Patient Testimonials

My left shoulder was a mess from a car accident, arthritis, a fall from a ladder, and life in general. I had almost no strength in my arm and I couldn’t lift it above shoulder height. It really hurt! I had gotten a couple of cortisone shots to help with the pain, and it did work for a while.

After speaking with Dr. Pressman, he suggested shoulder replacement surgery. My rotator cuff was also torn, and the replacement would not only fix my shoulder ailments, but it would keep me in a sling for only two weeks. From my understanding, a rotator cuff surgery puts you in a sling for about six weeks, so a shorter timeline was great. I signed up for the procedure right then and there.

The entire process at the TCO Surgery Center went amazingly well. I spent the night in Edina and was out the next morning. I had physical therapy appointments scheduled and a fresh set of Under Armor “duds” they dressed me in. The care was phenomenal! I breezed through my two weeks, got rid of the sling, and started my final stretch of the recovery. Everyday got better as time went on. After about a month, I would go days where I didn’t even think about my shoulder. That was a sure sign that things were headed in the right direction.

I have a few weeks of scheduled recovery left but I am functioning well and back to doing some things that I have avoided for the past year. Best of all, I am pain free. Dr. Pressman and Raquel at TCO Eden Prairie made a great team and it was a pleasure to do business with them. On a 1 to 10 scale; they are a 12!

For years I suffered with knee pain attributed to arthritis. After suffering a few falls, which unfortunately had me landing on my knees, I began going to physical therapy in hopes of strengthening the knee and reducing the pain. The therapist at TCO highly recommended me to Dr. Bircher.

He has been wonderful with his calm and patient personality! He gently guided me through alternative procedures to surgery, since I felt I was not ready to go through with an operation yet. The cortisone injection sadly had no effect on my pain. A few months later, we tried a gel injection. It worked for two months and significantly relieved my pain, but not the full six months like we had hoped. We tried the gel injection one more time after a six-month break and there it had no effect that time. He never made me feel rushed during our appointments and he let me take my time voicing my fears and concerns. Thanks to Dr. Bircher’s patience and dedication in trying to find alternative solutions before surgery, I finally agreed to the knee replacement.

On the day of my procedure, I was reassured, impressed, and comforted during visits from his team as they each explaining their “role” in the process. The Rom-tech device and the ice compression machine were both vital in my first month of recovery. Regular physical therapy following the procedure was another requirement to help strengthen the knee and start regaining mobility. I cannot say enough good things about Dr Bircher, his team, and the TCO Excelsior therapy staff!

When you have a house full of rodeo riders, wrestlers, and football players, injuries are going to happen. At one point, we had seven broken bones in 14 months. That’s when we stopped going to the ER and started going straight to TCO Urgent Care in Vadnais Heights.

What makes Dr. Ockuly stand out is how approachable he is. He doesn’t just treat our boys, he gets to know them. He makes the experience feel personal and never rushed. They feel like they’re visiting a friend, not just a doctor. He even checks in after surgery or a big injury.

When my son Marshall broke his foot riding saddle bronc in North Dakota, he drove all the way home so he could go to TCO. That same weekend, we happened to see Dr. Ockuly at the state rodeo finals, and he took the time to check Marshall’s foot under a tent between events. That’s the kind of care you don’t forget.

Dr. Ockuly truly understands how important it is for kids to get back to doing what they love. Every conversation is clear, supportive, and focused on getting us back on track. As a mom, that kind of trust means everything. I know that no matter what, we’re in good hands.

I’m a single, empty-nester mom, work in real estate, and stay active. I run, lift weights, golf, and keep up with my daughter’s college hockey schedule. I don’t have time to slow down.

I joined a weekend kickball tournament for something fun and social. While chasing a ball, I fell and separated my shoulder. I tried to let it heal on its own, and Dr. David Hartigan actually supported that decision. He told me that if he were in my shoes, he would wait and see. That meant a lot because it showed he cared about what was best for me, not just rushing into surgery. When it became clear that surgery was the right option, he walked me through the entire plan.

Dr. Hartigan explained what the procedure would involve and answered every question I had. I never felt rushed. He always made me feel like my concerns mattered. After the initial surgery, I had a freak accident and broke my clavicle again. It was a frustrating setback, and I needed another procedure.

Even through that second surgery, I never felt alone. Dr. Hartigan and the entire TCO team continued to be supportive and positive, which made a big difference during a tough time. Five weeks before my half-marathon, I got the green light to start running again. The next day, I ran 10 miles. That race became a symbol of everything I had overcome. Crossing the finish line with my daughter by my side was emotional and empowering. It felt like I was finally leaving the pain and recovery behind me.

