Patient Testimonials

I am in my tenth month post-surgery. Right now, I am busy planning and training for an upcoming seven-day bike trip in Croatia. Eleven months ago, I began each morning using a walker for four hours because my pain was so intense. Dr. Deal was the third orthopedic doctor I saw for my issue which was creating pain down my right leg. He knew immediately after looking at my MRI what the problem was. He was very thorough in explaining it to me, and he answered all my questions professionally and patiently. I am now pain free and very happy that I can be active again! Thank you to Dr. Deal, his team, and the TCO staff!

Dr. Hunt has performed three procedures for me over the years, the most recent of which was a partial knee replacement a few days ago. He is not only one of the Twin Cities top orthopedic surgeons but also a truly great person. Dr. Hunt and his entire team literally bent over backward to make my surgery happen in an extremely timely manner. I am now at home recovering well, thanks to the skilled hands and kind heart of Dr. Hunt. A special thank you to Cherry, his care coordinator, and to all the nursing staff at Ridgeview and TCO. I especially want to thank my night nurse, Adriene H., and my physical therapist, Amanda N. I am extremely grateful to everyone who provided me with exceptional service and care.

In April, I had my right knee replaced. I went into surgery confident that Dr. Bircher would work his magic again! He did my left knee replacement two years ago which went amazing. He takes time to explain, answers all my questions, and reassured me every step of the way. His entire team is so positive and caring! Within a few weeks, I was moving easier than I had before surgery. I am continuing to heal and greatly appreciate the care provided! I highly recommend Dr. Bircher and his team!

I want to express my sincere gratitude for the incredible care I received from the entire TCO team during my ACL surgery, rehabilitation, and recovery. The road back was challenging, but because of the expertise, dedication, and support from Dr. Flikkema, his team, the TCO staff, and my physical therapy team, I was able to rebuild my strength, regain confidence, and return to the sport I love. Since my surgery, I have worked extremely hard not only to recover physically, but also to improve my overall health and fitness. Through commitment, training, and dedication, I have lost nearly 60 pounds and continued pushing myself toward my goals.

I have competed in several taekwondo tournaments and continued to challenge myself. Most recently, I competed at USA Taekwondo Nationals and was honored to earn 2nd place. The championship match was a very close and competitive fight and being able to compete at that level after ACL surgery is something I am extremely proud of. It reflected the hard work, determination, and support that TCO provided to help me along this journey.

I plan to continue competing in taekwondo, setting new goals, and continuing to challenge myself both as an athlete and in my overall health and fitness. The TCO team has helped me get back to doing something that is an important part of my life. Beyond the physical recovery, TCO helped me believe that returning to competition was possible. Thank you for your skill, encouragement, and commitment throughout my journey. I am truly grateful for the role TCO played in helping me get back on the mat, improve my health, and continue chasing my goals.

I had my knee replaced in February by Dr. Bircher. I am feeling great! I am four months into recovery and just got back from an 11-day trip with my family. Knowing I had this trip planned, I diligently followed my physical therapy exercises and did as much rehabilitation as possible to prepare. We walked an average of five miles a day, often on uneven paths with many steps, and my knee felt great. After taking two trips in the last few years while dealing with so much pain, this felt amazing! Dr. Bircher, his staff, the nurses, and the physical therapists who helped me were fantastic, and I can’t thank them enough.

I cannot say enough positive things about Dr. Owen O’Neill and his team: Kaylyn, Lauren, Ann, and Hayden. My total knee replacement surgery and recovery went very well. After eight weeks, I was back to doing everything I wanted to do. I can golf, bike, and walk my dog again. I was told by the team that the exercises and physical therapy were important, so I was diligent in doing them. I am extremely pleased and happy that I had the surgery.

My whole experience was great! A booklet was sent to me in advance, and it helped me get prepared for my procedure. The surgery went well and my knee replacement has been great. Two weeks into recovery, I was walking and only hurt a little bit. I am now six weeks in and am doing wonderful. I would highly suggest Dr. Nessler and his team.

Drew Gienau is personable and attentive. He listened to my goals and helped me find technology for every activity I wanted to get back to. Prosthetics are constantly advancing, and TCO is on the cutting edge. I’m back to mountain biking and dirt biking, and am working on getting back on my motorcycle. Without Drew and my care team at TCO, I’d still be in a wheelchair.

In March of 2025, our son, Graeme, tore his meniscus in a snowboarding accident. He immediately started physical therapy with Brett Peterson and then had a full meniscus repair with Dr. Andrew Schmiesing in April. Graeme continued PT with Dr. Peterson vigorously two to three times per week and was back to a full successful football season. In the winter, he made the varsity basketball team and led the team in three-point percentage and field goal percentage as an eighth grader. Without Dr. Peterson’s time and dedication to Graeme, none of this would be possible.