Patient Testimonials

My comeback story started January 25, 2018. I played football at the University of Northwestern Saint Paul, and we had lifting that evening. We did lower body workouts such as squats, deadlifts, and lunges. I played wide receiver and I was feeling amazing so I was lifting with the offensive line this day. The lift went great then we had an inturmal basketball game after. On the first play of this game I pushed off to run and collapsed. I had never experienced a pain like this and was yelling and crying out. I was screaming, “who kicked me.” Nobody was within ten feet of me. My football teammates carried me to the training room where we called our athletic trainer and he said I probably ruptured my Achilles at 18 years old. He thought that was unheard of and that I needed to go to the doctor as soon as possible. I called my parents and my mom told me to go to Twin Cities Orthopedics because she heard amazing things about them. So, I met my mom at TCO Maple Grove where I was told I indeed ruptured my Achilles. This was devestaing to me.

I have never had an injury of this extent. To add to my sadness, my surgery was scheduled for February 2nd and I was scheduled to volunteer at US Bank Stadium for the Super Bowl on February 4th. As with every kid who plays football, this was always been a dream of mine and it was not anymore possible. However, my surgery went perfect and I was on the road to recovery. I experienced many trials in the process, like missing one week of school and simply getting around campus in the winter seemed impossible, so I missed countless classes. However, I persevered and was able to do well in all of my classes through the grace of my professors. Along with going to therapy and meeting countless obstacles recovering.

My goal from the start was to be ready for football season in September and play in our second game of the year, which was in Los Angeles. I was told by almost everyone that it was unachiveable. I was given a time table of a 12 month recovery. I wanted to beat these odds with all of my heart. At the start of my therapy I was extremely disappointed with my results but I was on track to recover in 12 months. As the summer approached, I met with my trainer at school and he said I should consider gray shirting (medical redshirt) that upcoming year. This made me angry and pushed me to train harder. In the middle of summer, my therapist left on maturity leave and then Julie Wenda became my therapist. She asked me what my goal was and I will never forget her face because she, like everyone else, cringed. But then she said I believe in you and let’s do this.

This is exactly what I needed. She pushed me and gave me the skills I needed to succeed. As football season approached, I met with my coaches and they wanted me to grayshirt again. This was a dagger. But I believed in myself and Julie still thought I could make it. I did not grayshirt going into August. I was not able to do much with the team and was not progressing. Julie was pushing me during therapy but my trainers would not let me do drills in practice. So Julie went out of her way to writing them and calling them to tell them over and over that I was ready and needed to push myself. I am very thankful she did this for me. After Julie talked to them, they let me participate in practice. The first week of September came around and my coaches were making the roster for the game in Los Angeles and they gave me a chance to prove myself. However, they said I was not ready and I would not be able to go with them. This broke my heart. I was devastated.

When I came back to therapy that week and told Julie she was sad but she immediately turned around and asked me what my next goal is. Again, her uplifting spirit helped me through this tough time. My goal was to be able to play in a game this year. As the year went on I kept pushing myself to try and get myself ready and on the last game of the year I was able to meet this goal. This was an emotional time for me and I am beyond thankful for my family, friends, teammates, and Twin Cities Orthopedics. Without these people I would not have made this comeback and was still able to beat the odds playing in a collegiate football game 8 months after surgery. At the end of the year my teammates and coaches voted me to win the David award for our team. This award is described as the overcomer of great odds. I was honored and blessed. Through this injury I have become a better person and I have learned a lot through the adversity and I faced. Now I am preparing for next season, planning on being a 100%, and thriving. Thanks to Twin Cities Orthopedics – this is my comeback story.

My first hip surgery was in 2013 at age 14. In 2013 I had a labrum tear in my hip and FAI that needed correcting. That was a successful surgery and I was back playing sports competitively. In December of 2017, I started having more pain in my hip and it was discovered that I had a torn labrum again and would have to have this fixed. During this procedure it was found that my labrum had ossified (turned to bone), so a labrum repair wasn’t going to cut it. We scheduled surgery for early summer of 2018, which would be a newer surgery- a labrum reconstruction. This operation did not go as planned. I was then referred to Dr. Jason Holm who tried the operation again, this time successfully. I had relief for a little while, but it just wasn’t working. We knew this might not work, as I had been diagnosed with hip dysplasia but felt the labrum reconstruction was the way to go as it was really the only option. I was having so much pain after this surgery that I never thought I was going to live a normal life again. I wasn’t able to walk for any long distance, I wasn’t able to go to my clinical rotation, I wasn’t able to go out with friends, I wasn’t able to sleep. Dr. Holm listened to my concerns, consulted with other doctors and we came up with the decision together that a total hip replacement was the way to go. This was scheduled for December of 2018. Having a total hip replacement at age 20 was a scary thing. I am writing this exactly three months post-op and I have never felt so good. I can walk for long distances, sit cross-legged and am anxiously waiting for it to be golfing season! I know there aren’t many 20 year olds getting total hip replacements but without this I wouldn’t be able to live my life. I am now working and going to school for Respiratory Therapy. Five hip surgeries later, I have an entirely new outlook on life. Without TCO and my new hip, I wouldn’t have any of that.

