Patient Testimonials

My knee was affecting my quality of life. Even simple things like going to restaurants or the theater became a concern because I was always worried about whether I’d be able to extend my leg to sit comfortably.

Twin Cities Orthopedics’ surgeon Dr. Corey Wulf and the team at the Orthopedic Institute were phenomenal. What stood out to me was how specialized the treatment is. Because care is focused solely on orthopedics, everyone on the staff is on the same page. From the moment I walked in, everything was smooth, from check-in to discharge. The food was incredible — honestly the best Caesar salad I’ve had in a long time — and the large, spacious room made it easy for my wife and family to visit.

Quality of life is so important. I’m looking forward to walking to restaurants and the farmers market with my wife again, traveling without pain, and playing an occasional round of golf — something I’d been avoiding for quite some time because of my knee.

If you are looking for a great surgeon, look no further than Dr. Bircher. I have been his patient for well over a year, beginning with a hip replacement at North Memorial Health Hospital in Maple Grove in 2024. The procedure and recovery went very smoothly. I was up within an hour after surgery. Though I wasn’t quite running down the hall, everything went extremely well. In October 2026, I needed to have my knee replaced. Once again, Dr. Bircher was at the top of my list. His bedside manner is excellent, and he takes the time to make sure you understand your surgery and what is involved. He is very patient and kind.

The best part of my knee replacement was having the procedure done at the Plymouth Orthopedic Surgery Center. I cannot say enough good things about the facility, and I wish I had been able to have my hip surgery there as well. It was clean and welcoming, the staff seemed genuinely happy to be there, and my room was large and private. I loved the entire experience! I want to give a big thank you to Dr. Bircher and his entire team. I highly recommend them to anyone!

My experience has been better than I could have hoped for. I met with Dr. Eggert to go over my needs and plan for my knee surgery. From there, I met with his Care Coordinator, Molly, who made all arrangements and explained what I need to do in preparation for the surgery. The staff at the Orthopedic Institute were amazing at every level! They made me feel as though I was their only patient. My surgery went great, and I started physical therapy one week later with Sidni Simons. I worked with her for four months. I even got insight from her on how I could strength train my left shoulder which might also need surgery soon. I also worked close with Dr. Eggert’s PA, Mitch Peterka, who was phenomenal.

My scar is so fine straight and smooth that it’s easy to miss unless you were looking for it. I show it off whenever I have the opportunity. I did a massive amount of research before moving forward with my surgery and I feel I made the right choice. When I asked for Dr Eggert, there was no doubt in my mind that he was the right person for me. I couldn’t be happier with how my recovery has turned out, and the care I received from the whole TCO team. I am having surgery on my left shoulder next week with Dr. Eggert and I’m looking forward to the same success as my knee. If you are considering Ridgeview and TCO for your knee, shoulder, or other joint care, they are the best!

It was six months ago today that I had my knee replacement surgery. My experience throughout the entire process has been very positive. I began my journey with TCO when I first went to see Dr. Michael R. Johnson in March of 2025. I was having significant pain in my right knee. After getting X-rays taken, it was clear that I was a candidate for a total knee replacement. Dr. Johnson said I could start with injections if I wanted. I had my first injections back in March of 2025 and then had my second series in October of 2025. After the second series wore off, I went back to Dr. Johnson in February of 2026 and we discussed surgery again. I opted to wait until April due to work commitments. On April 22, 2026, I had my total knee replaced and I am incredibly grateful that I did.

The entire experience has been wonderful! I knew I made the right decision when I called TCO to get an appointment with Dr. Johnson. He is amazing and clearly an expert in his field. What most impressed me was his kind bedside manner where he took the time to fully explain what was going on with my knee, and what the surgery and recovery would entail. I left my first appointment knowing I was in great hands with him as my doctor. Dr. Johnson’s Care Coordinator, Jen, is phenomenal at her role. Her ever-present positive attitude and willingness to answer questions made such a difference in navigating the paperwork required for my medical leave. She was so patient and helpful! Not only did I have a great surgeon, but I was also fortunate to get to work with two amazing physical therapists. Jodi Z. and Ashley K. made PT a rewarding experience. They both understood my desire to progress through the recovery and helped push myself. They encouraged me and helped me achieve my therapy goals. Their knowledge and expertise, as well as their humor, helped me look forward to going to PT.

