I was referred to Dr. Bircher. He was very kind and a willing listener, as I was not an easy case! I dealt with multiple infections in the past. So he ran tests before he did anything, which I was very grateful for. Once we found out there was no infection, he did a metal removal from past surgery first.

Then he went ahead with the right knee replacement in July of 2023. In December of 2023 I had my left knee done. Dr. Bircher and his team were great! They called me at home multiple times to check in with me about healing and pain management. He was always quick to return calls and answered all of my questions or concerns.

He was also willing to give me a referral to a spine doctor who I have been going to now as well. If I do need more surgery down the road I will be going back with Dr. Bircher and his group. I would definitely recommend him and his team!

Prior to getting my hips replaced, I was quite restricted as to what I could do. I have always been very active and I’ve run 120 marathons, having completed the last one in 2019. I went in for some PT, for what we thought was piriformis syndrome, but the stretches/exercises were not helping me with the pain I was experiencing in the piriformis muscle area. I stopped riding a regular bike since I couldn’t get on and off easily, due to an extremely limited range of motion. Running wasn’t working for me and even walking became difficult to do without experiencing pain. I finally told my primary doctor things weren’t better even after I had really worked on my PT exercises. My doctor gave me a referral to go to Twin Cities Orthopedics to see if a doctor there could help further.

I had my first appointment with Dr. Bircher and the first thing they did was send me down the hall for X-rays. Dr. Bircher came in and asked me to describe the issues I was having. After listening to me, he shared the X-rays that had been taken of my hips. Prior to this, worn out hips were not even on my radar. I had just assumed it was tight muscles. Dr. Bircher showed me the X-rays and explained what was going on. He explained that my left hip was a little worse than the right, but I was bone on bone in both hips. He talked about various options (total hip replacement, resurfacing, delaying replacement) available to me. While it was a bit overwhelming, he talked me through my options and his recommendations. I went home and came back a week later with my wife and after we talked through options again. We decided to go ahead with a total hip replacement on the left side and then reassess the right side after that.

Dr. Bircher instilled me a great feeling of confidence in the upcoming surgery. The left hip replacement went very smoothly and within one week, I was out walking 2-3 miles in the neighborhood with a cane. After just a few more days I didn’t even need the cane. After 6 weeks I went in and we looked at X-rays of the new hip. We also discussed whether to move forward with the right hip. X-rays again showed bone on bone on the right side. I wasn’t experiencing the pain on the right like I had on the left, so Dr. Bircher said I could wait 3-9 months to see how things develop. He also pointed out the right hip isn’t going to get better, so it’s just a matter of how long to wait. He didn’t pressure me at all to go forward with replacing the right hip, but I was convinced it was the right thing for me to do.

3 months after total replacement of the left hip, Dr. Bircher replaced the right hip. Recovery went smoothly and I’m now 3 months post-surgery on the second hip. I’m walking 3-6 miles almost every day pain free! My range of motion is vastly improved. I’m looking forward to being able to zip around more with the grandkids this next summer instead of watching from the sidelines. I look forward to walking and fishing the shores of the river for hours at a time, instead of fishing until I’m too sore to continue.

I can’t begin to express my complete satisfaction with the results of my two hip replacements. I was so very impressed not only with Dr. Bircher’s skill as a surgeon, but just as importantly the trust I had in him throughout the process. From the very beginning he took the time to explain everything and never was in a hurry to get to the next patient when I was meeting with him. He gained my trust with his demeanor, openness, and interest in my situation. That eliminated any apprehension I might have with the upcoming procedures. I would highly recommend Dr. James Bircher for anyone considering joint replacement surgery. He is the BEST!

During the month of July 2015, I had a full knee replacement on my right knee. My recovery time was 90 days before I could walk without a wooden pole. However, in order to remodel the first level of our single-family home in November 2015, I still had to maintain a daily intake of pain medication to perform manual work seven days per week. This intake continued until December 2015.

