Patient Testimonials

Right shoulder is perfect. Dr. O’Keefe is an excellent surgeon. I will be having him do my left shoulder in the near future. Recovery was easy.

First things first, when you’re told to do your exercises, do them! Dr. O’Keefe is very straight forward, yet very compassionate. Nathan is compassionate as well. I’m three months post hip replacement surgery and am getting better each day thanks to these two professionals. TCO is blessed to have them and if I should ever need surgery again, I’ll choose them.

Before the surgery with Dr. Meyer, my life was non-stop pain. Walking, standing, sleeping or lack of sleep all affected by the pain. I avoided stairs for fear of the knee giving out. The other day I went upstairs, got to the top and realized that I had gone up alternating steps with out thinking about it. In the past I wouldn’t have been able to get up without using a single step method. It’s refreshing to think of my new knee as the good one and cannot wait to do the second one.

There was a time it required very little effort to step into the stirrup and throw a leg up over the saddle; or swing that same leg over a bicycle seat and pedal happily along a beckoning bike trail. The joy of dragging my kayak to the rivers’s edge and climbing in became sadly, and gradually, less joyful and sometimes, almost embarrassing. Eventually, I even needed help tying my shoes. And most importantly, keeping up with our eight grand kids was requiring more and more energy because of my chronic joint pain. I was definitely off my game. At 69, I was trying hard to continue leading the active life I’d always aspired to, but my left hip was giving me fits. After two years of chronic worsening pain, I was slowly but surely losing strength, range of motion and mobility. After various injections, exercises, potions, and other remedies failed to help, an MRI at last revealed the diagnosis: end stage arthritis. “The bad news,” said the doctor, “You’re a candidate for a hip replacement.” But,” she said, “the good news is, we can fix this.” I was thankful for that. I really was. But deep down, I was also very sad, a little angry and frankly, terrified.
I should have just been grateful. I was grateful; we could fix this. But still, there was a feeling of loss. I cried. Somehow, it felt I’d failed. Perhaps I’d not done enough to stay healthy and fit, or maybe I’d done too much and just plain wore out my joint. Maybe it was my fault! The empathetic doctor (she even hugged me) reassured me that it was probably a combination of good-old genetics and a lifetime of wear and tear. And so, armed with her words echoing in my head, the names of a couple good surgeons in my pocket, and knowing very little about the surgery itself, I began my hip replacement journey.

It is often said that life happens while you’re making other plans. In my case, in the midst of consulting other surgeons, and reading about best practices in hip replacements (do not watch videos of these procedures), a family friend called with a recommendation. He’d recently had a successful total hip replacement with TCO’s Dr. Owen O’Neill. Ric almost insisted that I try and get an appointment. He couldn’t say enough good things about the procedure (anterior minimally invasive) or the surgeon. The recovery, he told me, felt miraculous. That alone gave me hope and courage. Luckily, with lots of deep breaths, crossed fingers, and prayers, I was able to secure an appointment fairly quickly with Dr. O’Neill and then, finally, an actual date for surgery. And with that date circled in red, my own comeback story officially commenced.

My TCO Champion, the one(s) responsible for me regaining my active life is, without a doubt, Dr. Owen O’Neill and his caring, competent staff. Never have I felt in such good hands. From our first meeting, to all the preparations made as my surgical date neared, Dr. O’Neill and his staff made me feel I was their priority. Other champions who assisted in my healing included my husband of 49 years. Stan was a steadfast cheerleader and a loving, competent caregiver. This posse of mine, my family, my friends, and my care providers, set me on a course to recovery. I dove in with both feet, deciding to cross every “t,” and dot every “i” to facilitate my healing. I listened carefully to my fellow “hipster” friend, Ric, who even lent me his walker and cane. I did things he suggested that had helped him…pre-exercises to strengthen, changes at home for safer furniture arrangement, even meal prep ideas for after surgery. Ric followed up every week with me, before and after surgery, encouraging, reminding, reinforcing. “How’s the pain?” “Ice will help the swelling.” “Don’t forget to walk a little every hour!” He was indeed my hip-mentor; promoting, advocating, cheering me on. Another wise friend, before surgery, composed daily affirmations to paste on my bathroom mirror. “I see healing colors flowing through and around my body/hip.” “I am calm and relaxed.” “I give love to all those I meet on this adventure.” After a month of repeating and reinforcing these thoughts, I found myself more positive and confident that all would be well. I went into surgery emboldened with confidence, propped up by love.

