Patient Testimonials

My experience with Dr. O’Neill and his team (Kaylyn, Lauren, Ann, Sara, and Hayden) was exceptional. After reviewing my MRI and performing a clinical exam, Dr. O’Neill diagnosed stage 4 osteoarthritis. He performed an anterior approach total hip replacement for me. Dr. O’Neill explained everything in advance and provided a summary handout that detailed what to expect prior to and following surgery. Surgery requires a team approach, and everyone involved (including the staff at the Orthopedic Institute) were terrific. If a question arose, Dr. O’Neill’s assistant, Ann, quickly returned my calls.

My THR experience tracked exactly as Dr. O’Neill described prior to surgery. I ceased prescription pain medication after two weeks. At eight weeks post-op, I now walk two to three miles daily, have started biking on my stationary bike, and am carefully and progressively resuming weighted squats and deadlifts – all approved by Dr. O’Neill. I have some residual stiffness which should subside soon. The incision is barely visible. Dr. O’Neill told me I have no restrictions (other than running marathons).

I recommend Dr. O’Neill to everyone I know that has arthritic hip pain. He has already operated successfully on a friend of mine. Dr. Owen O’Neill is an experienced and highly skilled surgeon. He keeps current about the latest techniques. He utilizes prostheses that incorporate proven advances in materials science. This ensures that the patient receives a properly implanted prosthesis, one that is stable, durable, and comfortable for the patient. This, in turn, supports an uncomplicated and speedy recovery, and a satisfied patient. I recommend Dr. O’Neill without reservation.

I am 62 years old and have been dealing with knee pain for many years. I tore my ACL 38 years ago, and had three torn meniscus tears, bone on bone arthritis, and floating bone fragments in my left knee. I never had any surgeries to fix these issues in the past. After the last meniscus tears, and an MRI, I went in to see Dr. Saterbak. She was recommended to me from a few different people that I play Senior Softball with. When she reviewed my MRI, she told me, “Let’s not try to fix this one, let’s just give you a new knee”. Our first visit was great, as she shared what she was seeing and what the procedure would be like. I had all the confidence in the world in her. All the pre-surgery information was incredible! This included a 60-page document that covered pre-surgery, during surgery, and post-surgery information and recommendations. It was fantastic!

She recommended using the EXCEL program. What a great suggestion that was! Everything is all included in one program from pre-surgery, post-surgery, and physical therapy. The stay at the Omni Hotel was top notch! Better than any hospital stay could possibly be for recovery. The staff was fantastic. The accommodations were beautiful. Everything was just as I needed it to be.

Now let’s talk about how the procedure went and how my recovery has gone. The procedure was great, with little to no pain in my knee from day one. There was a lot of swelling and bruising as that was to be expected, but I think most of that came from the tourniquet used in the procedure. I already had a measured 90° bend and 0° straightness during the first night at the Omni with the TCO staff. I did a lot of walking that night too and everything felt great. I used a walker only that first night and then moved to a cane which only lasted for another couple days. The PT at TCO Vadnais Heights has gone great. Every trip to see them has had improved results and my expectations have been exceeded throughout the entire process. I am now at five weeks post-surgery, my PT is nearly done. My last measurement was 127° Bend and -3° and straightness.

Everything has gone better than I could have ever expected! Why did I wait so long to see someone? I would highly recommend Dr. Saterbak and her team if anyone is considering or needing a knee replacement. On a scale of one to ten, I would have to give them an eleven or higher. Thank you to TCO and Dr. Saterbak’s team for providing such outstanding medical service and care. This was as good of an experience as I could get!

