Patient Testimonials

During my first meeting with Dr. O’Neill, he showed me the parts he would be using to perform my hip surgery and thoroughly explained the process. His team got in touch with me and discussed the EXCEL Program they use. They helped sign me up for a PT session with a therapist. After that session, I had a complete understanding of the whole process. Dr. O’Neill’s team also mailed me an EXCEL booklet that covered everything about my hip replacement so I could refer to it if I forgot anything.

The day of the surgery went exactly as it was described to me. The entire staff worked together well and the whole process was seamless. The first night I spent at the Omni Hotel for recovery was also a great experience. Way better and cleaner than a hospital! I would highly recommend Dr. O’Neill, TCO, and their EXCEL program to anyone. I am no longer in pain, and I can walk drastically better than I did before my surgery. Thank you to Dr. O’Neill and TCO staff!

I had both hips replaced by Dr. Samuel Carlson within a nine-month period. I waited longer before having the first side done in June 2025 because I had never had surgery before. I was hesitant so I tried an injection and physical therapy first until the pain became too debilitating. Once I had the surgery done, the recovery was so quick and easy that I didn’t wait as long to have the second side done in April 2026.

My recovery from the second surgery was even faster than the first. I am so happy with the results! I didn’t realize just how limiting it was to live with chronic pain and loss of mobility until it was lifted entirely. I can now do all the things you want to do again. I highly recommend Dr. Carlson and his team, including his PA-C, Jake Szalat, Care Coordinator, Melissa. Thank you to everyone who helped with my pre-op and post-op experience at TCO and the EXCEL Program at the Care Suites.

Dr. Jeremiah Johnson and his care team went out of their way to ensure maximum care was given. I had a hip repair six-months prior to my hip replacement that did not go well when I saw a different physician outside Twin Cities Orthopedics. I was nervous to have another surgery so quickly to correct prior mistakes. However, I have been super happy with the results of my surgery and would completely trust Dr. Johnson with any future surgeries at TCO.

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.