I have always been a competitor. I love the thrill of a race and physical fitness has now been even more important to me as I am a mom. In 2017, I was diagnosed with a hip labral tear with a FAI. It was slowing me down so I sought the help of Dr. Christopher Larson at TCO. In October 2017 I had the surgery. The procedure went well and I knew it was going to be a slow recovery but I worked hard at physical therapy and counted down the days until I could get back to running and yoga.

However, life threw me a curve ball. Fast forward 4 weeks later, something started to feel “off.” My TCO team was not concerned right away, as I had been following post-op instructions to the letter. However, after a few days concerns started to grow. After an MRI, I found out somehow (still a head scratcher) I had broken my femoral head clean off my femur. I am still Dr. Larson’s medical mystery. I was rushed the next day to emergency surgery and I was crushed with the news that I would not even be able to touch my toe to the ground for 6 weeks, plus many months of physical therapy. As a mom, I was crushed – how was I going to do this? I could not drown in my sorrows so I committed hard. I took zero narcotics post surgery – I need to be able to have a clear head and drive. I went to physical therapy twice a week for 4 months – I needed to be stronger after my surgery than before. I worked hard at home even when I was tired. My daughter and husband were my rocks. Ella, who is 6, even lent me her balance beam to do my exercises on – it was a family affair. Six months to the date of my surgery, I completed a 5K pain free and beat my pre-surgery record time. I cried for the first time. I can’t even describe that moment. I still have hard days and some days I can still feel everything, mentally and physically. In the end, this journey made me so much stronger and I am on my way to completing a half-marathon this summer. Thank you, Dr. Larson, for the amazing care. Thank you TCO for getting me back to being a mom and helping show my daughter that obstacles are worth overcoming.

I’ve been a bit of a jock since my teen years. Not a great athlete, but a very competitive one, always looking for ways to improve my game — or at least my gear. Over the years I made many friends on the soccer fields, ice rinks and mountain bike trails of Minnesota. I was still enjoying a wide range of physical activities well into my 50’s. Then, one by one, I was forced to abandon them as increasing hip pain and decreasing range of motion took their toll. I gave up downhill skiing in 2014. Put away my inline skates in 2015. Did my last mountain bike circuit in 2016. Completed my last road bike commute in 2017.

Last year I had to quit the sport that has given me the most joy (and likely the major cause of my hip joint deterioration). I’ve been playing hockey since grade school. Stopped pucks for four years at the Academy of Holy Angels and made the St. John’s University varsity as a freshman. I played on and off for the next few decades, then rediscovered the game in my mid-40’s. I began playing two or three times a week, year round. I had to relearn my position, adopting the butterfly style of goal tending, to accommodate new equipment and keep up with the mostly younger and more skilled players. It was great fun to share this passion with friends and family.

Then, last year, it became more difficult to hold the V-stance and even harder to get up after dropping into the butterfly. And the hip pain grew more acute. It was affecting my daily life – it was difficult to get in and out of cars, difficult to put on shoes, difficult to get down on the floor and play with my grandson. On a brother’s recommendation, I met with Dr. Scott Anseth at TCO in July. He found serious deterioration in both hip joints. I needed total hip arthroplasties.

Dr. Anseth replaced my left hip in early December 2019; the right hip about seven weeks later. The surgeries went very well. I was up on my feet, walking with the aid of a walker, within a few hours after the anesthesia wore off. Began taking the stairs without a cane within a few days. Was off most of the pain meds and back at work a few days later.

Rehab went smoothly. Within three weeks of each surgery, I was playing pickleball, a less physically demanding sport I’d taken up last summer to stay fit. Within six weeks, I was back on the ice, taking the first few careful strides toward my ultimate post-surgery goal: playing hockey on my 60th birthday in June.

For now I am content to be working toward that goal. I’ve been playing pickleball a few times a week since early March. On a trip to Luxembourg last month, I enjoyed several all-day hikes and one glorious morning on a rented mountain bike. I dusted off my inline skates and road bike and went for a few spins last week. Whether or not I am able to achieve my hockey dream this summer, it’s great to be pain-free and back in the game.

Before surgery I had, at times, severe pain in both my knee and hip. I was unable to do stairs without feeling pain. Now I can run down them pain free. Thanks Dr. O’Keefe!

Everything went great! I wouldn’t think twice about doing it again. Pain free! Both Dr. O’Keefe and Nathan Dumm were wonderful. I would never consider going anywhere else.

Had scope surgery 1^st but didn’t help much, then the knee replacement surgery by Dr. O’Keefe went well and the knee feels much better now.

I would recommend Dr. O‘Keefe and Nathan to my friends and family. Dr. O’Keefe and Nathan were very informative on how the surgery was needed, my right thumb didn’t respond to the shots anymore. Surgery went well and PT has gone really well. They have been complemented by other surgical results. Little or no pain. Do what the Dr. says and the results are great!

Close to two years ago Dr. Heikes performed knee surgery due to knee cartilage damage from a hard impact on my knee.

I was able to begin running and racing one mile to 10 mile races less than a year following the surgery. Dr. Heikes has a gift of listening and explaining in layman’s terms for a clearer understanding of discussions. Good job Dr. Heikes!

Can’t recommend Brooke Deshler more highly. She explained why each thing she asked me to do was necessary and how it benefited my recovery. She held me responsible with kindness and was very knowledgeable in her treatment. Excellent PT!