I will be forever grateful for having gone through this whole experience under the care of Dr. Johnson and his team. I tell people all the time how blessed I was and how wonderful they all were. I highly recommend Dr. Michael R. Johnson for anyone needing knee surgery.

Back at the end of 2025, I was having a lot of ankle pain. I am 77 years old and my ankle problem likely goes back to my high school sports days where I sprained it numerous times. I have been a patient at Twin Cities Orthopedics numerous times and had a hip and two knee replacements. I decided to see Dr. Holthusen about the pain in my right ankle and he determined that I had arthritis with worn and crooked bones. Dr. Holthusen told me that he had been doing feet and ankle repair for 15 years which made me feel comfortable about the surgery.

The surgery went exactly as he told – two weeks in a cast, four weeks in a boot, then transition to a shoe. This was a journey for my recovery but well worth the effort. I am now six months post-op without pain, and I can walk and hunt again. I am probably not 100% yet and I still have a full year to be completely healed, but my foot feels strong. I feel like there isn’t anything I can’t do at this point!  If you are having ankle problems, I would highly recommend Dr. Holthusen at TCO Waconia.

I am an 84-year-old patient who received a total knee replacement from Dr. Vanden Berge. I am overjoyed and relieved by my outcome! After only a short nine weeks, I am experiencing a completely different quality of life. I’m able to get out of chairs, walk down hills, and bend down pain-free! I consulted other orthopedic surgeons outside of Twin Cities Orthopedics first, but was amazed by Dr. Vanden Bergen’s reputation and bedside manner which lead me to determining he would be my surgeon. I would highly recommend his expertise to anyone considering knee replacement surgery, regardless of their age.

I had both knees replaced by another surgeon two months apart in the fall of 2025 and the spring of 2026. One of my knees was popping out and buckling. This is where I started praying for a solution and Dr. James Bircher was the answer that came into my head. I went to a different TCO clinic just to see him, and he told me that I needed surgery right away to get a knee revision. I was very hesitant because I had just gone through two major knee surgeries. I even set up the appointment then canceled it since I was weary. Dr. Bircher personally called me to ask why I cancelled. He spent time explaining the importance of the surgery with me and answer all my questions right there on the phone. I was so impressed with that personal communication that I went ahead and got the surgery done. I didn’t have any pain during my recovery which was something I experiences with the first two. Dr. Bircher completely fixed my knee and even fixed a sciatica issue that I have had for years. He is very caring and he even prayed with me. I think Dr. Bircher is an outstanding person, and he is my new orthopedic doctor for life.

Dr. Nessler performed a knee revision on my left knee. I just had my post-op year visit. The surgery turned out very well and I am happy with the function I have regained. It was a difficult recovery which was expected, but I have no regrets. I am pleased with my results. The staff that works with Dr. Nessler is always very helpful. I have a great deal of confidence in Dr. Nessler and his team. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Nessler and his team for giving me my mobility back.

I had a total knee replacement in August 2026. I was so blessed to have Dr. Bircher. I’ve had a few joint replacements in the past, and he was so empathetic toward my condition. The surgery went well! I got the bike to use for 30 days, and it was a game changer to help my knee bend well. My incision was perfect! I did what he suggested, and everything came out great. Dr. Bircher is so skilled at what he does, and I trust him very much! His team is very prompt and well organized! I also want to thank Jen who helped me a lot before surgery.

On August 19, 2026, I had a total knee replacement performed by Dr. Marcus Mittelsteadt at the Chaska Institute. My overall impression of the whole process was a very positive experience. Dr. Marcus and I had many interactions, office visits, injections, and planning discussions prior to surgery. As we set a date, I was introduced to Amy Franck, his Care Coordinator, to assist in all pre-surgery requirements. She was fantastic in her role and added caring value. The surgery went as expected with a trusted surgeon like Dr. Mittelsteadt. I was then introduced to Annie Drabot, PA-C for aftercare visits. I had another pair of positive meetings with her. My trust level at Twin Cities Orthopedics has led me to set up hand surgery in November, my other knee and my other hand in 2027. That is trust!