Patient Testimonials

Dr. Edward Szalapski did a wonderful job of putting me back together after my brief excursion into the sport of pickleball. I discovered that the concrete surface of the court was far harder than my bones. His emergency total hip replacement was 100% successful. Within just a few weeks, with diligent physical therapy, I was pain-free and once again blessed with 100% mobility. It’s as though the surgery never happened, and I simply have a brand-new hip that should be good for yet another 75 years!

I am extremely pleased with the outcome of my hip replacement surgery. Dr. Owen O’Neill and his staff were exceptional. I had some pain the first couple of days, but within a week, could walk without the assistance of a cane. Eight weeks post-operation and I am back playing Pickleball two hours per day without pain. I also do an hour of low-impact aerobics, weights, and cycling. I would highly recommend Dr. O’Neill to anyone needing a hip replacement.

Dr. Owen O’Neill replaced my right hip four months ago with excellent results. I highly recommend him to anyone considering this procedure because of his exceptional level of experience, surgical skill, and caring demeanor. Now I’m ready for the upcoming wedding of my son and a trip to Morocco!

Dr. Owen O’Neill performed my direct anterior hip replacement with amazing results. No physical therapy was required versus the traditional procedure which was done on my right hip a few years ago. My recovery time was much shorter, and I had minimum pain. There is no question for anyone who is considering a hip replacement to have Dr. O’Neill perform it.

I had gone to numerous doctors before finally finding my saving grace, Dr. David Hartigan. I had been dealing with hip pain for quite a few years. I had just kind of gotten used to the pain. I had numerous injections, tried many different anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, aquatic therapy, and obviously the good ole “rotate heat and ice.”

I started researching orthopedic hip surgeons, and I came upon Dr. Hartigan. From the first fist bump to the end of my first appointment, he had a plan of attack set up and I had scans and surgery scheduled and completed within a month. By my first follow-up appointment, I was already cleared to drive, which was way ahead of schedule. I’ve been nothing but happy with my recovery thus far, and it’s been almost three years since my surgery. I’ve had a few days that have been a bit of a struggle but that’s because of my fibromyalgia flaring up more after surgery. I’ll take that healing pain over the hellish pain I was in before surgery.

My only regret is that I didn’t advocate for myself sooner. I am and will be forever grateful to Dr. Hartigan, his care team, his surgical team, the nurses and receptionists, and the physical therapists. You have all given me my life back. I can walk and play with my niece and nephew without constant horrible pain. I have been able to exercise more and have lost weight thanks to Dr. Hartigan and his team.

Dr. Nielsen, you are 12 on a 10-point scale as far as healthcare providers. I happily drive from Hudson, WI to receive your care and guidance.

I was ‘fortunate’ to have had an emergent care opportunity at North Memorial Health and to have you repair my intertrochanteric left femur fracture.  As a patient, most expect that healthcare providers demonstrated technical or position competence, and an added plus would be if they also provided emotional support and perhaps kindness.  In our brief encounters, a traditional quote that particularly applies to you and Ms. Eckerdt is “Individuals do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care”.

Undoubtedly, I suspect that you know that Ms. Eckerdt is a FANTASTIC person that appreciates and epitomizes the various items in each of the three previous paragraphs.  She represents you, your practice, and serves your patient(s) exceptionally well!  She “Gets It”!

I chose Dr. O’Neil because a friend who had him for a hip replacement said it was a “piece-of-cake”. My surgery was early in the morning. I slept most of the day and the next morning I was awake and feeling good. They gave me breakfast and a lunch to take along I was discharged to go home to northern Minnesota. The next day I started walking our driveway, which is quite long, with a walker. The next week I switched to a cane more for security than needed. My recovery was faster and pain was less with the anterior hip surgery. This was so much easier than my previous surgery with a different orthopedic physician, and the scar is fading fast.

Ten weeks ago I had hip replacement surgery with Dr. Owen O’Neill. I highly recommend him and his talented team.

Dr. O’Neill listened and answered all my questions before and after surgery. The EXCEL Surgery and Recovery program makes the entire process (scheduling, insurance, check-in, overnight stay, prescription meds, follow-up appointments, etc.) seamless. Every person I encountered was friendly, reassuring, and competent. The recommendations for at-home recovery were easy to follow. I found the post-surgery walking program motivating and helpful.

I now walk faster and without a limp. I am more flexible and move without stiffness and pain. I am getting much more out of my workout classes with my new hip! I am grateful for Dr. O’Neill and his entire team.

Dr. O’Neill replaced my hip in April. Within a few weeks, I was pretty much pain-free and able to walk 4-5 miles every day. I would highly recommend Dr. O’Neill if you’re considering hip replacement surgery.

I’m an 83-year-old who recently had a total knee replacement performed by Dr. Owen O’Neill. He has provided orthopedic care for me during the past 20 years (he also performed my hip replacement in 2019). I had known that both of my knees were ‘bone-on-bone’ for many years but always hoped I could avoid more surgery and had numerous cortisone injections and physical therapy over the years. Last year, I took a nasty fall which finally pushed me to consider knee replacement, something I concluded was a ‘quality of life’ decision. Knee pain was preventing me from climbing stairs, walking any distance, etc. The final straw came last spring while on vacation in San Diego. I was miserable! I couldn’t walk more than a few feet without significant pain and was inconveniencing others.

TCO from our hotel room in San Diego and set a date for the total knee replacement at the end of May. It was the best decision for me. At 10 weeks with my new knee, I can walk and climb stairs without pain. I believe my decision to finally have this surgery, even at an advanced age, was definitely facilitated by the long history of excellent orthopedic care I have experienced with Dr O’Neill.