Patient Testimonials

This past fall, I ended up tearing my ACL during a football game. In general, you never want to see or experience any kind of injury, and especially so being an athlete. My story starts off on the night of September 8th, 2023. On this night we happened to be running a screenplay. As I was driving my guy down, I planted my foot and attempted to rotate it with my knee and then all of a sudden I felt a POP! In the second quarter of the second game of the season, with 3 minutes and 38 seconds until halftime, I hit the ground and was in immediate pain. When Heidi Beckendorf (our trainer at Anoka), Kate Cayton, and Dr. Patrick O’Keefe got out onto the field to meet me, they asked what was wrong. I responded by telling them that, “I felt a bad pop in my left knee.”

From that night on I can still remember the look on their faces, and I knew that something was seriously wrong and I began to imagine the worst. As soon as my mom saw me hopping over and getting onto the medical cart, she knew that it must have been bad. Right then and there it started to hit me that this is really serious. Seeing the look of concern on everyone’s faces when we started to drive off is still imprinted in my brain.

Once I got back to the locker room, they pulled my mom aside and told her what was wrong. They came in, and my mom was in tears. Seeing my mom cry only made me cry more. They told me that my season was over and that I most likely tore multiple ligaments in my knee. Wow. Just like that, my season was over and it was probably my biggest year for recruitment too.

After I got home from the game all of my emotions came out. I was a mess. I had an appointment that next Tuesday to find out what really happened. I was honestly very relieved to find out that I had torn only my ACL due to the fact that I was originally told that I likely had multiple tears in my knee. To this day, I can still remember the phone call with my head coach after we found out the diagnosis. He said to me, “I’m sorry bud, it will be difficult, but I know that you’ll be able to get through it and come back even better next year.”

My surgery was a success and went very well. When I was about 2-3 weeks Post-OP, one of the physical therapists in the clinic that I had the opportunity to meet and work with thought that I was six weeks into recovery, instead of being only 2-3 weeks. Hearing that was a huge confidence booster for me!

Physical therapy and everything else was going great up until about a month after the surgery. I woke up one Sunday morning and one of my incisions was burning and there appeared to be a giant cyst there. Later that day, the cyst popped open and started secreting lots of pus. My incision stayed like that for a week and kept oozing, but seemed like it was getting better. The doctors said that the issue occurring was due to a stitch that wasn’t dissolving, which kept my incision from closing up and healing. It looked as if it were getting better, but one Wednesday during after-school PT, Kate was taking a look at my incision and things weren’t looking good. The look on everyone’s faces when Kate said that things were taking a turn for the worse had me shell-shocked. I didn’t know what to think.

That next day I had an emergency appointment with Dr. O’Keefe, and he said that I needed to have another surgery ASAP because my incision was infected.

I was making a lot of progress in physical therapy, and it was looking good, but one random night I woke up writhing in pain because my knee had suddenly popped. That morning when I woke up my knee was completely stiff, and I couldn’t walk at all. I was told to get in for an MRI as soon as possible and we found out that I now had a slight tear in my meniscus. I am currently on a meal plan and am taking physical therapy very intently because I have learned that only I can control how fast I am able to return to sports and fulfill my aspirations of playing in college.

One of the biggest accomplishments I have had so far is being able to run after having my injury. The feeling of running after knowing that only four months ago I couldn’t even walk, it’s one of the best feelings that you can get. It has made me realize all of the hard work I have put in to come back is finally starting to pay off.

Going through all of this adversity has been difficult, although in a certain sense, I am grateful for the opportunities and new doors this journey has opened up for me.

I cannot thank Twin Cities Orthopedics enough for everything that they have done for me, although the person from TCO who has had the biggest impact on me is Kate Cayton. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better than her. I always look forward to going to PT, and always being able to have a conversation with her. She has been there for me at my lowest points with recovery and she has always supported me. I don’t think that I could ever repay her for everything that she has done for myself and for me to come back to playing sports.

I would also like to thank Dr. O’Keefe. He showed that TCO really does care about their patients. One thing that really stood out to me was during the time when I was in the hospital, and there was the possibility of me needing a third surgery; he didn’t want anyone but himself to do the surgery, had I ended up needing it. He wants to stay with me until the end of my recovery, and I can’t thank him enough for showing that he does truly care about people that he operates on.

I have had the pleasure of working with Renata for almost a year. I met her when I was getting ready for a lumpectomy for breast cancer in November, 2023. (It was a colleague of hers, to whom I am so grateful, that referred me to see Renata.) Renata provided a great deal of pre-operative information that was very helpful and reassuring. I then saw her after surgery where again, she was supportive, informative and just the professional I needed.