I went to Twin Cities Orthopedics after I injured my left hip in January 2025 while doing a trick in dance. I was diagnosed with a labral tear and impingement. This made dancing difficult and caused pain. Dance is a huge part of my life, so I wanted to be able to finish the season with as little pain as possible. After meeting with Dr. Moser and Dr. Larson, they recommended that I start physical therapy. During this time, I worked with Hanwen Wong. She helped immensely, and I was able to keep dancing through June. Unfortunately, I then developed the same pain in my right hip. After imaging, they found an even larger labral tear and impingement. Physical therapy was a start to my recovery, however with issues in both hips, the doctor’s recommended surgery. I didn’t want to miss any more competition seasons of dance, so Dr. Larson performed the surgery on each hip six weeks apart. My care team was great throughout this entire process. They were very supportive and fully explained what the process would be like, especially with the surgeries being so close together.

Hanwen was very helpful! Emotionally, she made the whole process feel less overwhelming. She was encouraging and motivating me every step of the way, while also being easy to talk to and someone I could connect with. Physically, she made a great recovery plan that was personalized to me as a dancer and structured my progress safely. I appreciated working with Hanwen because she was a dancer herself and worked with many other dancers. She knows all the terminology, moves, and ways to gradually advance within the six-month recovery process. Initially, we worked on gaining muscle back and doing basic movements to help with my daily life. Then, we worked on strength, mobility, and balance. She also used hands-on massage techniques and dry needling, which helped manage my pain.

In the last months of my recovery, we were highly focused on getting back to dance. I would work on jumps, kicks, and splits, regaining most of my flexibility back. We would follow ballet programs and work on the barre to get me back to technique classes. Lastly, she would run through specific dances I had with me, focusing on movements that caused pain. This gave me different techniques to try and ways to adjust so I could limit the discomfort. Hanwen was very understanding and supportive, but I especially appreciated her ability to give me a gentle push to try new things in order to develop further in my rehab.

This experience has enhanced my day-to-day life because I am now able to dance without constant pain. I am more aware and intentional with my movements. I now know when I need to take it easy and when I can push myself. Throughout my recovery, I have gained strength and improved my technique. Thanks to TCO, I am able to do the activity I love with confidence and at my full potential.

At my first appointment with Dr. O’Neill, I was in so much pain that I was frantic. Dr. O’Neill came into the room, sat down, and truly listened. He responded with empathy and kindness which was exactly what I needed. He walked me through the X-ray results, advised an MRI, and sent me on my way. The MRI revealed that my hip had no cartilage remaining and that was the source of my pain. I had to wait a few months for surgical availability so during that time I tried a hip injection which I thought might tide me over until the operation. Unfortunately, the injection didn’t have any effect, and I was back to square one with managing my pain until my surgery date.

Finally, the day for surgery came and I was so ready. The nursing staff at the surgical center were amazing and the surgery went smoothly. That afternoon, I was up and walking around the hallway with a walker. It felt great! The first night was rough but that was to be expected. I was already sent home the next day. Now, I am eight-weeks post-surgery and back to walking my three miles a day pain free. It’s amazing! I highly recommend Dr. O’Neill and his team. He is not only an outstanding surgeon, but also a decent human being.

I have been heavily involved in Minnesota Special Olympics since I was eight years old and now, I will be turning 30 this month. Last fall, I sprained my ankle at flag football practice. I knew right away that I injured my ankle, so my dad took me to the ER. They did an X-ray and said it wasn’t broken but referred me to Twin Cities Orthopedics. The doctor at TCO Maple Grove ordered an MRI and said it was a bad sprain. I was put in a boot and eventually an ankle brace. The doctor ordered weekly physical therapy which I continued for several weeks. Unfortunately, I was unable to return to flag football that season. I met with the doctor again to check progress, and he continued the PT for a few more weeks just to be make sure everything was fully healed. I was given the go ahead to play but told to go slow.

I am part of Osseo-Maple Grove Athletic Association (OMGAA) teams and play ice hockey with Minnesota Special Hockey. A few weeks into this past season I also took a fall on the ice and injured my hand! I again went to TCO Maple Grove where they did another X-ray, and I was given a brace to wear on wrist. I was still having pain issues, so I returned to TCO and saw a doctor in the hand specialist clinic. He ordered an ultrasound of my wrist, and I have a follow-up appointment with him this week.