I was introduced to Dr. Bircher at your new TCO Plymouth location and I had a full left knee replacement in February 2024. Physical therapy was performed at TCO Maple Grove. Something was very different this time and the healing process was entirely different. That same month, I ceased taking pain medication and Tylenol. There was obviously a much faster recovery time than my 2015 procedure.

The question is, “what changed to cause such a difference in recovery?” I don’t think the actual replacement procedure, nor the replacement devises have changed much in eight years. There is only one major factor that could alter the healing time as much as it did, and that would be the knowledge and skill of Dr. Bircher. In addition, Dr. Bircher has great bedside manner.

In summary, I would like to mention and give credit to the two PT’s that pushed me and guided me through the post-op recovery process. Elsie Olsen and Therese Owen have great personalities and skills. They worked hard and encouraged me to complete the recovery process properly and in a short time frame. Both of them are very pleasant to be around!

After a fall with 4 years of terrible pain, Dr. Bircher eliminated the pain and corrected my short leg to match my good leg. Thank you, Dr. Bircher!

With years of aches and two prior knee surgeries it was time for a replacement that previously was denied by another physician due to a blot clot issue. Dr. Bircher and I had an open discussion about the clot issue and after careful testing and consultations it was agreed that the surgery could be done with minimal concern. I felt Dr. Bircher and Kari Gabrielse, PA-C were serious and straight forward of the pros and cons of having the surgery as well the physical therapy necessary after the surgery which wasn’t easy. I felt so positive of the overall process they took me through, the support staff in the OR, and the after-surgery care from the hospital staff that I could only rate them as 5 STAR practitioners.

I had a recent total right knee replacement by Dr. Bircher and I am so happy with the outcome! I was surprised that I had no pain during recovery, just slight discomfort, and I was back to work sooner than I expected. My whole experience from scheduling the surgery, having surgery, and physical therapy was all so positive! My knee feels great!! I will request Dr. Bircher for my left knee replacement as soon as I’m able. Keep up the excellent work!!

It was almost by accident that I had Dr. Bircher do my surgery. He just happened to be available for my initial diagnosis. It was a very lucky day for me. This was my second knee replacement, so I had a pretty good idea what I was in for. My surgery and recovery were absolutely fabulous and beyond any expectations I had. Words cannot describe how happy I am with the results. His PA, Kari Gabrielse, is caring and a joy to work with as well. Highly recommend this team if you are considering knee surgery.

Dr Bircher and his team did a great job replacing my arthritic hip. I had no trouble recovering and my hip feels great.

Dr. Bircher did an amazing job to fix my original hip replacement that left me with an uneven leg and fractured femur. His expertise corrected the leg length and gave me a stable implant. He is an excellent surgeon that cares about his patients! His whole team is fabulous!

I had a knee replacement in Michigan in 2012. About 6 years later I began experiencing pain and had an X-ray which showed loosening of the prosthesis. Foolishly, I let it go, moved to Minnesota, and limped along. Finally in 2023, I consulted Dr. Bircher who discovered my prosthesis was literally hanging by a thread. He explained all the risks of surgery as well as the advantages, and he performed the operation in October 2023. The results have been fantastic. I was in an immobilizing soft cast for 3 weeks but already walking with a walker within days of the surgery. I have had no pain. I have been doing home therapy and outpatient therapy at the excellent TCO facility in Plymouth. I have a new lease on life. Dr. Bircher is a compassionate surgeon with tremendous experience and I can recommend him highly. You cannot go wrong with Dr. Bircher.

My previous knee replacement (with another doctor) not only failed, but also damaged my tibia and twisted my leg. It was necessary to place a rod in my leg and repair my femur and tibia to hold the new replacement. My recovery has been faster and less painful than either of my previous knee replacements. I credit Dr. Bircher‘s skill for making my recovery so swift.

