I was quite worried about having my knee replacement surgery for a few reasons: We only have an upstairs bathroom, we farm, and I worried about being able to get in and out of equipment, pain after surgery, and the list goes on. I discussed the bathroom issue with both Dr. Mair and Cody, his physician assistant, prior to surgery and was assured I’d be taught how to manage the stairs prior to going home after surgery. I was taught how to do stairs, one at a time at first, and it wasn’t difficult. I had a discussion with Dr. Mair prior to my surgery about pain management and I was pleasantly surprised. As far as getting in and out of farm equipment, I was using a skid loader (anyone who has used one knows they aren’t the easiest to get in and out of) three months after surgery with no issues. I just cannot say enough great things about how my knee replacement surgery and aftercare went, and there were so many people that helped me be successful. First, Dr. Mair and his team at TCO and the surgery center told me what to expect (no sugar-coating), performed the surgery, and gave me FABULOUS after-care! Then the work really began at TCO Therapy and Sports Performance in Waconia where I did all my physical therapy. WOW, WOW, WOW – they are so great! The atmosphere there is one of the most positive I have every experienced. Even the therapists you aren’t working closely with are helpful. My physical therapists helped me get started with my therapy and showed me what I needed to do to get great results. My favorite part is that even though I came in with a walker (necessary for a short time following surgery), they treated me like a whole person, not invalid. Maybe that’s not vital for everyone, but I noticed it right away and it made a huge difference in how my mind dealt with this. My physical therapy package also included ten sessions of “on my own therapy”, with specific exercises that I did at the therapy center, and a program called Total Joint. I would describe this as transitioning from post-surgery to real life. They helped me so much and I took advantage of everything included with my therapy package. I cannot say enough how important physical therapy and home exercises are. I don’t think anyone should be “pushed” into receiving a joint replacement because it’s a very personal decision and you need to be ready, but I am so glad I had mine done! Be prepared to work HARD, even before you leave the hospital or surgery center, and then EVEN HARDER as you begin your out-patient therapy and exercises at home. It pays off! A little extra benefit I had, which I believe is a result of my knee replacement, is that my cholesterol lowered by almost 100 points! I haven’t been able to go for walks for several years and it was to a point where a statin was being recommended, which I didn’t want to use a statin. I couldn’t start walking outside until a couple months after surgery, because it was icy, but I started ASAP, and am really enjoying that again!

I was in a pain that slowly, over time became intolerable. Getting out of bed in the morning each day was a challenge. I wanted to take walks but I wasn’t able to. I could have waited like most people do, but I have a whole lot of living to do. It didn’t take me long to decide to let Dr. Mair and his team change my future. Is the surgery difficult? Yes. The first few weeks were very hard. But my reward is no pain at 9 weeks post-surgery! My leg is straighter! I look forward to many long walks, and for a very long time! I am 56 years old and I have degenerative arthritis in both knees. I look forward to getting the next one replaced. My advice is don’t wait.

Dr. Mair has been an exceptional care provider. From diagnosis to treatment and surgery, he exceeded every expectation. He is always responsive, supportive, and encouraging. I am so grateful to Dr. Mair and his team for getting me back to an active, pain-free state. I would recommend him to anyone, without a doubt. Thank you!!

In a worker’s compenstation (WC) injury, I tore my ACL and had a meniscus tear in my left knee. I was referred to Dr. Jeff Mair and TCO. I could not be happier with the experience and care that I received from him and the TCO staff. All my pre and post-surgery appointments have been very well conducted. Dr. Mair and the staff were always very friendly and had a wonderful bedside manner. They also worked very efficiently with my WC provider for my appointments and surgery. When it was time for surgery, they were very organized and I was able to get in very quickly for surgery once it was approved by WC. The day of surgery went very smoothly for me, as the patient, and for my husband as my caregiver.

I had a great team of nurses before, during, and after surgery. They were very informative and had great bedside manner as well. Recovery has been great too. I had an ACL repair surgery about 20 years prior on my right knee (not at TCO), due to a high school sports injury. The current recovery on my left knee has been wonderful and easier than the last, all due to Dr. Mair and the TCO staff! I have had a wonderful experience with TCO staff and Dr. Mair. I hope that I would not need another orthopedic surgery in the future, but if I do I will surely be coming back to Dr. Mair and TCO.

Dr. Mair is my Orthopedic Surgeon. He is an extremely organized clinician, diagnostician and interventionist. He quarterbacks an equally organized team that rises to his standards of care. From my initial evaluation diagnosis, treatment and recovery, each phase followed Dr. Mair’s approach to medicine. I trust Dr. Mair with my surgical intervention and you should as well, without reservation. You will receive his expert care and share in his teams’ professionalism and expert experience.