More than one person before my surgery said, “The most frequent thing I hear from folks who’ve had a hip replacement is, ‘Why did I wait so long?” Coming home 36 hours after my own surgery, ambulating with a walker, climbing stairs to our second story master, (with Stan as my spotter) I was already saying the same. It was amazing; the bone-on-bone pain was gone! Within 5 days, I put the walker away and used a cane. After a few more days, I kept forgetting to use the cane. At my three week post-op appointment, I walked in without assistance and was well on my way to a complete recovery. Two months out, Dr. O’Neill declared me “Good to go; no restrictions.” Today, 3 months out, another affirmation, “I have an attitude of gratitude for my new hip and the amazing difference it has made in my life” has come true! Although I haven’t yet had the chance to swing my leg over a saddle or drag my kayak to the river’s edge, I am already taking extended walks, climbing bleachers to cheer at grand kids’ sporting events, traveling and planning more adventures with the caregiver-love-of-my-life, Stan. I’ve even danced in the kitchen in my new kitten heels! We’re headed to Italy soon, where I’ll lace up my own hiking boots, walk the cobblestones of Florence, climb aboard a gondola in Venice, and sample Tuscany wines. So yes, I plan to maximize this gift I’ve been given, this medical miracle, this comeback.

“My hip surgery was a complete success in every way.”
“My surgeon and nurses performed at their very best.”
“I choose to be healthy and happy today.”

I’m already trying to pay this blessing forward, sharing my story with others who are finding themselves in similar situations. And indeed, I’m back, and well on my way to a continued active life, filled with joy for my new hip, and very, very grateful.

My arm had been hurting for weeks now. It hurt when I threw a ball while playing softball. Every doctors visit recommended rest, and rest only. I even tried going to the chiropractor but it didn’t help. Someone told my mom and I about physical therapy. We thought we would try it out. My physical therapist, Mike Dixey, specialized in elbow and shoulder care. My first day of therapy I walked in very nervous, and I wasn’t sure of what to expect. Then I met a silly guy who was easy to talk to and pushed me so I could get my arm better. He then told me I needed to come into physical therapy twice per week for six weeks. I then looked forward to physical therapy each week. It was coming to an end and I was sad. He has inspired me to become a physical therapist when I grow up. Mike told me I could come into Twin Cities Orthopedics and shadow him someday. I plan to do that when I get my license. Mike gave me my own exercises to do at home after physical therapy ended. I haven’t stopped doing these exercises since, and this was two years ago. My arm is better and I’m still able to play the sport I love.

I am an avid golfer. I am not saying that I am good (so don’t look for me on the LPGA tour) but I love the game!! I noticed my hands in particular my thumb (carpometacarpal) joints started to bother me. Hanging onto my driver to hit my ball would cause intense pain in my CMC joints. Usually by the tenth hole, I could no longer grip my clubs to achieve the results I wanted. Besides golf issues, turning door knobs or opening jars became painful as well. I met Dr. McCarthy years before when she fixed my wrist fracture, so I decided to see her for the thumb joint issues. She did cortisone injections and prescribed splints.

