any future orthopedic issues of any type will be brought to the Bone and Joint Center for resolution. Dr. Flaherty gave me my life back and stood by me until the recovery was complete. I will be grateful forever for his skill, integrity , intellect and honesty. I made it 64 years with no major orthopedic issues and I consider myself lucky that when I had a freak accident, Bone and Joint and Dr. Flaherty was there.

In May 2019, after almost two decades of marathon running, cycling and triathlons, I was diagnosed with a stress fracture in my right tibia. I thought it would be a simple fix with a few weeks on the sidelines. Boy was i wrong. At my very first appointment, I was put on crutches, given a boot for stabilization and told not to do anything. This lasted for 6 months until my very first surgery in October 2019 to put an intermedullary rod in my leg. All seemed ok... until it wasn't. Immediately post surgery I noticed a blister on the top of my tibia. I was told it wasn't uncommon and surgical blisters often occur. Two weeks later, the blister popped. Within days, the pain in my leg was unbearable. It felt like my leg was on fire so I went to the ER, the last place I wanted to go. I was diagnosed with cellulitis, which led to a necrotic, open, horrific looking black hole in my leg. After treating the infection and several months of hoping the wound would heal, a plastic surgeon performed a fascial flap surgery. This surgery was in February 2020. Back on crutches for another 6 weeks to ensure proper healing.
Fast forward to Christmas Eve 2021. I was back to running and feeling fantastic when suddenly, I felt something in my leg again that just did not seem right. I corresponded with my original orthopedic surgeon and went in for xrays as well as an MRI. Nothing showed up....for months! It wasn't until July of 2022 when after months of therapy, no running, hardly walking when I just could not take it. Back to the ortho and a new xray...sure enough, my leg was broken again. Third surgery September 2022 to remove the rod hoping the generation of blood would help heal the break. Well it didn't. In December 2022, I was put in a cast for two months and was using a bone stimulator to hopefully help the healing. Mentally, I began spiraling. The pain was always there, I felt trapped as I was unable to drive, I felt like this ordeal was never going to end....and it got worse. When the cast came off in February 2023 and new xrays were done the unthinkable was confirmed...my leg was breaking further! I was beside myself.
In March 2023, yet another surgery was done. This time a plate and six screws were put in. Initially the pain subsided and I felt relief. I was finally walking, doing therapy and I thought on the road to a final recovery...however, there was always a nagging slight pain and I could not shake it. I did everything I was supposed to, never doing too much, trying so very hard to get my gait correct but nothing worked. I started to question my own sanity. Was I becoming a hypochondriac? As the summer of 2023 rolled around and I was on a trip in France with friends, I broke down. I was in agony. Each step was harder than the last until finally I spent a full day in bed, alone. This was the lowest point I've ever felt in my life phsically, emotionally and mentally. Why was this happening to me? If I jump out the window would my leg fully break and would someone finally piece it back together??? Is there something else wrong with me?
Upon returning to the United States in early September 2023 I went immediately to the doctor. When he walked into the room I could see his face was sullen and full of devastation. He relayed the news...the plate broke in my leg. I was relieved in a way because it confirmed I was right- something was always wrong and I wasn't crazy but what did this mean? Now what? How on Earth does metal break when nothing happened???? He told me he could no longer treat me and he was referring me to a trauma surgeon at the Bone and Joint Center - enter Dr Cory Czajka.
The next day Dr Czajka saw me and calmed my fears. We scheduled surgery for three weeks later. He is an expert in non-union fractures and he told me the plan, step by step. New rod, a partial fibulectomy, a bone graft, etc. He was confident, he was reassuring and I couldn't wait for the surgery.
Everything went according to plan. I started therapy and the long road back to doing what i loved. I started therapy and by January 2024, i had full clearance to do anything and everything. I had been on the sidelines for so long that I decided to do Ironman Lake Placid that year. The running portion was the hardest for me to do but I crossed the line with a smile on my face. The feeling of being able to do what I loved again was overwhelming and often brought me to tears. Six weeks later, I completed the longest cycling race in the United States, a one day, 207 mile race from Logan Utah to Jackson Hole. I was back to doing all the things that made me feel human.
Since the surgery, I have continued to live the most active life I can. Each and every day I remind myself how important health is while remembering to be grateful for the simple opportunity to be able to move pain free. Often times, the mental health aspect of pain can be overlooked. This five year experience changed me and reminded me that not only are our bones fragile but so too our spirits and mind are. I am so thankful to Dr Czajka for not only giving me back my body but giving me back peace of mind. I will forever be indebted to him and his team and could not recommend him enough. Thank you so much Dr Czajka!

