Patient Testimonials

On August 20,2004, I was hit head on by an impaired driver. I sustained many injuries, but one of the worst was my right ankle. Another “Orthopedic specialist” botched my recovery with terrible advice and literally no treatment. I was left with a crippled and horrendously painful and debilitated ankle. My ability to function at age 43 was minimal. Then I found Dr. Coetzee! In August, 2005, he performed a miraculous surgery, which quite literally gave me my life back!! At age 53, I am still riding and competing with my horses, and break colts and give riding lessons and train for the public. I can never thank him enough for giving me the ability to walk again! Thank You Dr. Coetzee!

Dr. Norgard is a very nice doctor. I am very pleased with his care.

With the help of Chris Coetzee, MD and Brad Moser, MD, Marlys T. was able to climb the highest free standing mountain in the world, Mt. Kilimananjaro. She visited Twin Cities Orthopedics Edina for foot pain that was bothering her just weeks before the climb. Marlys explained that “after Dr. Moser gave me the ‘okay’ to climb, I only had ten days to prepare.” This involved training and shopping for gear. “Most people train for months” for such a climb, she said. “The extent of my training was a few times on the stair master and two six mile walks.” Marlys hiked the Machame trek, the second most difficult of six treks. “I did not have any pain in my body until the very last day after I descended when my knees ached slightly,” she said.

Sharon K. (pictured third from left) had foot reconstruction surgery performed by J. Chris Coetzee, MD Mb ChB (pictured second from left) and was extremely pleased with his results.“The surgery results are absolutely great. I will recommend Dr. Coetzee to anyone I know would need his expertise,” said Sharon. “Dr. Coetzee is a wonderful, kind man,” she said, and “I will see him again when the need arises.”

Seven months after Chris D. (pictured) had his left leg amputated, he is walking without a limp. Not only that, but he’s waterskiing and bicycling with his new prosthetic leg. “I rode my touring bike 50 miles this weekend,” he said.With the help of J. Chris Coetzee, M.D. Mb ChB of Twin Cities Orthopedics Edina and a lot of hard work, Chris said he is feeling great and plans on continuing to increase his level of physical activity. Chris said:”I struggled through life with significant to severe pain in my left foot and ankle due to a traumatic accident in 1992. In December 2010 – more than 18 years later – I decided to amputate my leg below the knee. I have complete medical coverage through the VA as a disabled veteran, but I would have no other surgeon perform such a life changing procedure than Dr. Chris Coetzee.I have been a patient of Chris Coetzee for almost 10 years and through three surgeries to correct problems with my left foot and ankle (including the most recent amputation). I’ve rarely met a physician – with such a busy practice – that has been so personally interested and completely involved in getting to know me as a person, my lifestyle and personal goals, and even my family so as to integrate all of my personal character traits, abilities, support systems, and individual goals into my treatment plan. Long before my decision to amputate, Chris Coetzee and Twin Cities Orthopedics dramatically increased my quality of life and physical ability through his careful listening, preparation, surgical skill, and careful follow-up. When my foot and ankle had finally completely deteriorated, more surgeries seemed like just another way to buy short chunks of time. For a more permanent solution, I wanted to talk about amputation as an option. But I had no idea what to expect. I was terrified to think about amputation, but so challenged in daily life I didn’t know how to keep going.Chris Coetzee was more like my friend than my doctor as we talked about the procedure, options, and rehabilitation. He got deeply and personally involved in the decision, and included my wife in the conversations as he has gotten to know her through the years. Chris never hesitated to answer even the most direct questions – was honest and positive, yet realistic – and was completely confident on his ability to achieve a successful result. That quiet confidence and personal investment in me as a person made all the difference as I made the final decision and was finally wheeled into the surgical suite. Chris was never too busy to talk to me as the procedure loomed and my nervousness increased. He even corresponded with me through E-mail regularly before – and after – my procedure. Everything we spoke about from recovery estimates to quality of life has come true. I was ready to leave the hospital 24 hours after my amputation. Amazing! Although at a desk, I was back to work 10 days after my procedure, fitted for my first prosthetic in just under 3 months, and hiking, mountain biking around 6 months post procedure – and waterskiing just after 7 months!. My rehabilitation and prosthetics teams have always been amazed at the quality and health of my residual limb and the speed of recovery and engagement back into an active lifestyle. I’ve been “sitting on the bench” for most of the last 18 years. Thanks to Dr. Coetzee, I am back in the game.The most impressive comment I have to recommend Dr. Chris Coetzee and the Twin Cities Orthopedics team is this; most people don’t know I’m an amputee unless I’m wearing shorts, or I tell them. I’ve met dozens of people that react with complete surprise – and sometimes shock – when they realize I’m an amputee. The most common comments are ‘I would never have known you were an amputee by seeing you walk and move around.’ Or, ‘You walk and move around just like a normal person!’ Thanks to Chris Coetzee, I can (and do) reply,  ‘Thank you. I am a normal person.'”