Dr. Flikkema and his care team have been exceptional! I have truly been blown away at the professionalism and care they have all shown and provided. I was assigned to Dr. Flikkema when I called and asked for a surgeon that specialized in shoulder care. Boy, did I get lucky! I had prolonged seeing a specialist for about three years as I was trying various solutions to resolve my shoulder pain on my own. I spent thousands of dollars on massages, manipulation and mobility care, and physical therapy through my work benefits. The pain always came back.
Upon my first visit, Dr. Flikkema listened to my history and created a plan. He showed compassion and answered all my questions. I had a few concerns, and he put me at ease. Once he confirmed that I had two tears in two different tendons of my rotator cuff, the surgery date was scheduled. His care team jumped into action. Kendall, his Care Coordinator, got me set up with my physical therapist and follow appointments during the pre-op phase. She kindly filled in my work LOA paperwork and did it all in a timely manner. She was quick to follow up the same day whenever I reached out.
As surgery day approached, Matt, Dr. Flikkema’s physician assistant touched base several times via phone calls. He was very friendly and made sure to answer any additional questions I had. I was so impressed that his care team showed a sense of urgency in getting back to me. I knew I was in good hands with what I was experiencing and I hadn’t even had the surgery yet.
Surgery day went great! Dr. Flikkema stopped in before surgery as well as after to speak with my family member. I was nervous and dreaded going home to live with discomfort and pain for the next several weeks. But guess what? I was surprisingly very comfortable with the medication prescribed and the use of the NICE (cold and compression) machine, all suggested by his care team. My pain level was a low 1-2. It felt a little achy here and there, but I was never above a pain level of 2. I truly felt blessed to have had the experience I had. It was very helpful to have the extended team that personally called me and came to my house to help me use the ZYNEX Tens unit for pain relief and the NICE machine. Again, super professional, and helpful. That NICE machine was a saving grace for ease of use and simplicity. I highly recommend this machine, even if it isn’t covered by insurance. It was worth every penny, and it literally helped make my post-op recovery pain free!
The final care team I worked with was my physical therapist, Nirvan, and his student Sara. Both have been fantastic in getting me off on the right steps to mobility, strength, and an improved range of motion. They continue to support me and answer questions with care and compassion.
Finally, a huge thank you to Twin Cities Orthopedics! I feel blessed and lucky to have been given this experience with Dr. Flikkema. He is so knowledgeable, charismatic, patient-centered, and extremely professional. Even at my 2-week post-op appointment, he spent a few minutes going through my arthroscopic pictures and explained how he performed my surgery. Few physicians do that so thank you! You and all your team are exceptional! It was the best medical experience, and I contribute that to you and your trained, patient-centered care team! On a scale of a 1 out of 10, this team deserves a 12!