After having extreme rt knee pain that limited my activities, talked with Dr O'Leary about my options. Found that I had bone on bone and total replacement was the way to go, so July of 2024, surgery was performed. After completing physical therapy (absolutely recommended) I was back to hunting in October and hiking the Catskill and Adirondack mountains every week. Following doctors and P.T instructions, I was back and stronger than ever. Definitely worth the short downtime.

On August 3rd, 2024, my friend Rachel and I set out for a 20-mile bike ride on the Empire State Trail, starting near SUNY Schenectady. I had just put clip-on pedals on my bike and enjoyed our first 10 miles. We stopped for a bite to eat in West Glenville, and while waiting to cross Route 5, I began to lose my balance. I couldn't disengage the clip-on pedals in time, stretched out my hand as I fell, and ended up breaking my wrist. Bone & Joint, and Dr. Cole specifically, were excellent and I would recommend them to anyone. After being in a cast for 6 weeks and a soft brace for a couple of months, I began occupational therapy that would allow me to regain full function in my wrist. One year later on August 3rd, 2025, Rachel and I biked the same path we took exactly a year earlier-- this time completing the ride successfully! I'm so thrilled to be back to biking, thank you Bone & Joint Center for making it possible!

I’ve always been very active in sports my whole life, with Golf being primary in my adulthood, my knees began to become an issue prior to my retirement in 2020 which made enjoying my activities difficult, my sister had undergone a knee replacement with Dr Kryzak and had great success, so I made an appointment and scheduled my knee left replacement in February of 2024, my rehabilitation went very smoothly that I chose to do my right knee November of 2024 with the same success, living my life pain free for the first time in over 5 years and enjoying playing golf on a regular basis, I attribute the “My Mobility” App to my success in rehabilitating both my knees and find myself recommending Albany Bone and Joint and Dr Kryzak to all my friend and family who see how much my active lifestyle has been brought back to me.

I had flat feet as a child but, in my mid-thirties, my feet progressively got worse. I started wearing custom orthotics, which needed to be built stronger every few years. Eventually, I was wearing an ankle brace plus orthotics and even tried a Richie brace to hold my ankle up. Nothing seemed to work. It was incredibly painful for me to walk and I would often wake up crying due to severe pain in my foot & ankle. I had difficulty walking to my mailbox or through the grocery store. I would avoid going to the mall, the county fair, or a hike with friends, because they required walking. My podiatrist would only suggest stronger foot braces. I went to a orthopaedist foot specialist in Dutchess County who took x-rays. He was very dismissive & told me I had severe arthritis, but there was nothing he could do. He suggested that I wear sneakers & simply loosen my shoe laces to alleviate pressure on my foot. He never suggested an MRI. Since he told me there was nothing I could do, I suffered for another few years. I finally returned to the podiatrist & asked her to please prescribe an MRI. The MRI showed a severely torn posterior tibial tendon & severe arthritis.

When I got the results, I made an appointment with Dr. Andrew Rosenbaum, because I read that he was trained to perform flat foot reconstructions.. After reviewing the MRI film & report, he was surprised how bad my foot was. He recommended that I have surgery on my left foot and explained that the recovery would be difficult & last about 12 months, but it would be worth it. He was right. Dr. Rosenbaum took the time to explain the procedures. In 20 years, I had treated with two podiatrists and had consultations with three orthopaedic surgeons. Dr. Rosenbaum was the only doctor who actually acknowledged that something was very wrong with my foot & he was the only one who was able to confidently offer me hope.

In January 2022, I underwent the flat foot reconstruction. The recovery took almost an entire year & it was hard to learn how to walk again. That said, I am no longer in pain and my foot functions normally again. I walk my dog approximately two miles every day and I've been able to hike six miles of non strenuous trails occasionally. I still can't wear cute high heels but I can wear sandals & boots. This surgery was life changing. I will forever be grateful to Dr. Rosenbaum for acknowledging that something was wrong with my foot, for offering me hope, and allowing me to walk again.