Patient Testimonials

Hi, I’m 58 and have had 2 full replacements and one redo. I had my first knee replaced in 2006 at 45.  Doctors always said the my constant knee pain was because I was so obese. I had laparoscopic surgery done first. Didn’t work. I had injections, and pain patches, I couldn’t walk stairs or get off the couch without help. My knee was damaged. I went to an orthopedic surgeon who said I needed replacement. It was the most unbearable pain I had ever felt. The physical therapy after was excruciating and lasted 6 months, 2 times a week.  I cried every day at therapy and it got so bad, I eventually quit going. Needless to say I never got full range of motion in that knee. I was no longer able to walk up stairs, ride a bike, or walk correctly. I lived with it for 10 years. I never thought I was going to have to go through that again. Well ten years later, my other knee began to have the same pain. I had asked a friend to recommend a new doctor for me to see and her recommendation was Dr. Comfort. After my first meeting with him, I was hooked. He took his time speaking with me, explaining what we could do and offered some things to try before I did the surgery. Things worked for a few years and then it came time to have my other knee replaced. I followed what he suggested as far as getting the knee strong before the surgery. The surgery went well, no problems. I knew as soon as I woke up that the pain was gone. I was able to have a physical therapist come to my home to help me do my exercises. I was happy to know that I could use different things I had at home to get in my workouts. Physical therapy was painless and only lasted a few weeks. I was able to regain full range of motion, again with no pain. With the exception of bad knee from my first surgery, I was able to walk up stairs normally. About 6 months later, I talked to Dr. Comfort about re-doing my first knee. He said it was going to be a harder and more complicated surgery because of how that knee was currently. I was afraid that if he couldn’t fix it, it would cause me more pain and problems. He said that since he hadn’t done the first surgery on that knee, he wouldn’t know exactly what was going on in my knee or how the surgery would be performed. I trusted him so much that I said, let’s go for it. It was a long surgery and my incision was 13 inches, as compared to a normal incision at 6 inches. He had to open in up all the way in order to remove the old knee, cut off some bone, and attach a new knee. It was sore for a few days, but again, a therapist came to my house to work with me. Over the few weeks that I worked with her, she was able to get me back to full range of motion, I could bend it to about 155. Eventually it stopped hurting and I was able to get up from a couch again without any help. Now, I can walk up the stairs with no problems and am able to bike and pedal all the way around.

Please, if you’re having pain, at least to meet with Dr. Comfort. He has a very gentle bedside manner, his staff is wonderful, kind, and caring and they are there for you throughout the complete process.

He has changed my life not once, but twice and he will always be my doctor for orthopedic work

Thank you Dr. Comfort and all of you that work with him.

In August 2016, I was having surgery on my ankle at Maple Grove Hospital.  While talking to the nurses, I mentioned that I needed to have knee replacement surgery but wasn’t sure what doctor to go to. They encouraged me to not wait to have knee replacement surgery because having it right away would improve my quality of life. The nurses highly recommended Dr. Brian O’Neill.  After healing from my ankle surgery, I made an appointment to see Dr. O’Neill.  I liked his approach and knew that when the time came that I would have him replace my knees. I had a total right knee replacement on in July, 2017.  I was fortunate to be part of the Excel program.  The nurses and staff at the hospital and Excel program were fantastic, I couldn’t have asked for better care.  I’m happy to report that after 8 weeks, I have returned to my normal routine.  My recovery from knee replacement surgery has far exceeded my expectations, my pain was well managed and I had great range of motion from the very beginning.  I am grateful to Dr. O’Neill and his team.  I still have my left knee to replace and plan to return to Dr. O’Neill when that time comes.

Let’s hear it now, three cheers for Dr. Zachary Arntson and Twin Cities Orthopedics (TCO) – HIP HIP Hooray, HIP HIP Hooray, HIP HIP Hooray!

I first met Dr. Arntson on June 14, 2017. He walked into the room and began his initial exam, asking questions and listening to my answers. I sensed a feeling of confidence in this young doctor that was tempered with an abundance of humility. I knew he understood the pain I was in, and he quickly put the steps in motion for a total hip replacement. He explained the surgical procedure (direct anterior approach) and its associated risks while reassuring me at the same time that I would be in good hands. I left the clinic that day feeling like there was finally a light at the end of the pain tunnel.

My surgery was scheduled for July 10th at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, MN. I was in the pre-surgery room waiting for Dr. Arntson to arrive for a last minute check in when he walked in to sign my right hip. We chatted about his recent vacation (my wife and I had been to the same place a few months before) and then it was time to head for the operating room.

The rest, as they say, is history. True to his word, I was up walking the halls WITH NO BONE ON BONE HIP PAIN that afternoon! I was discharged the next day and have continued to improve. This procedure is the best – no follow up physical therapy other than walking everyday and doing the exercises sent home by the physical therapist.

