Patient Testimonials

I had an appointment with Brianna Randall PA-C for some chronic back pain and numbness in my upper legs. I have to say that this was one of the best diagnostic appointments I have ever experienced. Brianna was very professional and thorough. She took extra time to review my previous MRI and follow up X-rays. She walks me through, in detail, what was going on in my lower back and my symptoms. By the end of the appointment, I left with complete confidence in the diagnosis, how that related to my symptoms, and what my short and long-term treatment options were. Thank you to Brianna for taking the time and answering all my questions!

My wife has many good doctors from Duluth to Rochester, but none of them she respects, trusts, and appreciates as much as Dr. Banks. He is the only one she has faith in touching her spine. After many years of back and neck surgeries, he has alleviated her pain and kept her moving forward. More than that, he has restored her quality and outlook of life.

Our first visit with Dr. Banks was probably about 15 years ago for a second opinion on her lower back. Another surgeon was suggesting a disc replacement. We later discovered Dr. Banks had watched Carol walk into the building. One of his first questions was when she last had an MRI scan of her neck. I wasn’t impressed as we were there for her lower back. He explained the way she was walking was an indication of a neck issue. He was correct as she had two damaged vertebrae in her neck and bone spurs against the spinal cord. Not related to the disc the other surgeon had wanted to replace. Carol was sold and to this day will look nowhere else but to Dr. Banks for her spine issues. Dr. Banks and Sharla are the best!

Sara Milner is an absolute rockstar as a movement specialist as well as a strength and conditioning coach! I came to her nervous about deadlifting since I was convinced I would end up injured, but Sara completely changed my perspective. She patiently taught me proper form and broke it down for me with clear explanations. I now love deadlifting and get a real thrill from pushing my limits safely. Sara’s expertise transformed me from dealing with pain and low strength to building serious power and cardio conditioning.

She also created stretching plans that worked wonders for my back pain, specially designed with exercises I can do anywhere to boost my lung capacity and strength. As a volunteer firefighter, I need to be at my peak, both physically and safely. Sara’s tailored approach has been a game-changer. From fun workouts and bike rides to HIIT and Pilates, she’s helped me build a lifestyle that keeps me strong, confident, and ready to serve. Sara’s guidance is top-notch, and I cannot recommend her enough!

Nicole Sullivan has been an absolute game-changer as my strength and conditioning specialist! When I started, I was only working out once or twice a week on my own, and I was dealing with a sore back that had bothered me for years. Nicole completely turned that around. She designed a series of strength workouts that took me from basic at-home exercises to lifting serious weight at the TCO gym. Her guidance was spot-on.

She met me for a few in-person sessions to nail down proper form, then set me up with the TCO app. It made following the workouts a breeze. As I got stronger, Nicole tweaked the plans to push me past plateaus, keeping things challenging yet doable. Now, my back hasn’t felt this good in decades, and I look forward to hitting the gym. Thanks to her, I’m not just stronger – I’ve got the power and confidence to step up as a volunteer firefighter, ready to support those in need. Nicole’s expertise and tailored approach have made all the difference. She has a passion for fitness and is an amazing guide to help you on your journey. I highly recommend her!

Dr. Garry Banks has been my back surgeon since the start of my back troubles around 15+ years ago. He is a very good doctor, and he takes good care of your needs. I don’t think I could have found a better doctor to take care of my back needs.

Dr. Andrew Ockuly is one of the most professional and genuinely caring doctors I’ve seen. From the moment I walked in with low back and hip issues, he took the time to listen, ask the right questions, and act quickly. He made sure to check on previous concerns, explained everything clearly, and never made me feel rushed. His attention to detail and thoughtful approach gave me confidence that I was in good hands. It’s rare to find a doctor who combines expertise with such a compassionate bedside manner. I truly felt heard and cared for. I highly recommend Dr. Andrew Ockuly for anyone looking for a physician who puts their patients first.