Today, I’m back in the gym and lifting weights. I feel strong and like myself again. Dr. Hartigan is more than a talented surgeon. He’s an incredible human being. I would recommend him to anyone.

I broke my ankle playing soccer and came to Twin Cities Orthopedics. Dr. Mittelsteadt and the whole team were always kind, patient, and respectful. My surgery went smoothly. They guided me through physical therapy and my post-op appointments. Even when it came time to remove the hardware, I felt comfortable and supported. I never felt rushed or judged. I am very grateful for how they handled my whole recovery journey.

I dislocated my hip a few years ago by falling off a ladder. I had my hip replaced by Dr. Joseph Nessler in June 2025, and the entire experience exceeded every expectation I had going into surgery. From the initial consultation to the follow-up appointments, Dr. Nessler and his team were professional, reassuring, and incredibly skilled.

Dr. Nessler used a robotic-assisted approach for my total hip replacement, and the precision of his work shows. My recovery was smooth, and I was back to my pre-injury performance level in just five months. I am moving better than I have in years, and I was able to get back to running, lifting, and biking without wincing in pain.

I am truly grateful for the exceptional care I received. If you’re considering a hip replacement surgery, I couldn’t recommend Dr. Nessler and Twin Cities Orthopedics more highly. I will be able to ski the Birkie in February with zero issues.

After a scary car accident, I broke my wrist and finger. I was referred to Twin Cities Orthopedics and Dr. Moeller. Everyone on her team and in the physical therapy department — Eryn, Sarah, Bridget, and Morgan (and more!) — have been wonderful, upbeat, fun, and kind. Everyone has been so understanding, patient, and informative to make sure I felt well taken care of. A positive and personable medical team makes all the difference, and they obviously know that. I would highly recommend their 11/10 service!

This was an injury that occurred while working in the EMS field. I tend to “over educate” myself on any procedures or medications that may be done to/or going into my body. While I initially “spooked” myself listening to others around me, I ended up postponing my surgery. I am very glad that I had another consultation to have my concerns addressed with Dr. Honstad. He sat down with me for 45 minutes and answered all my questions which eased my concerns. I confidently rescheduled my surgery for a week later, and I am very happy with the professionalism, expertise, and the follow-up so far. I feel that we have made the right choice to go about addressing the issues present, and in the proper order. I would not hesitate to have Dr. Honstad be my hand/wrist doctor when I need it in the future. I feel it was a good choice to trust Dr. Honstad for my care.

I’ve been a patient of TCO for many years. I’ve broken my femur three times, had a hip replacement, stress fractures, and a broken foot. Not great bones.

Through it all, I’ve always felt like I was in great hands at TCO. During my recent MRI, the power went out. It was frightening, but the staff handled it the best they could. I spoke with Matt afterward, and he is an absolute gift to the TCO family.

When I came back two weeks later, I was really nervous. Matt Grey happened to be working that day, and he took care of me. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone more kind, gentle, and reassuring. He got me through the MRI with ease, and I’m so grateful.

A huge thank you and shout out to Dr. Jason Holm, Aaron Klatt, and Alex Barney. I fell off my bike in May when the brakes locked up resulting in a bad landing on my left knee. I had not fallen off my bike since I was a kid. I have osteoporosis so I was anxious about this whole thing. I had to be at TCO Burnsville early that Thursday. Living solo at age 76 added to the challenges of this experience but I was able to be picked up and have someone stay with me for a few days to help in my recovery.

After healing from my procedure, I was finally able to prepare for a trip to see my kids and grandkids in Atlanta. I worked hard during my physical therapy appointments with Alex and learned how my new knee now functions. I powered through our sessions, and I challenged myself to whole way. Alex told me to listen to my body, especially if my body was telling me not to do specific exercises for a little while and take a break. I realized what was manageable and what wasn’t. My appointments started as twice a week, but I was able to stretch my appointments to once a week then once a month. I went through withdrawal as my PT appointments lessened, but I realized I was finally able to handle life much better as recovery went on.

I am so much happier now post-surgery. I have lost 15 lbs. since the procedure and have been more active at home and out-and-about. I was finally able to swim again during Labor Day, and I have been going to the Eagan YMCA to work specifically on strength exercises and swimming. My first time back to the pool, I realized I can do strokes that I could not do prior. I do stretches in bed and I can now bend to get up and down from the floor. My leg is truly functioning again!

Conveniently, I have a high pain tolerance, and I didn’t need much pain medication. Icy Hot became very helpful for any achy pains during recovery. Overall, healing happens if you are patient with the directions and put in the work. Thank you again to the masterful team of Dr. Holm, Aaron, and Alex! I will be forever grateful for your professional help in giving me back a positive quality of life after many years of frustrating limitations.