I wish I had all the correct words to describe how much I appreciate her knowledge, “bed side manner”, support and guidance. The surgery was a scary, anxiety producing time for me, and she made it much less so. She continues to provide support, knowledge and care for my ongoing issues with lymphedema. I can’t imagine my treatment team without her.

Hearing you have Breast Cancer are not the words you dream of as a little girl. When you hear those words, you have no idea how your life will change, and the battle you will be in. You’re frightened. You think about your family. Suddenly, you realize you need to find your armor.  Find your battle cry. It is different for each of us but the need for endurance and resilience finds us all.

I was diagnosed with two different types of cancer, both aggressive. I had two years of treatment that included chemotherapy, surgeries, and radiation. Then began life after the treatment.

I have post-mastectomy pain syndrome, radiation damage, lymphedema, scar management, and strength and flexibility issues. I started my therapy journey with a generally trained therapist. I had measurements taken with very general and soft touch therapy. It just wasn’t enough. My oncologist suggested I see Ingrid Weddig with TCO’s Breast Health Program.

She was trained specifically to deal with breast cancer patients and their needs. I am so grateful I drove 40 miles to see her. Her training has allowed me to heal and strengthen my body.  She has helped me tailor an exercise routine in the gym and a stretching routine at home. She is so dedicated and passionate about helping women and letting them know how to heal and live their best life post-cancer.

Kudos and much gratitude to you Ingrid, and many thanks to TCO for building this specialty out. I am thrilled it is now an offering for patients. No one should have to walk this path alone. There are trained professionals that can customize treatment plan to your needs and improve your life.

After my second breast cancer diagnosis in 2022, I required multiple surgeries and radiation. Following my treatment, I was unable to use my entire left arm or hand. I had zero grip strength and could not lift my arm.

After recovering from my radiation and surgeries, my pain level increased, and I saw zero improvement in mobility. Thankfully, Dr. Mark Migliori referred me to Renata Braudy with TCO’s Breast Health program.

I started physical therapy with Renata in 2023 and with her incredible breadth of knowledge around various manual manipulation techniques and targeted exercises, I began to see improvements almost immediately.

Rather than assuming my pain was stereotypical lymphedema from surgery and radiation (and possibly something I would have to just live with), she figured out the root cause started at my neck. Her discovery of this led to targeted therapy that provided me with both pain relief and increased mobility.

Renata’s compassion, empathy, and encouragement are unparalleled. In addition to helping me regain most of my physical abilities, I am forever grateful for the improvement in my emotional well-being. I can say without a doubt that Renata saved my life.”

I recently had a preventative mastectomy due to being at high risk for breast cancer. After the surgery, my team recommended that I start physical therapy with Renata Braudy.

My situation was not the norm, so I was worried about how it would go. Immediately after meeting Renata, I knew I was in great hands. It was evident that she not only had a ton of knowledge but also a passion for taking care of women post-mastectomy.

What stood out to me was Renata’s ability to not only treat my symptoms but also explain the underlying causes, empowering me with knowledge about my body. She developed a plan that was specific to my goals and always valued my input. This personalized plan helped me regain strength and mobility, and I was able to get back into the gym and lift weights just as heavy (and even heavier!) than I was before surgery. I’m forever grateful for the role Renata played in my recovery.

Dr. Shammash’s care coordinator, Christina, is compassionate, talented, and knowledgeable. My emails were answered promptly, and problems were quickly solved. More than once, she went out of her way to make my life easier. I’ve had a chronic illness for decades, and to have this exceptional care at this stage means everything. I highly recommend them both!

Dr. Mittelsteadt was a true blessing! He was patient and gave great advice. He also provided helpful knowledge and the best steps to remove my pain! Wouldn’t chose any other doctor! Thank you!

I would like to express my deepest gratitude and thanks to TCO’s Dr. Meisterling and his entire team. My life has turned around in such an amazingly positive direction thanks to two total knee replacements. Dr. Meisterling’s surgeries have allowed my wife and I to complete a recent hiking trip through Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone National Parks. We’re so appreciative of the “new lease on life” that the TCO team has given to me. My wife and I look forward to hiking many more national parks in the months and years to come.

Dr. O’Neill replaced my hip in April. Within a few weeks, I was pretty much pain-free and able to walk 4-5 miles every day. I would highly recommend Dr. O’Neill if you’re considering hip replacement surgery.

Dr. Neil Johnson is one of the most knowledgeable doctors I have ever met. He tells it like it is.