Patient Testimonials

In May of 2020, our six year old son, Finn, fell and injured his arm while playing at our neighbor’s house. It was obvious that something was wrong as it appeared to our untrained eye that he dislocated his elbow. We rushed him over to the ER at M Health Ridges where he was diagnosed with a break above the elbow that would require surgery and two pins. It was obviously a traumatic experience for him and us, which was exacerbated by the fact that only one parent was allowed to be with him due to COVID protocols.

Finn’s mom was introduced to Dr. Edward Szalapski, who was on call that evening. His calming presence and confidence was reassuring – that he could fix the problem and get Finn back to being a normal, active boy. The surgery happened that evening and Finn was home the same night. The follow up care from Dr. Szalapski and his associates at TCO Edina-Crosstown was fantastic. They walked us through what to expect as Finn’s recovery progressed. Most importantly, they put Finn’s mind at ease every step of the way, from putting on the hard cast, to removing the pins and then getting back to regular activities. Today, Finn’s arm is doing great. He was back to playing baseball by August of 2020, as well as swimming, soccer and wrestling with his brother. Thanks TCO and Dr. Szalapski!

I received wonderful care from Dr. Bjerke. He truly listened to my concerns so I felt like my input was important.

I have now had both hips replaced by Dr. O’Neill! My first was in March 2018 and my second was in March 2021. Because my first replacement was so successful and my recovery was so fast, of course I went back to Dr. O’Neill! I have also recommended him to my friends – he’s THAT good! The anterior procedure really makes getting “back to normal” so easy. I am happy to say I am pain free and back to all of my sports and activities. THANK YOU, Dr. O’Neill!

I would recommend Dr. Butterfield to anyone and everyone. I saw him after being recommended to TCO by a competitor that new I needed the best in the field. Dr. Butterfield respectfully and compassionately listened to me, then proposed a plan. I had been in horrific pain for a year and had some old injuries that were acting up due to the new issue. He fixed everything! Twenty years of pain gone after one, albeit major, surgery. He is a terrific surgeon. I cannot praise Dr. Butterfield enough.

I knew right away after meeting with Dr. Hoel that I trusted him and wanted him to do my surgery. I could no longer walk a short distance or stand for 5 minutes. We discussed my options together and decided surgery would be the best option. He explained the surgery so that I understood exactly what was going to happen and took the time to call my husband and explain it to him. The minimally invasive procedure had many advantages over the way the way this surgery use to be performed. Following surgery, he visited me every day I was hospitalized and he was so kind and concerned about how I was doing, sharing my x-rays with me and reassuring me. I am now 6 weeks out of surgery and have no pain. My surgery was 100% successful! I can now walk and stand as far and long as I want. I have my life back and cannot thank Dr. Hoel enough.

On February 16, 2020 I tore my ACL. I was devastated. I was supposed to finish school last summer but I couldn’t do the required physical portions. Thankfully, I was lead to Dr. Heikes and her team, Megan, PA-C and Calli. With their help I had two successful surgeries and completed 9 months of physical therapy. Throughout my recovery I felt defeated more times than not, but with trusting and listening to my team, I gained a lot of confidence. They were never wrong and they always knew exactly what to do. Today, I have graduated college and am so grateful to have had such an amazing team from TCO! I have been able to return to my normal, active self and do the things I love to do! Thank you all.

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 broke my ankle while out walking and required surgery to repair it. I now have a plate and a bunch of screws in my ankle, but I really don’t notice them to be honest. Though thinking about the surgery was scary, the folks at Twin Cities Orthopedics were spectacular at guiding me through the process with confidence. Dr. Edward Kelly was my surgeon and he not only did excellent work in my operation, but also has been very helpful as I recover by being very encouraging and straightforward abut what to expect along the way. All-in-all, though breaking my ankle was a tough pill to swallow, the staff at TCO has made the entire experience one that was handled with class and great care. My advice to any “ankle-breakers” out there is simply this: you can fully trust the medical processionals at TCO. Five years ago they successfully fixed a neck issue I had via surgery and now more recently have fixed my ankle. In both cases, they were top-notch. I would highly recommend them to anyone!

When I first sought out a consult for knee replacements, I asked for a physician with a good bedside manner. I was immediately directed to Dr. Heikes and I have never been disappointed. Not only is she one of the kindest, most caring doctors I’ve had, she also takes her time to listen and get to know you as a person. She makes sure you are not just a patient to her – you are an individual with a story.

Before I met Dr. Heikes, I was told by several surgeons that I was too young for knee replacements. I was given very few options to try and none of those worked. Dr. Heikes always thinks outside the box. She found solutions when others found dead ends. When those solutions were used up, she gladly and expertly replaced my knees. First it was a set of partial replacements and then, when the rest of my knees were in need, she completed bilateral total replacements.

The deep concern and precise care that she shows is not unique to herself, but to her physician assistant Megan Armstrong as well. Together they form an incredible team to give the best care I could have asked for. I am walking and playing with my kids today because of them. They gave me back my life and my mobility and for that I am so very grateful. If you’re searching for the right medical team for you, I cannot recommend Dr. Heikes and Megan Armstrong PA-C enough.

Dr. Kruse was recommended to my by a friend, when a previous physician recommended more physical therapy. Dr. Kruse had a very quick diagnosis, surgery was scheduled, and I was up and walking without pain an hour after surgery. It was a fantastic experience working with him and his team. The Blaine Orthopedic Surgery Center and TCO Blaine facility are beautiful. I will never manage with that type of pain again and I will never hesitate to go back if I need to. I pass along Dr. Kruse’s contact information on a weekly basis. They work wonders!