I also do gymnastics for MN Special Olympics. Three weeks ago, I injured my back at practice doing the vault. After a week, I was still having a lot of back and leg pain, so I went to TCO again. The doctor ordered an ultrasound of my back, and the results were a herniated disc. I start PT for my back this week. He also ordered a cortisone shot for my spine so I will likely be out from basketball and gymnastics for the season.

During this time, I will work on strengthening my body parts! In addition to playing several sports with MN Special Olympics, I also coach my sister’s bocce ball team in the summer. I have been chosen as an athletic coach for bocce at the USA games that will be held in Minnesota this summer. I am very excited! I went to Seattle in 2018 for the USA games and competed in gymnastics where I came home with five medals. I also was a part of the USA games in Orlando in 2022 for half court women’s basketball. We won a gold medal! I have always felt very supported at TCO and listened to by doctors and therapists. They always thoroughly explain at home exercises and are very clear on when I can return to sports. I am sure with all the sports I play that I will be back to TCO in the future!

I first met Dr. Dwivedi in 2024 when I had an injury to my elbow. He reviewed my scans with me, all the options that were available, and what the outcome and recovery would be. We tried steroid injections first and then I opted for surgery. The outcome and recovery were just as he had explained. Now, I am two years past my surgery, and I have opted to have another surgery with Dr. Dwivedi as I trust his professional opinion and his ability to fix my current issue. I would highly recommend Dr. Dwivedi to anyone as he and his team are personable, professional, and very skilled at taking care of your orthopedic needs.

I have seen Dr. Reynolds twice for low back and SI pain. He nailed the diagnosis immediately and confirmed it with an MRI. He has a fantastic “bedside manner” and is very easy to communicate with. Dr. Reynolds explains everything well. I feel like I receive great information coming in and going out. He sent me to TCO physical therapy, and I am responding fantastically to the exercises in my rehab! I have already referred him to others and will continue to do so in a heartbeat! What a great addition to TCO!

My family has been surrounded by support from Twin Cities Orthopedics and their staff this year. My husband had a successful knee replacement with Dr. TJ Panek’s staff in the EXCEL program. The organization, communication, and outstanding care provided from start to finish could not have been better. A knee replacement is not a minor procedure, but his surgery and recovery have been incredibly smooth and supported.

Our older son injured his shoulder during his high school football season. His school’s TCO sports trainer, Julia West, has been supporting him through every step of his recovery as he prepares for his final high school baseball season. Our younger son dislocated his kneecap this fall and initially tried rehab through physical therapy. When it became apparent that therapy wasn’t going to be the solution, Dr. Christopher Larson reassured him that surgery would provide the pathway to getting his goals back on track.

We’ve spent quite a lot of time this year interacting with many healthcare providers at TCO and every experience has felt like we were their main priority. From scheduling to record keeping to PT to imaging to surgical care coordinators to doctors, our experience has been outstanding and the recovery outcomes positive. I would highly recommend TCO to anyone looking for orthopedic care for themselves or their family.

I saw Dr. Eggers for pain in my lower back and hips. I was thoroughly impressed during my initial visit. After listening to my symptoms, I found that his knowledge was confirmed by an MRI that I received shortly after that consultation. He was also very honest about his practice. I sincerely appreciated that. I was also comforted that he would take the time to discuss my condition, concerns, and treatment. I feel that I am in excellent hands when seeing Dr. Eggers.

Thank you to Dr. Hofkens for completing the procedure on my shoulder. He removed calcium deposits on my rotator cuff which was contacting my bicep tendon causing significant pain and weakness. The procedure was a HUGE success, and I can now move, and use left shoulder without any issues. I have been dealing with the pain and weakness for almost a year. After an MRI and months of physical therapy with no improvement prior to the surgery, the procedure was completed. Within a few days, my shoulder was back to normal. I appreciate and value the expertise and precision of Dr. Hofkens!