Finally we reached the point where surgery would be the only option. I had carpometacarpal arthroplasty on my left thumb joint. The results where fabulous. No longer did I have pain in my left hand but the right one also got some relief and no longer needed surgery. When I say the results where fabulous, it’s an understatement. I went back to golfing and scored my first hole-in-one, which I won’t contribute to my golfing skills but will give credit to Dr. McCarthy. I scored my second hole-in-one the next year!!

Twin Cities Orthopedics Helped Me Get Back To An Active Life

In the fall of 2018, my mind was foggy and my body was bruised. “How did I get here?” I wondered aloud. The nurse reminded me that I fell down the stairs the night before. “You might have some memory loss from the concussion,” she said. I didn’t remember the fall but I did remember my disdain for stairs. For the past year, my knees had been in constant pain, and they were so swollen it was hard to bend or straighten them.

As I stared at the ceiling from my hospital bed, I thought “This is not how I pictured my golden years.” At 63 years, I thought I would be riding a bicycle with my grandchildren and hiking through national parks with my husband. However, those goals require good physical health, while I suffered from worn out and previously torn meniscuses in both knees. Even with rest, ice bag applications, and frequent use of analgesics, day-to-day activities were excruciating. I tried massages, chiropractic adjustments, and cortisone shots; but the relief was minor and short- lived.

Finally, I decided to make an appointment with Twin Cities Orthopedics. To my surprise, Tammy, a very compassionate nurse at Twin Cities Orthopedics, offered me an immediate visit. From the moment I met Dr. D. Charles Eggert, I knew I had the made the right decision. He offered me alternative treatments and medication, and gave me hope for the future. My treatment plan included viscosupplementation, also known as “rooster comb” injections. The shots provide cushioning to decrease pain and protect against further damage. I was shocked at how much better my knees felt afterwards! Twin Cities Orthopedics also gave me physical therapy exercises to strengthen the muscles around my knees and improve my balance. Now, my joints no longer catch or lock up. Thanks to the staff at Twin Cities Orthopedics, I will be biking, hiking and enjoying an active life again!

I’m too young to remember the boxer Rocky Marciano. He retired in 1956, just a few months before I was born. His record was 49-0, the only undefeated, undisputed heavyweight boxer in history. After he retired, he was often asked whether he’d consider making a comeback. To which he would reply, “Come back from what?” It was his way of pointing out the absurdity of the question. You see, when you are the undefeated, undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, what is there to come back from?

Well, then there’s the rest of us. The rest of us need comebacks—sometimes a bunch of them. A year and a half ago, I got the surprise of my life when some hard-to-explain symptoms I was having turned out to be a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, a form of blood cancer that grows at breakneck speed and requires immediate and intensive treatment. There were multiple setbacks—a hard-to-achieve remission, problems with continuing chemotherapy, the need for a bone marrow transplant, all followed by these now many months of continued treatment and recovery.

My latest deal has been some fairly intense pain in my arms and shoulders, symptoms that have confounded my oncologists. And since I’m an equal opportunity recipient of all medical specialties, I was pleased to be referred to an orthopedist at Twin Cities Orthopedics. After ruling out a golf injury (all those 300+ yard drives over the years, I’d wrongly guessed?) or the time I shattered a backboard dunking (sorry–pre-YouTube), or an old pitching woe (my knee-buckling curveball–I was hoping for a double Tommy John surgery), I’ve now been diagnosed with “frozen shoulder” (or “adhesive capsulitis,” if you want to get more exotic). I’m not sure if it’s more that I’ve given or been given the cold shoulder, but the diagnosis and symptoms are pretty straightforward–pain, stiffness and inhibited range of motion. Surgery is not usually recommended, nor do you get a cortisone or steroid injection. Instead, it’s a whole lot of physical therapy, and while it can take a good while to subside, things usually thaw out, much like the Minnesota winter we’ve been in the grip of this year. It’s news I’m taking great hope in–that it won’t be chronic or something that gets worse.