I suffer from Spondylolisthesis. I tried everything for two years: physical therapy, chiropractic care, strength training, Pilates, and steroid injections. I pretty much took two ibuprofen multiple times a day for two years until the pain got to be too much. Dr. Deal and Nathan walked me through my options and gave me all the time I needed to ask my questions. Six months ago, I had a L4-L5 spinal fusion. Even though there was stiffness following my surgery, the pain was gone immediately. I was up walking around slowly on day 1.

Within two weeks I was outside taking walks. Every day brought new joy, like getting out of bed and being able to stand straight while walking. Now, I do not need to rely on pain medication every day. I can bend and walk without pain in my back, glutes, or down my legs. I only wish I would have done this sooner. Dr. Deal has been kind and patient. Whenever I had questions, he explained things in a way that was easy to understand.

When my troubles began, I was 3 weeks into paid parental leave in July. I was looking forward to an exciting summer spending time with my newborn baby daughter. One morning I was hit with a crippling pain that began in my lower back and shot down my left leg. I called my wife at work and told her something was wrong and to come home immediately. After 2 visits with my primary doctor, we were referred to TCO and made an appointment with Dr. Nathan Wanderman. At my first appointment, he saw things in my MRI that others had not. It turned out I had a degenerative disc and a bulging disc that was pinching the nerve that ran down my left leg. I was barely able to walk without assistance. Dr. Wanderman was able to get me in for surgery by September and performed a double fusion surgery. He performed a Lumbar 4 – Sacral 1 ALIF and 2 days later performed Lumbar 4 Sacral 1 PLDF. I am so grateful for what Dr. Wanderman has given back to me. I walk with no problems. I’m able to hold my baby again. For being such a scary time in my life, he and his staff really made my wife and I feel that we were making the right decision. Speaking of his staff, I was nearly a weekly caller prior to and after surgery with questions. They were always prompt in returning my call no matter the question and were always happy to answer any concerns my wife and I had. Long story short, Dr. Nathan Wanderman and his staff have given me my life back, and my wife and I couldn’t be more grateful! Thank you again to everyone who made this surgery a success.

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Paul Crowe and his care team, as well as the EXCEL Surgery & Recovery Program through TCO. I dealt with crippling back pain for so many years and had to undergo an L5-S1 spinal fusion at 32 years old. All aspects of the EXCEL program are top-notch, and you can tell there was so much thought put into patient care and comfort. Dr. Crowe visited me several times after my procedure. He was great to chat with, answered all my questions, and gave me some encouragement for healing. I am now nearly three years out from my procedure, and I feel better than I ever have. I have my life back and can do activities I couldn’t before. I owe everything to Dr. Crowe, his team, and TCO.

I recently developed an excruciatingly painful condition (a herniated L4-L5 disc and pinched nerve) in my lower back that rendered me unable to walk without crutches. We contacted Twin Cities Orthopedics (TCO) on a Thursday afternoon and described the condition. They were able to access my test data and arrange an appointment to see Dr. Eric Deal right away on Monday. After evaluating the situation, Dr. Deal patiently explained the condition and the possible treatment options. We decided on surgery, and they were able to schedule me right away on that Thursday at their Eagan location. The surgery went without a hitch, and I was able to walk almost immediately, only needing the assistance of a cane for balance for the first few weeks.

I can honestly say that working with TCO was the most positive medical experience I have ever had. Every member of the TCO staff was completely professional and genuinely caring at every step. The facilities were pleasant and modern, and most conveniently located. The anesthesiologist (Dr. Anderson) listened carefully to my concerns, and we were able to avoid any nausea or allergic reactions which have historically been a real problem for me. Dr. Deal and his team did an incredible job with the surgery and the aftercare. Following this rather complex procedure, I had almost no pain and required no medications beyond ordinary Tylenol. I simply cannot say enough good things about the technical expertise and genuine care this group provided, and I wholeheartedly recommend TCO without reservation for anyone needing orthopedic care.