Patient Testimonials

I needed both hips replaced during this Covid-19 ordeal and a dear friend recommended Dr. O’Neill. I made the virtual appointment, talked to him and got on that list to have surgery when the hospitals allowed surgery. I had my first hip replacement in June and it was perfect. I had the other done in September with the same results! Dr. O’Neill was very reassuring that I would get back to my old self again and I have! The whole team was excellent! Prep for the surgery was very important and I did my best to get my body ready. I would highly recommend Dr. O’Neill to anyone for hip surgery!

My injury happened at the start of summer, by falling on some slippery grass. I was brought by ambulance to Fairview Ridges Hospital. Along with my spirit being shattered, my ankle was too. Dr. Szalapski put me back together with 10 screws and a plate. He is an amazing doctor with great bedside manner. I love his sense of humor. He has great supporting staff and I received wonderful care from everybody at TCO. If I ever need that specialty again, I would not hesitate to go back to Dr. Szalapski and his staff.

Over the past three years I have been under the care of Dr. Bakker for a problematic right wrist. The initial solution recommended was a series of cortisone injections, over several years. However, that solution finally failed and it was time to consider surgery. I did seek a second opinion, as I had a recommendation from another physician I knew. The other doctor’s recommended course of action was the same, but he did not have the calming bedside manner of Dr. Bakker, nor did he convey the confidence that came from Dr. Bakker during my pre-surgery visitation.

Most importantly, Dr. Bakker placed me in the care of the highly competent physical therapists on my post surgery follow up office visit. The two women that who work with his patients are a key to his patience’s recovery success. I saw them both and, believe me, they represent TCO very well.

I considered this operation very seriously as I am a very avid golfer. A couple of years ago, I play almost 60 rounds here in Minnesota. Although it still March and we not on the golf course yet I can recommend Dr. Bakker to anyone experiencing serious wrist and hand pain. I believe he is a tribute to the orthopedic profession and a healer to his patients.

Dr. Owen O’Neill and his team did a phenomenal job restoring me to my previous activities, pain-free. After 2 surgeries to replace both hips and 3.5 months of healing, I returned to biking, walked without impediment and resumed daily activities – like putting on socks with ease. As the healing continues, I look forward to returning to cross-country skiing and rollerblading. On the journey, Dr. O’Neill and his staff answered my many questions about the procedure and pre and post-op preparations. Most impressively, the surgery:

• Allowed me to walk the same day of the surgery
• Required only 1 incision
• Cut no muscle
• Involved zero narcotics for the pain; only some Tylenol for a couple of weeks following

Many thanks to Dr. O’Neill and his staff for all the help, patience, skill and expertise they brought to return me to a more active life!

I had back issues for years and things got to the point where walking, or sometimes standing, was difficult and very painful. Dr. Crowe performed a spinal fusion on my lower back over two years ago and I have returned to a normal, pain free life. I am able to swim, jog, and enjoy exercise again. Twin Cities Orthopedics is the place I look to for all of my orthopedic care.

I have had knee pain and significant swelling for well over a decade. I finally decided to take action and find a solution. Fortunately, I was referred to Twin Cities Orthopedics, specifically Dr. Ryan Hess. I recall Dr. Hess calling me with my MRI results one Friday evening and spent about 30 minutes with me on the phone explaining his thoughts and what the next steps could be. I remember thinking it was pretty impressive that a doctor would spend time after hours on a Friday explaining to me his advice and what all the possible options and outcomes would be. Ultimately we agreed to move forward with the knee surgery and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I was up and walking around the day after surgery and within a couple of weeks, my knee feels better than it has for over 10 years. I would highly recommend Dr. Hess with TCO. Thanks Dr. Hess & team!

Prior to the surgery with Dr. Kelly, my ability to walk comfortably was hit or miss. And even on the best days, the first several steps after sitting were slow, stiff & difficult. Following a bi-lateral total knee replacement, I’m back to fitness walking with no distance limits or pain. I don’t have to worry about a knee giving out while descending stairs, and I’m able to do essentially all the things I’ve enjoyed throughout my life.

Dr. Simonet did my hip replacement five weeks ago and it couldn’t have gone any better. He has a great bedside manner, he answered all of my questions thoroughly prior to surgery, and everything went as I expected. His entire staff is great! They were very professional, especially his assistant Jane. Another thing to note is when you go back for a follow-up appointment, you are called in on-time and are not expected to wait. All in all, I would totally recommend Dr. Simonet!

I have been seeing Dr. Bakker for over 5 years. He is always very patient, kind, and explains everything in Layman’s terms. I have sent both of my parents to him and they were both very impressed by his bedside manner and his knowledge. I highly recommend Dr. Bakker.

This review will be somewhat different from others as my history with Dr. Cammack goes back nearly 15 years and 4 surgeries, with a 5th planned. I met Dr. Cammack after a suicide attempt in February of 2005, which resulted in significant injuries; including a pelvis broken in 3 places, 3 vertebra in my back fractured, and both heels were completely smashed, along with quite a bit of internal bleeding. Due to my injuries, Dr. Cammack was assigned to me to oversee my case. I liked him straight away, he reminds me of Doogie Howser – a mix of extreme intelligence and genuine ‘aw shucks’ personality. He went through my injuries and talked about the surgeries I would need to be fixed and what to expect.

TCO is a large practice with doctors, specializing in all kinds of surgeries. Dr. Cammack did not pass me over to another member of the practice. He felt that I really needed to see dedicated specialists who focused exclusively on the pelvis and lower back and that he would do the research and would know more the next day. The next morning he informed me he had narrowed it down to two different teams and would have the answer the next day. Thursday morning he walked in, made sure I was okay and had everything I needed, then told me that he had spoken to the other surgeons and I would be going to HCMC early Friday morning to have the surgeries. He did the research himself (no assistants) and spoke to the surgeons so that they could clear their schedules to see me right away.

The surgeries went well except for the fact that I found out I am immune to morphine. On Monday I was back to North Memorial and back under Cammack’s care. Every day that I was in the hospital he would come and see me, regardless of which ward I was in. Including the psychiatric ward after finding out I am type 2 bipolar. If he was out of the hospital then one of his colleagues would see me. He performed both ankle surgeries at the same time (I figured it was best to get it all over with at once). He was always positive about my recovery and honest about what I could expect.

In the decade and a half that I have known him, he has gone from supremely talented doctor, to a learned friend who helped to take care of me at the worst moments of my life. If you give him a compliment, he gets genuinely uneasy but in a down-to-earth manner. He is humble, genuine, and nothing is forced about him. What you see is what you get. I am extraordinarily grateful to him for his years of taking care of my battered feet. I can honestly say that I can walk because of him.