Patient Testimonials

Having a partial right knee replacement in September, 2017 done by Dr. Comfort and going through the EXCEL Program was a wonderful experience. A previous physician would not even consider a partial replacement. Dr. Comfort assured me this was the right decision and I have no regrets! Using the EXCEL Program, upon discharge from surgery center, you go to a health care facility in a private suite where you have a RN that takes care of you until discharged the next day. During that time you have several sessions of PT and are up walking with a walker. Dr. Comfort checks in on you that morning. When you leave you are feeling confident to go home and work on your recovery. Dr. Comfort, David, and Molly are all so reassuring, kind, and patient. I can now lift up my grandchildren without fear my knee will buckle under me. This was definitely the best medical experience I have ever had.  I highly recommend them!

I am very grateful that Dr. Tanner was on-call the night of my auto accident. He saved my foot! Both of the attending ER and Trauma physicians told me that I was very fortunate to have Dr. Tanner doing my emergency surgery and that he was considered the foot and ankle expert at North Memorial. Dr. Tanner and the rest of the medical staff at Twin Cities Ortho are really top notch. I would recommend him and TCO to anyone needing surgery, physical therapy, or looking to reduce pain and increase mobility.

Dr. Kirksson was just such a blessing to meet! He listens and hears your full story and then helps you come up with a plan to heal and/or become more comfortable. He’s thorough with his testing and has creative ideas for healing and helping you become pain free. In today’s world it is hard to find a doctor who is not so pressed for time that they are watching the clock while you are talking. He truly listens–is knowledgeable and compassionate!

I am 57 years old and had my right knee replacement surgery on October 4^th, 2017. I also had my left knee replaced just 2 years ago in September 2015.  Both surgeries were performed by Dr. Erik Peterson. He and his care team are rock stars. Dr. Peterson, Christine, Molly and Jenna have always gone above and beyond to ensure that my needs were met at each and every appointment. The pre-surgery and post-surgery care that I received from Dr. Peterson’s team was exceptional, always exceeding my expectations. In both instances, I started with steroid injections managing my knee pain which eventually led to recommendation for knee replacement surgery. My knee surgeries (2 years apart) were both at Fairview Wyoming Hospital, which was very well coordinated by Dr. Peterson’s care team. The nursing staff at Fairview was very attentive. Dr. Peterson’s team and Fairview Hospital were extremely helpful and cooperative when working with me on my goal to return home as quickly as possible. In both instances, I was able to return home with just 1 overnight stay in the hospital, with follow up physical therapy with Curt H. at Courage Kenny Sports & Physical Therapy for approximately 6-8 weeks. Remaining active and committed to a physical therapy regimen has been key to my recovery and has allowed me to return to work after 8 weeks. On a scale of 1 to 10 ranking of the care I have received by Dr. Peterson and his care team, I highly recommend them and give them a 10+ rating.

I am 48 years old and Dr. Comfort did a total hip replacement on my right hip on October 17th, 2017. I was admitted into the EXCEL Program that is offered through TCO and would recommend this option to anyone who qualifies for it. Dr. Comfort is a top-notch surgeon and does a great job. I am currently 4 weeks post-op and cannot say enough about the success of my surgery and recovery. The surgery was performed at High Pointe Surgery Center in Lake Elmo where everyone from the admission person to the nurses and staff were extremely attentive and helpful. I then spent one night at White Bear Heights for recovery and again the entire process was pleasant. I left the facility being able to walk up and down the halls using a walker, climbed a flight of stairs with a cane, and even walked a short distance with no aide at all. 5 days after my surgery I was only using a cane to get around, and by my 2 week post-op appointment with Dr. Comfort I was walking with little to no assistance and driving! I was back to work 2 weeks after my surgery much to the amazement of my co-workers, family, friends, and most of all me! I have to remind myself that it has only been 4 weeks and that I still need to take it easy as I feel so great. I cannot thank Dr. Comfort and his wonderful staff at TCO, High Pointe, and White Bear Heights enough for such an amazing experience. I would not hesitate to refer Dr. Comfort to anyone (and I actually have) and will not hesitate to return to him if the need arises in the future.

Thank you for giving me a pain-free life again!!!!