Dr. Bircher worked with me for arthritis pain in my right leg. After some injections and waiting out the pain (while recovering from a different surgery) we were ready for hip replacement. Dr. Bircher encouraged me to stop smoking and I am now on 7 months of no smoking. Surgery went wonderfully. I woke up and as I was walking around, he was in my hallway to check on me. The pain was gone right away. He talked me through a lot of pain before surgery, but I’m so glad I did it.

My injury came from stepping onto a step stool. I went to urgent care and was told see an orthopedic doctor. TCO was the only provider I could get in to see someone within a couple days instead of weeks. Dr. Bircher was very attentive and evaluated my knee and talked through my options. I went with the injection but after some months the pain returned and I decided with Dr. Bircher’s guidance to have total knee replacement. I cannot say enough about how smooth the surgery and recovery went. The EXCEL Program was wonderful and the physical therapists, Kristina and Jared, were the best. At 3 months post-surgery I am walking 4 miles a day and feel great. Thank you Dr. Bircher!

I am completely impressed by every facet of Twin Cities Orthopedics and am happy to share my experience. Getting a full knee replacement is a tough decision and they answered every question I posed. The surgery was a success, led by Dr. Bircher, who is supported by an incredible staff. The immediate post-treatment care could not have gone better. I felt like I was in a 5-star hotel, but more than that, it was the people working there who are so wonderful and genuine.

The physical therapy was harder than I expected but I received incredible coaching on what to do, with just the right amount of prodding. Thank you for fixing this problem which I have been dealing with for a very long time. I feel great and it is thanks to Dr. Bircher and the TCO staff!

I have nothing but good to say about Dr. Bircher and his entire care team! I was more than adequately educated about and prepared for my surgery beforehand. The entire process from beginning to end went smoothly. Considering what I expected, my pain was controlled and tolerable. I never would have thought in a thousand years that I would be driving again in two and a half weeks and getting around without my walker or cane in four weeks. Sixteen weeks out I feel great! I did not find the pre-surgery and post-surgery exercises at home burdensome in any way and doing them diligently really made my PT sessions productive.

So my left knee feels great after surgery and my right knee feels really good too. I’ll be doing what I can to try to keep it that way but, should my right knee deteriorate in the future I know who to contact to help me and I have no concerns about going through the process again if I have to.

Dr. James Bircher is a fantastic surgeon. He was very interested in all levels of my health from our first meeting. It has been 3 months since surgery and Dr. Bircher is still following up. The physical therapy department is also very educated, dedicated, and thorough. Three months ago it was hard to do almost everything. Today my knee is 100% better. Thank You Dr. Bircher and TCO!

I had hip surgery in March 2023. The efficiency and communication during this time was excellent. The care team kept us informed before, during and after the  surgery. I am very happy with the great job Dr. Bircher did.

In early March of 2023, I fell on some ice and tore my quad. Dr. James Bircher performed surgery the next morning at North Memorial Hospital in Maple Grove. He was kind, open, and honest with me the whole way through. I’m 76 years old and the pain and healing process went amazingly well! Thanks to Dr. Bircher’s surgical skills, along with his staff. I seem to be doing just fine. My other remarks are about my physical therapists at TCO. Leah and Nichole were simply the best I could ask for!

Dr. Bircher is the most professional physician and with good bedside manner. I feel most comfortable talking with him. He did a great job with my right femur surgery. I’m very satisfied.

Dr. Bircher did revision surgery on May 25, 2023. He replaced a previous total knee replacement. He was thorough in his explanation of the procedure and the inherent risks. The surgery went well and the results border on miraculous. In 6 weeks I was climbing stairs with only minor difficulty and driving. In 8 weeks I was back to work and resuming most normal activities. Thank you Dr. Bircher.

Dr. Bircher is the best! I’d been fighting a knee replacement for years. When I met him in November, I knew my knee was pretty bad. We talked about knee replacement but he could tell I wasn’t ready. He told me I would know when I was ready. That reality hit me in February of this year. I couldn’t have asked for better results after the surgery. I was accepted into the TCO EXCEL Program, which I strongly suggest you try if you are able to. The nursing staff was exceptional at the hospital right after surgery as were the nurses at the Recovery Suites. The EXCEL nurse coordinator kept in contact with me to make sure all was well. Everyone involved was great.

