Patient Testimonials

A year ago, I tore the ACL, meniscus, and cartilage in my knee while skiing. Dr. Ockuly said it was a major surgery, and if all went well, I would be off crutches in six weeks. Ski season was obviously over but hopefully I could recover in time to enjoy spring break with my family. Six weeks later, I was walking with a cane. Three days after that, I was able to board a plane. It wasn’t too much longer before I was walking freely with just a brace. Here I am a year later having just returned from a three-day ski trip. The informative care and bedside manner I received from Dr. Ockuly’s team was second to none. The TCO physical therapists, even the front office staff, made me feel like I was the most important person in their day. I cannot stress how critical their role played in my physical and mental recovery. Every step and every person I encountered throughout this process was exceptional. I cannot recommend TCO enough.

Dr. Bircher did a great job, and he is a real nice guy. I would recommend him for anyone who needs a knee replacement.

My journey to a full knee replacement began in 1998 when I tore my ACL playing league basketball with some friends. The surgery and recovery went great, but mentally it took a few years before I returned to playing.

Around 2015, I began feeling pain in my kneecap area. A patellar band helped for a while, but over the next year the pain increased enough that I saw a knee specialist. After hearing my history and symptoms, he believed arthritis and bone spurs were setting in, which imaging confirmed. He explained that the ACL injury and surgery often accelerate this kind of deterioration.

Over the following years, the pain slowly increased as soft tissue deteriorated. I tried physical therapy, scope surgeries, and cortisone shots. They helped, but it was clear I was heading toward a full knee replacement. Because of my age, my doctor encouraged me to wait as long asI felt I could, which was a scary moment.

About two years ago, I finally felt limited enough that I knew it was time to seriously consider getting an artificial knee, but how do you find the right doctor? It’s easy to look up reviews for movies, restaurants, or contractors, but in the medical field it’s much harder. Reviews are also so dependent on personal experience, which may not reflect what I would encounter.

Fortunately, I have a friend who provides equipment used in operating rooms. With extensive exposure to orthopedic surgeons, he recommended three that he would ‘send his own mother to.’ That helped me narrow things down quickly. I was able to schedule a consult with Dr. Brian Bjerke at TCO. He gave me a full rundown of the surgery and recovery. I was scared and nervous, but he gave me a confidence and optimism I didn’t have before.

From the beginning, it was made clear that while the surgeon matters tremendously, my success depended just as much on me. I needed to be as strong and flexible as possible going into surgery and remain consistent with PT afterwards. Some of the bad stories I’d heard involved patients who didn’t do that.

About nine months before surgery, I started working out. Because of the pain, I hadn’t been doing much, so I searched YouTube for exercises I could manage and found chair workouts. I did them daily from January to July. I saw major improvements in strength, flexibility, and even pain. At my consult, Dr. Bjerke confirmed I was ready. I also did four PT sessions before surgery to learn the exercises I’d be doing after.

I give the entire TCO team tremendous credit. I’m also extremely proud of the work I put in pre-and post-surgery. Because of that, I was at or ahead of schedule on all my milestones. Within a month, I was doing near-normal activities again: working in the yard, my workshop, around the house, and attending my son’s high school games.

The entire process was scary, but I am so happy with the results. I want to share my experience so others can have the same confidence as they go through their own journey.

I am so glad that I had my full knee replacement surgery done as the experience exceeded my expectations. The surgery was easy and pain free. Afterwards, I was driven to the EXCEL Program that was a few miles down the road from the TCO Edina location at the Crosstown Surgery Center. I ordered restaurant food from the Taverns menu and was educated on physical therapy. They put an ice compression pack on my leg which I ended up renting for four weeks so I could use it at home. On the same day as the procedure, I was already starting physical therapy. There was no pain which surprised me. I had some good pain medication after surgery and the nerve blocks really helped. I didn’t have pain until I got home and the pain medication and nerve block started wearing off.