Dr. Mair is amazing. I’ve had one knee replaced and it has changed my life. I have the second knee replacement scheduled soon. I highly recommend him. He has great bedside manner and is a genuinely caring individual.

I tore my right ACL during summer basketball in 2019 and had surgery with Dr. Mair. Recovery was long and hard, especially in the first months when I couldn’t do much of anything, but I had no issues with my graft or scars. I was able to play some fall league basketball and the first half of my junior volleyball season before I tore my left ACL jumping in warmups. It was devastating but I chose to have surgery again. The first months of recovery were again very slow and I had some issues with stiffness and pain in my joint. Despite that, I’ve been making progress with my physical therapy and I’m happy to say that I’m about 6.5 months post-op. I’m hoping to be cleared in a couple months to enjoy my senior year of sports. Thanks to Dr. Mair for his help!

I chose Dr. Mair because of the amazing work he did on my bride’s right knee replacement. When I came to him with severe left hip pain, he reassured me that he would be able to help me get back to a normal lifestyle. At 58 years young, I have a lot I want to do so full recovery is my goal. From the very start, every person I met at the TCO clinic and along the way, have just been so dang caring and have given me so much of their time.

From the day of surgery to my continued follow up appointments, the TCO staff have been with me. I have had several setbacks (from my own doing) and they have been there with advice, therapy, phone calls, urgent care on Sunday, etc. to check on me…even over the weekends. I deeply feel that they genuinely care about my success, which has been very meaningful since replacement surgery includes work and rough moments at times in the healing.

I just finished my 90 days of the program and met with Dr. Mair to review X-rays and progress. I left knowing that I am on the right track and that he is there if I need him, even though the program is completed. His personal accountability to his patients is so refreshing and, to be honest, very valuable in the healing process. I am gaining strength, flexibility, and leaving the pain behind more each day. I fully believe him when he told me I will be out pheasant hunting and chasing my granddaughters. I highly recommend Dr. Mair and TCO.

I tore my ACL in March of 2020, right before state lockdowns began. I was lucky enough to be referred to Dr. Mair who did everything in his power to get me in for surgery. He did a great job. After 10 months of physical therapy and getting back to my normal lifting routine, I feel great. I’m not all the way back yet but I’m well on my way. Thank you Dr. Mair and team!

From the first phone call to make an appointment EVERYONE was friendly, helpful and compassionate. I’m 80 years of age and needed a reverse shoulder replacement. Dr. Mair and his staff took the extra time to discuss my options and ultimately let me make the decision. Although this was not HIS first time doing shoulder surgery, it was MY first time and I felt he took all the time I needed to answer questions and reassure me that all would go well… and it DID! He, the hospital staff, everyone was so caring and understanding. My daughter went to the cafeteria to get lunch and a hospital staff person, that was in line behind her, paid for her lunch! So when I say everyone, I mean everyone 🙂 I cannot say enough about Dr. Jeffery Mair, and everyone who works with him, for their wonderful care and thoughtfulness. I will definitely recommend this doctor and this facility to anyone I know that needs his expertise! Thank you SO much! I’m glad it’s all done and I can start my physical therapy and look forward to having a pain free shoulder.

This journey began in fifth grade when I dislocated my left knee during a basketball game. It started with just one dislocation and a little bit of pain. I thought it would eventually go away, but by the end of the sixth grade basketball season the pain and multiple dislocations became the norm for me. In the fall, my knee became extremely swollen and painful, to the point it affected my ability to play both volleyball and basketball. So, we decided to see Dr. Jeff Mair at Twin Cities Orthopedics. Dr. Mair ordered an MRI due to the swelling and mandatory time off from sports. The results came back that I had a crack on the back of my patella and the cartilage on the back of my knee cap was coming off because of all the dislocations. At this point, I was not ready to quit playing sports, so we agreed to try a patella stabilizing brace along with lots of icing and pain relievers. By December, the pain and swelling had gotten so bad that it was affecting my everyday life, along with my ability to excel at sports. Upon our next visit with Dr. Mair, he delivered the news that I was going to need surgery and unable to play basketball for a minimum of 12 weeks and will have to miss the softball season.

On January 31st, 2019, I underwent a left knee arthroscopy, chondroplasty of the lateral femoral trochlea, removal of multiple cartilaginous loose joint bodies, lateral retinacular release, excision lateral patellar bony ossicle, open medial patellar-femoral ligament repair, and patellar and lateral femoral trochlear antegrade drilling/microfracture/marrow stimulation. Following the surgery, I was put in a straight leg immobilizer for six weeks with no bending at all. Surgery went very well, before we knew it I was up walking and shooting hoops.