So today I started my latest comeback. My physical therapist at TCO, Mike Dixey, is not only a shoulder specialist, but he loves baseball and 80’s metal hair bands, so how can I go wrong! The exercise regimen was clearly explained, is doable, and I left feeling a new level of confidence in my recovery. Driving home from my appointment, I was reminded again of how privileged I’ve been (and am!) to be the recipient of practitioners with such care, wisdom, and a commitment to keep getting better at what they do.

Gratefully,
Will

My journey started when I decided to undergo surgery, in an attempt to help reduce the pain I was suffering from scoliosis (identified when I was 12 years old).  I stayed active as a ballerina in a small company without too much pain into my 20’s. Now in my 30’s, the larger curve had increased to 74 degrees and the pain had become unbearable. The decision was difficult because my husband and I have 3 young children and I knew this would be a long road. But the everyday tasks were too difficult.  It was hard to stand, walk or sit for more than 10 min. I’m not a person who likes to complain, most of my coworkers didn’t even know how much pain I was in until I said I was having surgery.  The difficult decision was made to have a four level spinal fusion to try to relieve some of the pain.

Once the surgery was complete, the next chapter started. I had to use a walker at home. I spent 18 months, 24 hours a day, in a hard plastic TLSO brace from chest to hips. No bending, twisting or lifting over 5 pounds was allowed, which meant I couldn’t pick up my then 3 year old son.  I’m so grateful to have had the incredible support of my husband, family, and friends along the way.  By the time I was 6 months out from surgery, progress was slow. So I had to start daily injections and wore a bone growth stimulator 24 hours a day, because the fusion wasn’t healing as fast as expected. I’m a dedicated nurse of 15 years and almost lost my job twice because of physical restrictions.  I fought hard to keep my nursing career at the hospital and regain my strength.

Once my fusion was fully healed I was able to start physical therapy – and I couldn’t just go to anyone after all I’d been through. A friend of mine who worked in the medical field told me to go to Twin Cities Orthopedics in Eagan and to see Christian Dawson. He was the best person to see for spinal rehabilitation. I saw 2 other people at different facilities while I waited to get an appointment with him. After the first visit I had with Christian I knew he was the right fit and he would be able to help get me to where I needed to be. I trusted him with my health. We worked together to test my limits and pushed me past the fears and doubt, building my strength and confidence.

I had to wean out of the brace slowly and I am proud to say that I am now out of my brace all together, not even wearing it at work anymore. My pain is so much better now then prior to surgery and continues to improve as I become stronger. I can do normal everyday things and I’m back to regular exercise even taking a barre pilates class at TCO. I still continue to see Christian a couple times a month because building muscle after such a long period of time in a TLSO brace takes time.  I feel stronger and more confident everyday thanks to TCO and Christian’s encouragement. It’s hard work, but my determination and dedication will help me get back to a normal happy healthy life.

My wife and I are so impressed with Dr. Marek and his team that we have become frequent flyers with him! Dr. Marek is not only an excellent surgeon, but a very caring person. I had Carpal Tunnel and Antecubital Tunnel surgery on my left arm on March 9, 2018. Approximately 2 weeks later, my wife noticed blood-tinged drainage from the elbow area, looked at my elbow, said the incision on the elbow opened up, and immediately took me to TCO’s Urgent Care in Waconia. Ben-PA-C took a picture of the incision, sent it to Dr. Marek, who was out of town. I was stitched up and sent home with an antibiotic.

When I saw Dr. Marek and Ryan, PA-C for follow up, I was told they changed how they stitch up the elbow because of my specific case. Dr. Marek cares about his patient, how the incision looks, and every aspect of the procedure from beginning through to the end. My wife broke her wrist and had surgery, I had Carpal Tunnel and Antecubital Tunnel surgery on my right arm, my wife had Carpal Tunnel on her right wrist, and is scheduled for Carpal Tunnel on her left wrist. Dr. Marek and his team did all of the surgeries with good outcomes! We would recommend him and his team to anyone.