Patient Testimonials

I have been seeing Dr. Jeffrey Mair at TCO for my orthopedic concerns for quite a few years based on a friend referral. I made the right choice in having Dr. Mair as my orthopedic surgeon. It was time to have my right knee replaced. Dr. Mair completed the surgery in the spring of 2024 and I have had great results. My surgery was completed at the Two Twelve Surgery Center in Chaska through TCO and I went through their EXCEL Program. The care I received from Dr. Mair, his staff, and everyone in the EXCEL Program was great. My scar is nearly unnoticeable and I’m more than happy with my new knee. I will be having my other knee replaced by Dr. Mair and I will again be going through their EXCEL Program. I have recommended Dr. Mair and TCO to others and will continue to recommend them. I am confident my next surgery will go as great as my first one.

I am extremely grateful to Dr. Jeffrey Mair for my total knee replacement February of 2024. I can honestly say that my whole life has changed for the better! I was in constant pain and avoided standing or walking as much as I could because of how painful and difficult it was for me. After 8 months, I was able to take a European River Cruise, which included 14,000 to 17,000 steps daily on cobblestone!! I had no pain whatsoever. I am grateful every time I get up without having to think about pain, and I am grateful every time I get into my car and can just bring my legs in without pain and tears. Thank you!!

Dr. Andrew Schmiesing was my orthopedic surgeon for my total knee replacement. As it turned out, I was anything but a typical patient. I had trouble managing my pain because I struggle with opioids. Dr. Schmiesing called me every day until we could find the right combination of drugs. He went above and beyond the call of duty. He offered great advice and had a great bedside manner to ease my anxiety. His care team of Skyler and Sydney were also great. I always had such a quick response. No one wants a second TKR, but if needed, I would not hesitate to have Dr. Schmiesing preform that surgery. Thank you, TCO. You made such a difference in my total care and healing.

Thanks to Dr. Erik Peterson and his team, I am back to playing soccer and kickball with my grandchildren, maintaining our large and hilly yard full of plants and flowers, actively traveling both domestically and internationally, and walking and biking daily. I decided why wait? I am glad I got it done and have my active life back. The grandkids grow fast, and I want to keep up with them. I received great care from start to finish!

From the first time I met Dr. Bircher and PA Kari I had trust in their expertise, their recommendations, and pre-surgical instructions. In addition, their bedside manner, both before and after surgery was superb, kind, attentive, and informative. This was such pleasant surprise since I’ve had the opposite previously. They told me exactly what I’d be going through post-surgery including a timeline for healing. The communication with Dr. Bircher, Kari, Cassie, and Stephanie was beyond excellent. They returned my calls, emails, and texts either within minutes, within the day, or by the next day. They also responded in the evenings and even on weekends. That surprised me and made me feel important. The physical therapy team of Michelle and Lisa demonstrated their knowledge and well proven techniques. Their bedside manner was also superb. Their patience and encouragement were exactly what I needed. Since the conclusion of my clinical PT I’ve continued to follow the exercise program they laid out for me. I attribute the level of my mobility to them. At this writing, I am three months post-surgery. My knee is doing well, and I am happy with the results. I am looking forward to further healing. I have an appointment with Dr. Bircher/Kari in one week and I’m curious to see what their reaction will be to my progress.  Finally, and it’s obvious by my comments cited above, I completely and totally recommend this fantastic team. In fact, a year from now I’m planning on having my other knee replaced. I have been in their expert hands, and I know I will be in the future.

I continually made excuses on why it wouldn’t make sense to have the robotic-assisted knee replacement done until I could retire. My quality of life had gotten worse to the point where I was having trouble with simple day to day activities. My family were constantly asking me to go get my knee fixed. They could tell I was in a lot of pain most of the time. I was struggling to sleep; I had no end in sight. Finally, I decided to go to TCO to have Dr. Bircher look at it. He recommended to have surgery because he felt he could help me have a better quality of life. He suggested the EXCEL Program, he felt it was a good fit for me because of my age 56. He was very honest, and said it wasn’t going to be easy, but if I worked hard and followed the plan, I should have good results. The day of the surgery I was extremely nervous, I started to doubt my decision to do it. Then walked in Dr. Bircher, smile on his face as usual. He went through everything that was going to happen, and what to expect going forward. Then to my surprise he asked if he could pray with me. The nervousness went away, I knew I was in good hands. When I awoke, I felt good. They brought me to my room at the Plymouth Orthopedic Surgery Center. This is where my recovery began, and Dr. Bircher checked on me a few times while I was there. He said if I need anything to let him know. The pain I had post-surgery was nothing compared to what I had been dealing with for years. I worked hard and followed the plan set for me, everyday seemed to get better and better. Now, here I am 4 months after surgery and I got my life back. I wish I would have had surgery years ago; I will never put anything like this off again. A huge Thank You goes out to Dr. Bircher and his incredible team at TCO.

I asked to go to TCO Eagan for my physical therapy and am blessed that I chose this location. Physical therapists Julia Black and Danielle pushed me just enough to make sure I made great progress, but not too much so I didn’t think they cared. I was off the walker and using only a cane within a week and a half of my total knee replacement. I was not even using my cane around the house within two and a half weeks after surgery. I haven’t used my crutches since August and that was sparingly. I am amazed at the recovery I have had, and it all comes down to Dr. Jozef Murar, his team, and TCO’s amazing physical therapists. If you are thinking about any surgery that has to do with your knee, go to TCO!

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!

This spring I met with Dr. Bircher to discuss a possible robotic-assisted knee replacement. He was patient, knowledgeable, warm and encouraging. The entire team took time to answer questions when they arose, check in on status, and encourage continued recovery. As anyone having knee replacement knows, it is not a fun surgery or recovery process, but the team was amazing. Since a second knee replacement is in my future (the other knee), I am so much more at peace knowing Dr Bircher and his team provide awesome care and support!

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.