TWO WEEKS BEFORE my surgery I had participated in a Knight of Columbus Minnesota Council free throw contest. I won the event, which then allowed the winners to move on to the District competition. The District competition was TWO WEEKS AFTER my surgery. I did not want to participate because I didn’t know how to shoot without bending my leg and I was embarrassed on how it looked when I shot. My mom convinced me to go, and I ended up winning the event that would then send me to the regional competition. The regional competition was FOUR WEEKS AFTER my surgery, as it drew near I was feeling less and less confident because I knew my competition there was going to be the hardest yet. I shot and made 21 out of 25 free throws! That put me in first place, I won the regions and I was on my way to state. I shot the last two competitions with a straight leg immobilizer on. The state competition was held 8 WEEKS AFTER my initial surgery. By the time the State competition came I was walking again in a patella stabilizing brace and started therapy three times a week. I had two weeks of therapy in before the State competition arrived. Everyone believed in me and had no doubts that I could pull off the win. I had many doubts in myself because it had been so long since I had shot normally with just my patella stabilizing brace on. I got in the gym the morning of the competition as soon as I started shooting I could feel the excitement and the nerves of everyone around me. While we were warming up my nerves and doubts disappeared I knew that I could do anything because I had been working so hard to get to where I was at. I was the eleventh shooter out of twelve. The top girl so far had made 19 out of 25 which I knew I could beat, I got up to the line and BOOM! I was on fire I missed one here and there but I was counting in my head and I knew I had made eighteen but that’s when I lost track of how many I had shot. I shot another one to put me at nineteen the tying score of the girl before. It was my last shot, we tied. That meant we had to go to a tiebreaker out of five. She made 1 out of 5. I made 4 out of 5. I was the MINNESOTA STATE CHAMPION!

When I got back to therapy the next day we kept pushing to get my leg better. We did forty five minutes of work at therapy and then I went home and did more. The progress was going extremely fast and before we knew it, I was doing leg press, biking, and squats. With two more weeks of hard work, I started jumping and running. I am at the point now where I can practice and hopefully start playing the first weekend of May. I am almost 12 weeks out now and I can’t wait to get back on the court. I have had the greatest care team ever. This would not all of been possible without Dr. Mair and especially my physical therapist, Cathy Carrabre. Cathy pushed me every session to work hard, believe in myself, and be confident that I will be a better person and athlete at the end of this journey.

My right hip replacement performed by Dr. Mair was perfect. Everybody was great at Two Twelve Surgery Center. My pain was minimal due to how they managed it with their schedule. I was walking the evening of my surgery. I followed my directions from physical therapists and doctors, it’s like my hip was never replaced. Highly suggest both Dr. Mair and the TCO EXCEL Program.

Dr. Mair – I want to thank you for fixing both of my hips! I was pretty lost and disillusioned when I came to see you and you helped me through the process twice. I didn’t think I was up to the challenge but you were really kind, encouraging, helpful and honest about what I was facing. You made a difficult situation possible. I was really fortunate to find you and your whole team and I just want to thank you again.

This is a very invasive surgery with a difficult recovery. The care I received from Dr. Mair and his staff was exceptional. The team at Ridgeview Medical Center was outstanding. Dr. Mair showed genuine care for me through the entire process. And while the first month was a challenge, I am now nine months after the surgery and living without any knee pain! Thank you!

I am a 47 year old female who had a partial knee replacement from another surgeon at a totally different office and hospital 2 years ago and it was a nightmare! Thank God my friend encouraged me to seek a second opinion with Dr. Mair at TCO!! He was able to perform a miracle on my messed up knee and do a total knee replacement 3 months ago. It was such a wonderful experience! I am so happy with my new knee and feel like a new woman! It has only been 3 months and I am doing things I haven’t been able to do for 2 years thanks to Dr. Mair! I really can’t say enough wonderful things about him!

Dear Dr. Mair and staff at Waconia Hospital –

Thank you, Dr. Mair, for your expertise and care during my recent knee replacement. It is wonderful to go into surgery calmly and without fear, trusting the surgeon completely. I will definitely continue to recommend your services to people in Gibbon.

Thank you also to the entire staff at the Waconia Hospital. From the admittance, through the pre-op activities, meeting the anesthesiologist and acting physician, nurses helping along the way, the recovery room and later in my room for my three day stay, all staff were wonderful. In spite of the lousy weather right after Easter, every nurse, nurse’s assistant, aide, physical and occupational therapist, lab technician that drew blood etc., were so helpful, kind and caring that it made my stay very comfortable. The kitchen did an excellent job on the meals which my daughter (and coach) and I appreciated because we were able to choose our menu. I know I have forgotten some of you that made my stay very comfortable and even fun, but it is not intentional. I just want everyone that had anything to do with my hospital stay to know that I definitely appreciated all of your efforts and will heartily recommend the Waconia Hospital to anyone that needs health care.

