Patient Testimonials

When I was 61 years old, I was hit by a truck while riding my bicycle. I am not going to list all the traumatic injuries for the sake of brevity. In the emergency room my wife was told I might never leave a wheelchair. The next morning, Dr. Nielsen performed the first of what would be three reconstructive surgeries, on my shattered left femur. After the first surgery, Dr. Nielsen leveled with me. He said guys my age don’t bounce back after such extensive trauma. However, because of my physical conditioning at the time of the collision and my attitude, he was giving me a 50/50 chance of eventually walking without an aid. I know he was talking with my wife while I was out, because then he added, “If you don’t do anything stupid.” You have to know me to know how spot-on that observation is.

Five and a half years later,  I am training with a 70-pound ruck sack to summit Cloud Peak, Wyoming on our nation’s 250th Anniversary. The peak is just over 13,000 feet requiring a minimum round-trip hike of 25 miles. My youngest son, Patriot, and I are going to skirt the base and visit the only glacier in the Big Horn Range while we are up there. We will be hiking and camping in the Cloud Peak Wilderness Area for at least five days. That wouldn’t have been possible without the skill and dedication of Dr. Nielsen and the team that treated my injuries. Thank you!

I had my first hip replacement three years ago. When it came time for my second, my original surgeon had retired, and I was referred to Dr. Carlson. Although I wasn’t familiar with him; I did some research and was impressed by what I read. His expertise in the robotic?assisted anterior approach, along with his residency training at the Mayo Clinic, gave me the confidence to move forward. I am now six weeks post?op and couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. I am already back to golfing and will begin easing into my regular workout routine in the coming weeks. The recovery has been remarkably smooth, and I am extremely happy with the outcome. I highly recommend Dr. Carlson.

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 want to commend Dr. Bircher and his staff for their skill and care. I feel I could not have received better experience for my hip replacement. I will be coming back to him for my other hip replacement. Thank you!

Dr. Hartigan did my hip replacement in February 2026. It was done at the Chaska surgery location which was a wonderful facility. Dr. Hartigan is an excellent surgeon, explains things well, answered all my questions, and on top of that, has a very personable bedside manner. I highly recommend him to anyone in need of a hip replacement.

Due to a car accident, I had to have knee replacements done on both knees. These were done with another healthcare provider outside of Twin Cities Orthopedics. The first was March 2023 and the second was November 2023. Six months after the November surgery, there was an issue and the replacement had to be redone. During this time Dr. Bircher kept me informed of what the procedure entailed and what the recovery time would be. He would always keep me informed and updated on any issues I had. My recovery has been complete and my knees feel great! I appreciate how Dr. Bircher took the time to explain everything that was going on and was always available to take calls and answer my questions. I would recommend Dr. Bircher to anyone with knee or hip issues.

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.

Everyone on Dr. Hartigan’s staff has been kind, helpful, and informative. I was very comfortable and confident under Dr. Hartigan’s care. My recovery after my hip replacement in November went very well. My leg length discrepancy was resolved, and I just returned from a trip to the Netherlands where I put 70 miles on my pedometer. So thankful I had this done or that wouldn’t have been possible. Thank you so much to Dr. Hartigan and his team.

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 had been treated by Dr. Christopher Reynolds for nearly two years. On March 18, 2026, he performed my SI Joint Fusion Surgery at Maple Grove Hospital. I am nearly three weeks post-surgery and recovering nicely. Dr. Reynolds is brilliant, caring, and I trust him completely. I have full faith that I will have a wonderful outcome and a new improved quality of life. Dr. Reynold’s assistant, Lauren, is also amazing. I would highly recommend Dr. Reynolds to anyone needing orthopedic surgery. He is certainly one of the best and I am truly thankful for him!