Ruth Torres

I started my health and fitness journey in 2009. My doctor recommended I join Livestrong and start logging the foods I ate. I needed to lost 90 lbs. I became inspired by the stories I read about people who had lost weight through running that I decided to start running. I signed up to run/walk a half marathon in 2010 with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. I completed the Half that June. The following November, right before Thanksgiving, the meniscus of my left knee tore. I had arthroscopic surgery to repair the meniscus but things were never the same after the surgery. I started using a cane and continued to do so until 2016.

In 2014 I had a total knee replacement. I did all of the exercises recommended for recovery but they were not working. I was in pain constantly. My surgeon sent me to an ankle specialist who requested an MRI of the knee after speaking with me. The MRI revealed that the prosthesis was too small and was crooked, which is what was causing the pain.

I started looking online for an alternative hospital to take my x-rays and I found HSS. I got a second opinion from Dr. Mayman. I got a third opinion at another hospital. The reason I chose Dr. Mayman to perform my revision is because the customer service of the other hospital was not as good.

Dr. Mayman performed the total knee replacement revision in 2016. When I went to see him post-recovery I asked him if I would be able to run. He said, "Yes. Not a marathon, but yes." I was elated. I signed up for 4 races right after that and I completed all of them.

For 2017 I decided that I would take things up a notch and I signed up for two half marathons. I was so excited. I completed the first Half in April. It went well. As I was training for the second Half in May, I started having pain in my left hip. I went to see Dr. Mayman and the x-rays revealed there was nothing wrong with the hip. Dr. Mayman gave me some exercises to do and I completed the Half. That July, while I was running, the anterior tibial tendon of my right ankle tore. Dr. Drakos performed the surgery. While I was recovering from the surgery there was a fire in my apartment building. A friend of mine wrapped the cast with a plastic bag but it had a hole in it so my cast got wet. I called Dr. Drakos's office and was asked to go in first thing in the morning. I got a new cast in purple (my request).

During the recovery from the ankle surgery I continued to have hip pain. I was having difficulty sitting down and lying down was worse. I called Dr. Drakos's office in tears one day telling them that I was in so much pain that I was not able to do the physical therapy exercises I was supposed to do. Nicole, Dr. Drakos's physician assistant, had me come in and an MRI was performed. The MRI revealed that I had a cyst in my spine, spondylolisthesis and stenosis. I was referred to Dr. Wyss.

Dr. Wyss tried to burst the cyst but it grew back. He recommended I speak with a spine surgeon. He recommended Dr. Qureshi. Dr. Quershi removed the cyst and performed a spinal fusion that corrected the spondylolisthesis and stenosis. The surgery was performed in 2018.

I also had surgery in my left hand for carpal tunnel syndrome. Dr. Athanasian performed the surgery and I am very happy with the outcome.

I have continued to train and run in New York Road Runners races. In 2019 I qualified for the 2020 NYC marathon through the 9+1 program (complete 9 qualifying races and one volunteer assignment). This year, because of COVID, there will be no in-person marathon. I have been training to complete the virtual NYC marathon. I will be running my marathon on 10/30/20.

Thanks to HSS the quality of my life at 60 is better than it was at 50. I am so grateful to the hospital and to all of the fine doctors who have helped prepare me to run my first marathon. During my training I have had the privilege of working with Dr. Creighton, who prescribed physical therapy as a way to remedy pain from tendinopathy. I am so grateful to him as well.

I am so excited for what else life has in store for me. Since 2009 I've lost 40 lbs and am continuing to lose. Thank you HSS and to all of the angels that work for you. I dedicate my first marathon to you.

Ruth