My progress in physical therapy is going very well and I graduated to a cane yesterday. My next goal is to be able to drive again which should be in the very near future. Because of all of your efforts and help, my replacement was a very satisfactory effort with great results.

Sincerely,
Elaine K.

I was in a lot of pain during the year leading up to my hip replacement surgery. At the relatively young age of 53 osteoarthritis had left me with a hip that had very little of the cushioning cartilage left and felt more like a bone-on-bone connection. Everyday tasks like walking the dog or grocery shopping became unbearably painful. So I was looking forward to this surgery! Dr. Mair and the EXCEL team did a great job making the experience as pleasant as possible. From the pre-surgical workshop to the morning I headed home, the care was exceptional. I also made use of the physical therapy that was available at the Waconia clinic. This was an important part of my recovery, as my leg muscles had atrophied during the previous year. I highly recommend Dr. Mair and his care team.

I have had two shoulder surgeries with Dr. Mair and have nothing but praise for his expertise in his surgical abilities, true, personal, patient care and his utmost empathy for your situation. My wife and coworker’s have also had surgeries performed by Dr. Mair. He doesn’t sugarcoat any diagnosis, but is also very honest and thorough in his assessment of your individual problem. He will not rush into surgery until exhausting other avenues. His bedside (office) manner is fabulous, taking time to answer every question you may have. Yes, you may often have to spend some extra time in the waiting room for him. But, this is only because he will not hurry anyone out the door, despite his schedule. After surgery, he even gives you his personal cell phone number and calls you at home to see how you are doing. That is a true testimony to a truly great person and doctor! I have nothing but praise and confidence in this man’s abilities and care.

On Sept. 29 2016, I underwent a total hip replacement. From the time I started seeing Dr. Mair until the day of surgery, I totally felt at ease & very comfortable. I’m no longer having the pain I had prior to surgery. I’m still in recovery mode but it’s getting better every day. I would totally recommend TCO and Dr. Mair!

The EXCEL program sounded too good to be true. However, I had a nice comfortable suite, no ugly hospital gown and I felt much more at ease than in a hospital. Instead of feeling exhausted when leaving the hospital after surgery, I felt somewhat rested and closer to “normal.” I even got to drink a coke!

I highly recommend the EXCEL program. The care was great and I felt very comfortable there.

I am an active person and a professional gardener. I was able to work this spring after having surgery at the end of January. I got a lot of support and encouragement from Dr. Mair and Erin. I am even planning a backpacking trip this fall. Last year I was afraid these things would not be possible.

On June 27^th I was admitted into Waconia hospital for a complete shoulder replacement. Dr. Mair and the team did a great job of preparing me for the events of the day. Based on the health of the rotator cuff, I would have regular or a reverse replacement, judgement call by Dr. Mair during surgery. I don’t remember anything about the surgery, but recovery on Monday night was as expected. Tuesday morning I was on a regiment of medication and was kept very comfortable and was released Tuesday afternoon.

At home Wednesday morning I felt great, stiff and a little sore, but no pain to speak of. My last pain pill was taken on Wednesday in the morning and I have not needed Tylenol, Motrin or any OTC drugs. I did keep up the Aspirin to assure I did not have issues with clotting. I share all this with you as a lead in to a huge THANK YOU to Dr. Mair and the entire team. Everyone was extremely professional, caring and helpful. I could not have had a better experience.

I was asked by a co-worker, “On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, what did you think of the experience?” My answer was 20.

My sincerest and heartfelt THANK YOU to the entire TCO/Dr. Mair team, you are the BEST.

My only regret is that I didn’t do the surgery sooner! I put it off for too long, thinking I needed to wait until I was older (I am 46). I had no idea how much pain and discomfort I was in until I awoke from surgery. Completely and totally pain free, discomfort free!

Dr. Mair and his staff are amazing! I loved everything about my recovery suite (wish I could have stayed longer) and my nursing staff was wonderful. It was a wonderful experience, it really was!

I could not have been happier with TCO- from start to finish it has been a very positive experience. All were so good to always communicate so I knew what to expect in time leading up to surgery, through surgery and throughout the recovery process. Very happy with Dr. Mair, Michelle, and Justine- they all took the time to answer all of my questions and let me know exactly what to expect. I also loved having surgery at the Two Twelve Surgery Center. It was a perfect fit for me! The room was great, nurses were so nice, great food, room was nice and quiet.

One thing I really appreciate is that Dr. Mair is very conservative. He did not recommend surgery until we had looked at all my options. I was so thankful that he was my doctor throughout the time leading up to surgery, during surgery and recovery. I had total confidence in Dr. Mair and his team. They have been wonderful!