Patient Testimonials

A shout out to Scott Cichos and Katie Godmare for the excellent physical therapy program they have provided to get me on the way to recovery. They both show their desire to guide you to recovery, obviously are skilled in their profession and are very pleasant to work with. They previously helped me recover from a hamstring tear and I am now in my third month of physical therapy for a torn rotator cuff. My range of motion has greatly improved and getting better every day. Many thanks to both of you for your efforts, I appreciate your outstanding care.  I would be remiss if I did not mention your friendly and efficient staff at your front desk. They have been very helpful with scheduling and anything else I needed. Thanks again to all at Physical Therapy at TCO Vadnais Heights.

Dr. David Anderson, has completed left shoulder arthroscopy, right femur fracture repair & therapeutic injections, ALL with good results! I plan on returning to him for additional treatments. I would highly recommend him to anyone concerning injury and sports medicine!

Dr. TJ Ridley is very knowledgeable and great with both kids and adults. He did a great job explaining what to expect and provided instructions that my son (17) could follow. At each appointment, he always allowed time for questions and listened intently. We will plan to see him again for the inevitable next injury!

I’m not sure anything can prepare you for the moment you hear the news that you’ve torn your ACL and severed your meniscus after a blindside in a football game. Everything I planned for my sophomore year was instantly replaced by a completely unplanned journey. I learned this new journey wouldn’t include football, basketball, or track. It would instead include surgery and crutches, relearning to walk and run, and require regaining the strength to lift any kind of weight with my left leg. I knew it was going to be hard, and I knew the only way to do it was to go through it and ultimately get through it.

My TCO team made up of Dr. Charles Eggert, Jessica, Katelyn, Kyle, Jeff, and Natalie got me through surgery, all my post-op check ins, physical therapy, and an extra 7 months of ACE training to help get me ready to compete again. Throughout my recovery we had a goal of getting me “back by football”. In a very unplanned and intense 10 months of reconstruction and recovery work, on the first day of the 2024 season I was cleared to play football without restriction.

I’m thankful for my body’s ability to be repaired and rehabbed in the way it was. It’s been great to be back out on the field with my teammates this season. As I look back on this last year, I’m thankful for my family, my friends, my Belle Plaine community support, and my TCO team that helped me get to this point in my recovery!

In 2011, my running dreams were put on hold when a knee injury turned into years of frustration and pain. Despite severe pain, MRIs showed no damage, and surgery wasn’t an option. I was forced to stop running for nearly a year, and it was a devastating setback.  I came back determined to run the NYC Marathon, my hometown race. However, by 2021, after a fall during training, I was diagnosed with arthritis and misalignment issues.

I met with TCO’s Dr. Robert LaPrade, and I will never forget finding out I needed surgery. I feared I would never run again. Dr. LaPrade reassured me that with time, everything would be fine and to be patient (not my strong suit). I underwent an osteotomy and spent eight long weeks on crutches. My determination, though, never wavered. After six months of recovery, I was cleared to walk-run, and just three weeks later, I finished the Boston Marathon in six hours!

Now, 19 months after surgery, I qualified for Boston with a 3:37 at the Erie Marathon, just shy of my PR. I’m glad I listened to Dr. LaPrade and had my surgery, instead of waiting and making it worse. If I hadn’t had surgery when I did, I probably wouldn’t be running anymore. I still remember the pain at my last race right before surgery. I’m eternally grateful to TCO for the best care so that I could continue my love of running.

If you are having knee pain and want to continue being active, don’t hesitate to get checked out.

Dr. Etasha Bhatt performed surgery on my right ring finger which was badly injured due to a sport-related injury. The surgery went well, and I was on the path to healing soon after. It did not take long to get home, everything was quick and smooth. I was able to get follow-up appointments soon enough. I will recommend her and am happy with the overall care that was provided by TCO.

I turned to TCO after suffering a concussion during section playoffs for soccer. I was worried I would miss the rest of the season. Thanks to the amazing team at TCO Eden Prairie, where they have an incredible concussion center, I was able to return right before the state tournament. During that game, I couldn’t even imagine that two weeks ago I had a concussion. I didn’t feel it all. I felt brand new. We would go on to win our first-ever state title in school history, and I’m so thankful I could be a part of it. My advice to any athlete: Go to TCO. Trust in the process. You’ll be back before you know it.

Sawyer D – Soccer Athlete

Lindsey Brown, ATC evaluated our 15 year old son who was concussed while wrestling at a high school tournament. She spent a great deal of time with us and her genuine concern for his well-being was not just apparent during his visit, but included several calls to follow-up regarding his progress. Lindsey’s knowledge, thoroughness, warmth, along with consultations with Dr. Ryan and the High School ATC, helped ease our concerns tremendously. We highly recommend Lindsey and Dr. Ryan and appreciate them greatly!

I have been in the orthopedic industry for over 20 years and have friends and family ask for referrals on a daily basis. My close friend has two sons that are high level athletes in baseball and football. They were dealing with sports injuries and wanted my advice. I referred them to Dr. Ridley and they ended up needing surgery and had fantastic outcomes. Why Dr. Ridley, they asked? First off, he is fellowship trained from the world renowned Steadman Clinic in Vail. He is a fantastic surgeon, ethical in his indications for surgery, was a collegiate athlete in two sports and a patient himself with sports injuries. I ended up seeing Dr. Ridley with a hip problem and he was conservative in his treatment. He recommended physical therapy and I’m doing fantastic. When it comes to sports injuries Dr. Ridley is who I refer all my friends and family to.

I was a senior at Lake Superior State University playing division 1 college hockey for the school when, during a hockey game, I tore my ACL. The injury ended my season right away, being already halfway done with it. I still had an opportunity to play after college and needed to get back before camps started in the summer for exposure. My family doctor referred me to Dr. Andrea Saterbak with TCO with high remarks for her work. My first impressions during a pre-surgical meeting absolutely blew me away and I knew she would get me back. Dr. Saterbak and her team along with all of the TCO staff gave me all the tools and support to bounce back after the injury that ended my college career. Dr. Saterbak’s reputation is remarkable and I learned firsthand why. After sticking with her protocol and procedures, I am back to feeling where I was before my injury, if not better. I am able to make it to camps and tryouts to continue my hockey career. Dr. Saterbak and her team resemble exactly what it means to be professional, knowledgeable, and compassionate. Thank you to Dr. Saterbak and her team for helping me get back to playing the game I love.