Before I had my surgery, I told Dr. Bircher all I wanted was to be able to come back and tell him that I wish I had done the surgery sooner. I was happy to oblige! I am now scheduled for a total knee replacement on my other knee. I know not all surgeries have the same results but I am counting on Dr. Birchers skill to pull it out! Dr. Bircher always made sure he answered all my questions and spent as much time with me as I needed to feel comfortable. He is concerned, compassionate and very skilled. That is not something you find in too many doctors/surgeons these days. I look forward to a normal life again!

Dr. Bircher performed a full knee replacement in April and upon completion of 12 weeks of physical therapy at TCO Brooklyn Park, I’m back to working out at my health club and enjoying my life again without knee pain. The staff at TCO are totally amazing in working with patients to obtain the necessary range of motion in our recovery.

When I first saw Dr. Bircher, I was unable to walk without a walker. The pain was intense. I was scheduled for surgery within a month. The surgery went great. The day after surgery I was able to stand and walk without pain. I’m looking forward to Dr. Bircher doing a left knee replacement for me this fall. Dr. Bircher and his care team truly care about their patients.

Dr. Bircher is awesome. After falling and breaking my hip previously, a surgeon at another practice repaired my hip using three screws. That repair just didn’t heal properly. I was then referred to Dr. Bircher. He evaluated the situation and recommended a total hip replacement as a second surgery to remove the screws and put in a new hip. The recovery went as expected and I am now virtually pain free and recovering on schedule. Dr. Bircher has excellent “bedside manners” and is not only good at what he does, but seems to enjoy what he does. Thank you so much Dr. Bircher, you are my hero.

I was suffering with a swollen leg and agonizing pain for one full year until I met Dr. Bircher and his entire care team at TCO. I was seeing another physician and he thought everything was going okay and that it could take a full year to see progress.

I went to see Dr. Bircher and he took an X-ray of my knee. He saw right away what the issue was and assured me that he could help me. He arranged my surgery in less than one month. Two weeks after surgery I was feeling better with no pain. Now, three months later, I can jog around with no pain or swelling. I feel so much better now.

I was so depressed before seeing Dr. Bircher and his staff. I can teach Martial Arts again. I fully trust Dr. Bircher and I wish he could have helped with my previous orthopedic issues.

My experience with everyone at TCO, Dr. Bircher, Cassie, and the physical therapy team at TCO Woodbury was exceptional. My questions and concerns were answered promptly. I feel like I had a lot of support with my recovery. I would recommend anyone to see Dr. Bircher because my experience was excellent.

I had a total knee replacement in November 2022. It was a successful surgery and I was doing great until I slipped on ice four weeks after the surgery. I tore the quadricep muscle from the knee and was barely able to move. I was referred to Dr. James Bircher, a specialist in injury repair. Dr. Bircher was absolutely fantastic. He took the time to explain what had happened to my knee, explained the surgical repair procedure and possible outcomes. He really took the time to listen to me.

What really impressed me was that he was never rushed. I felt as if he listened to me and took the time to thoroughly understand the issues surrounding my injury. When I had questions after our initial meeting, he called me back that day. He met with me a second time before the surgery, just to alleviate my fears and concerns. When it was time for the actual surgery, three weeks after the injury, he took great care of me. He made sure I understood everything and that I was as comfortable as possible. The surgery was very successful and Dr. Bircher remained in close contact with me after the surgery, making sure I understood how the healing would go. He also called me at home once I was discharged from the hospital.

I believe Dr. Bircher is one of the best doctors/surgeons I have ever met. His caring compassion and his skills and expertise make for the perfect combination. I would highly, highly recommend Dr. Bircher!

Dr. Bircher and staff were professional, personable and knowledgeable. I would recommend him!