Dr. Hunt, this may seem too corny to endure, but I’ll risk it.  I find myself struggling to express the depth of my gratitude to you and the team of caring professionals you have gathered around you for the fifteen years or more you have added to my life. When I decided to go to you to replace my knees late in 2008, I was seriously facing the loss of most of my outdoor activities. In January, 2009, you and your team replaced both of my knees, and in two surgeries during 2011 you also replaced both of my shoulders. Now you have given me a new right hip.  Because of your work, I have continued to backpack with three generations of family members for days on end on Isle Royale every fall (sometimes twice in a season). Early last spring I backpacked about forty miles of the Superior Hiking trail with a friend. Libby and I have been able to tour the Peruvian Amazon and the Peruvian sacred valley, and then spend a week on the Galápagos Islands. As a pastor I made multiple trips to partner congregations in El Salvador and in Nigeria. Twice I’ve made it to Alaska, most recently with Libby for a stay with friends in Halibut Cove on Kachemak Bay. Two years ago Libby and I toured Iceland, reunited with her relatives in Sweden and with my relatives and friends in Norway. And for the last three years I’ve led delegations to explore how migratory birds connect Minnesota and Nicaragua.  All this scattered among countless forays across Minnesota and Wisconsin to go birding in remote wild corners of our region.

I only hope this little album of memories gives you some sense of my gratitude to you for your work and for my privilege of having access to this health care (when so many across the world do not).

Blessings, Keith O.

Dr. Steven Meisterling,

I just wanted to send a quick note to thank you for doing an amazing job on my surgery in June 2016. I started running again in January (after not being able to run for a year) and completed the Twin Cities Marathon this month with my 2 kids! Thank you for helping me return to the thing I love to do!

Kelly R.

I suffered with pain in my right shoulder for several years due to arthritis and eventually was in constant pain. It was disrupting my sleep and kept me from activities I used to enjoy. Dr. Kelly provided me with the treatment options, including full shoulder replacement surgery. At age 58, I wasn’t looking forward to surgery and weeks of recovery, but in August 2014 I took the plunge. I couldn’t be happier with every aspect of my choice to have Dr. Kelly and his team perform my surgery. I have known Dr. Kelly for several years and have found him to be an extremely talented surgeon who takes the time to answer my questions and help me decide what will be best for me. Because Dr. Kelly arranged my surgery through the EXCEL program, the entire process was extremely well-planned and coordinated. My surgery experience only took a few hours at the Crosstown Surgery Center in Edina, with a one-night hotel-like stay in a wonderful facility with a private room and fantastic nursing care. I was relaxed and slept very well that night (as compared to no sleep during previous stays in a hospital). The surgery went as smoothly as Dr. Kelly and Kaici had explained and my recovery went much faster and easier than I had ever anticipated. Within 6 weeks of surgery, I was using my shoulder for most of my normal day-to-day activities, and the shoulder continued to gain strength and rotation from the physical therapy and exercises. I have re-gained full use of my shoulder and don’t even think about it anymore. I was washing windows this spring and smiled because I realized I was using my right arm/shoulder – something I would not have done a year ago. I’m not sure why I waited so long to get it done! Everyone from the reception staff, the surgical team and recovery nurses were outstanding – their personal touch and genuine caring made me feel like a VIP! The EXCEL program was a blessing because it allowed me to get through joint replacement with minimal disruption in my life. For anyone considering any kind of orthopedic surgery, I would encourage you to consider Twin Cities Orthopedics. Dr. Kelly and TCO will always be my first and only choice for orthopedic care!

My knee replacement with Dr. Kelly and the EXCEL program is one of the best medical experiences I’ve ever had. From the check- in at the surgery center to the discharge at York Gardens, everything was just wonderful. The staff is excellent. Every single doctor, nurse, therapist, and aide was a highly skilled professional who delivered such great care. I never sat around waiting for help – there was always someone right there when I needed them. There was also really good communication between all the team members so they were always up to speed on what was happening with me. There were so many small details that added up to big differences. Like no hospital gowns (!) I was given comfortable athletic wear instead. And I had the same two nurses the whole time at the rehab facility – one of them even came along in the van to pick me up from the surgery center. I felt so well cared for every step of the way. I would recommend this program to anybody who is considering surgery. It was truly outstanding.

I can’t say enough good words to express my appreciation for Dr. Kelly and his staff.

When researching doctors for my shoulder replacement surgery, I wanted to meet with Dr. Kelly because of what I read about his expertise in this area. I met a friendly, down-to-earth man with a sense of humor. I felt like a person he cared about instead of a number as I had found with other doctors I had seen.

After he explained the procedure to me I left confident I had found the right doctor.

I was so right! The surgery went well, as have all the follow-up appointments. Thanks also go to the team of people working with Dr. Kelly.

I guess you can say I’ve become one of Dr. Kelly’s biggest fans!