You want to try and stay ahead of the pain as much as you can. I did physical therapy twice a day, walked as much as I was comfortable with, and didn’t work for two and a half weeks. I went to my scheduled physical therapy sessions and when those ended, I did them independently at home. It has now been two months and I am pain free.

This new knee is already better and more painless than my original knee. I can finally work out after not being able to for about 12 years. Previously, I could work out my upper body, but since I couldn’t use one leg very well, it was more likely that I wouldn’t work out at all. I climb stairs, do leg squats, snowshoe thru deep snow for miles. It is wonderful!

I had a lot of swelling and bruising but it is still reducing every week. The EXCEL Program really is a miracle, and I would do it again if I need my other knee replaced. I am impressed with TCO and everyone I met. They make it so you are on your way to better health and with confidence. Super great!

Dr. Carlson did a great job working with me both during pre-op and post-op. The procedure was easier and the recovery was faster than I thought they would be. I had physical therapy with Mike Stay and Catherine Slaymaker at TCO Plymouth. Just under six weeks out, I am done with PT and getting back to my normal routine. The services I have gotten from Twin Cities Orthopedics have always been outstanding. Besides my recent knee replacement, they have done two shoulder replacements and an ankle replacement for me. I highly recommend Dr. Carlson and the entire care staff at TCO. They will be doing my future joint replacements.

Dr. Comfort and his team did an exemplary job repairing a complicated bucket-handle meniscus tear on my right knee. Having had previous injuries and surgeries with this knee, it was vital for me to have a top-tier surgical team. Beginning with the initial consultation and continuing through post-operative care, the team exceeded my expectations. They took the time to understand my previous injuries, clearly explained options, and answered questions thoroughly providing both expertise and compassion. The surgery and recovery were seamless, and my knee functions better than I expected. I am extremely grateful for the skill, professionalism, and expertise provided. I highly recommend entrusting Dr. Comfort and team to treat complicated surgical needs.

This past November, I suffered a serious injury during a workout at my local gym. I tore one of my hamstring muscles, the biceps femoris. The damage was extensive at 9 centimeters, and the pain was overwhelming. I struggled to sit comfortably, bend down to put on my shoes, or even tie them properly. In search of help, I turned to Dr. Jeremiah Johnson and his team at Twin Cities Orthopedics. From the very first visit, I was impressed by the outstanding care, professionalism, and compassion everyone provided. I am deeply grateful for the support and expertise while guiding me through this difficult period.

Thanks to Dr. Johnson’s treatment plan and the physical therapy I received at TCO, I have made remarkable progress. In less than sixty days, I am well on my way to recovery. While I still have therapy ahead to fully strengthen my muscles, I am confident that I will soon regain complete function in my hamstring muscles again. I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Johnson and his team to anyone seeking the highest level of care and recovery from such an injury. Thank you to everything at TCO for what you have all done to help me heal from this injury quickly.

Dr. Carlson and Melissa Thompson were outstanding in their determination to fix an inappropriate denial of a partial knee replacement by my insurance company. The surgery needed to be rescheduled and Dr. Carlson called to personally apologize despite the situation not being his fault. Both Dr. Carlson and Melissa gave it their full effort to help resolve my problem. I am very pleased with the way the TCO team responded to the situation. Thank you to everyone involved!

If you need a knee replacement, Dr. Bircher is the doctor for you! I wish I knew about him earlier otherwise I would have gotten my procedure done a lot sooner. I am five months into my recovery and better than ever. I don’t know how he did it, but my pain was minimal, my scar is small, and I only had a bit of bruising. His care, along with his team, is very personal. I knew just what to expect. The physical therapy team at TCO was phenomenal too! I know who to call with any future knee issues. Thank you to Dr. Bircher and his team!

I couldn’t be happier with the results of my two knee replacements. I would highly recommend Dr. Nessler and has team. They did a fantastic job!