I was referred to Dr. Bircher for my hip joint infection. He was very compassionate about my situation and proceeded to fix the infection. It started with a spacer that included antibiotics and two different IV antibiotics for 6 weeks. We made sure infection was cleared up and then proceeded with my second total hip replacement. I am optimistic and feel good about this one. Thank you Dr. Bircher.

I had been dealing with knee pain for years. It finally got to the point where cortisone was not bringing any relief and I needed to walk with a cane. Before my surgery, I could not walk very far. My knee was so unstable and walking in my yard was impossible. Dr. Bircher was highly recommended to me by another TCO surgeon (Dr. Cammack, a foot and ankle specialist). Even though I was nervous about having surgery, Dr. Bircher’s kindness and attention to detail made me feel it was time to do it. Surgery went great, and I could tell right away that my knee was better. I had not felt that stable on my knee with no stabbing pain in so long.

I went through the EXCEL program and I would highly recommend going that route if you can. The staff at EXCEL Care Suites were so great! If you are looking for a knee replacement surgeon, I would highly recommend Dr. James Bircher. I cannot say enough great things about my experience. Why did I wait so long? It just took me finding the right surgeon and his team.

I recently had a total knee replacement with Dr. Bircher in March of 2023. He explained everything clearly and answered all my questions. He was unhurried and gave his undivided attention. He was also very accommodating to not only myself, but to my family. Dr. Bircher is clearly a skilled surgeon who cares about his patients.

I had troubles with bone-on-bone knee pain. I went through an exam to determine the requirements for a knee replacement. I met with Dr. Bircher and he explained the whole process and procedure. He successfully repaired my right knee and I am completely satisfied with the great care and post-op therapy. Dr. Bircher’s friendly attitude, positivity, and confidence helped with the process. I am now considering when to have my left knee replacement done too. Thank you, Dr. Bircher!

When I came to TCO Maple Grove with a painful hip condition, I had “muddled through” years of pain. I couldn’t walk normal distances or stairs without holding on to someone or something to steady myself. Activities like dressing, driving, getting in and out of a seat were challenging. I passed on social gatherings that involved walking. When I saw Dr. Bircher and his staff, he asked me specific questions about my symptoms, my lifestyle, and my goals for an improved lifestyle. Then he and his staff gave me their diagnosis and goals to aim for. I also had other health issues related to exercise, blood pressure, and breathing. He worked with my other doctors to coordinate the timing, treatments, and specific surgical requirements to assure my safety and a positive outcome. It worked! I am enjoying activities again and I am improving at a pace that’s comfortable for me, based on my goals and abilities. Don’t wait. See Dr. Bircher ASAP if you are in pain. Life can be fun!

Dr. Bircher truly cares about his patients. He took his time with me, answering my questions before surgery and afterwards. I am very satisfied with how my hip surgery turned out. I chose Dr. Bircher because he has a genuine concern for his patients.

Dr. Bircher is a very nice physician with warm and friendly characteristics. I am very appreciative for his good work and for taking care of me.

I was referred to TCO by my primary care doctor and chiropractor. My leg and knee hurt so much, I could hardly walk. I saw Dr. Bircher at TCO and what a great surgeon he is. From my first visit to after surgery, he always explained what to expect with my total knee replacement. I am now three months after surgery and my knee is doing great. Dr. Bircher said there would be pain and there was! But now it is so much better. That is all in the past. Thank you, Dr. Bircher.

I fell in October and was transferred by ambulance to the emergency room. I found out I had a broken hip and I had surgery the next day with Dr. Bircher. Since surgery, I haven’t had any problems with my hip and it was a quick recovery. I had two follow-up visits with Dr. Bircher and I explained my knee problems. After looking at the x-rays, he explained the options to me. Dr. Bircher is a good listener and is very good at calming me down! He was very thorough. I would definitely recommend Dr. Bircher.

My husband went to see Dr. Bircher for a consult. I would give Dr. Bircher an A+ for bed side manners. His personality was so gentle. I really appreciated his caring attitude. We will be back.