I can’t say enough about the staff at the TCO Fridley clinic.  Courteous, friendly and professional, there was hardly any wait time for appointments. As for Dr. Arntson, his sly smile is disarming and his sense of humor immediately puts you at ease. His calm and quiet confidence is surpassed only by his humility. He has been blessed with excellent surgical skills which he uses to serve others. If you need a hip replacement, this is the guy you want on your side.

Thank you, Dr. Arntson, for making the quality of my life better.

I thought Dr. Coetzee would enjoy seeing these pictures and hearing that Mary just completed her first Olympic distance triathlon.  She loved it.We think of Dr. C often and will be forever grateful for him.  Of course his skill is well known, but equally important is his complete lack of arrogance and ego, and his kind, caring, and patient nature.  Such a rare combination.   He is one in a million.
So, please pass this along to him.  I hope it brings a smile.
– Coleen ( Mary’s Mother ) 

Just a quick note to thank Dr. Kirksson for his outstanding work diagnosing my shoulder injury.  After rounds of MRI’s and other testing my diagnosis was alluding other Doctors. Dr. Kirksson was able to diagnose the issue ten minutes into my visit.  I am grateful that his superior diagnostic skills put me on the path to successful treatment and recovery.

I wanted to commend your providers and their excellent staff at your Elk River location. Michael Mastous and Dr. O’Keefe treated my son Liam after a break to both bones in his arm just below the wrist. Liam is a freshman at Elk River High School, and during practice, he suffered a break during a rebounding drill that we all thought would require surgery. It was about 4:00 pm when the break occurred, and I thought your Elk River location accepted walk-ins. When I arrived, the staff politely explained that this was not a walk-in clinic, but they would ask Mike if he would see Liam anyway. Fortunately, Mike and the staff agreed, knowing treating Liam would require them to stay at the office late. After the confirmation via x-ray that both bones were broken, Mike explained that surgery was 50-50 proposition, and regardless, manipulation would be required to splint the arm. Mike diligently proceeded with his staff to manipulate and mobilize the arm via splint. They all assured Liam (who was feeling more depressed than the pain in his arm) that whether surgery, or, if by chance the manipulation lined the bones up properly and surgery could be avoided, that his arm would be fixed. Upon one-week follow-up with Dr. O’Keefe, he showed us and explained that the manipulation lined up the bones perfectly, but, he didn’t want to remove the splint until more healing took place. Dr. O’Keefe was fairly confident that surgery could be avoided.

Surgery was avoided, and at this point in time, the cast is off and Liam is starting to dribble with his left hand. For a kid that practices no less than 2 hours a day, and loves basketball, the care your team provided was not only exemplary, it assured a young man that this was just a small bump in the road. Please extend my sincere gratitude to your fine staff at Elk River, and know that Twin Cities Orthopedics is my only recommendation for Elk River High School athletes who may suffer these types of injuries. Further, in my duties as a high school basketball, football and lacrosse official, I will communicate the fine care we personally experienced at TCO.

– Chris C (Liam’s Father)

Hi Dr Larson,

In Feb 2015 you reattached my torn hamstring.  Prior to my surgery, my fastest marathon time was a 4:20.  This past December, I ran my first marathon post surgery.  I came close to my PR, but not quite — I ran a 4:22 at the California International Marathon in Sacramento.  Yesterday, I ran my second marathon post surgery … I ran a 4:05:13 in Fargo, a 15 minute PR!  Next goal:  a 3:57 in the fall (that’ll get me into Boston!)

As you warned me before surgery, it’s been a long hard road back, but thanks to you and a few amazing Physical Therapists (Claudia Hornibrook at IAM – post surgery, and Lily Lind and Sara Conrad at  your Eden Prairie location more recently) — I am now even faster and stronger than I was pre-surgery.

I just wanted to say thank you for your amazing work in fixing my hamstring!

I have been a patient of Dr. Marek for a year now. He is a wonderful, kind and considerate doctor who listens to all of your issues and problems and works with you to figure out what he can do to help you feel better. Dr. Marek is also a very caring person and at my first appointment with him, he had a way that made you feel comfortable and at ease. He would explain everything so that you understood what your options were. My friends that have met him, also feel he is wonderful and cares about his patients.  They also liked how he included them as he explained what your treatment options were. I feel very fortunate to have found Dr. Marek and his care team of Ryan B., PA and Cathy R., Care Coordinator for my surgical needs and follow up care.

I think that Dr. Marek is an awesome doctor. I broke my hip last August. Dr. Marek did the surgery to repair it. I told him that my family was going to Disney World in Florida in December and we asked him if he thought that would be OK. Dr. Marek told us that he would prescribe us going on the trip. When we came back, I gave him a Goofy hat that I had bought for him.

If anyone asks to have Dr. Marek for their doctor, I think that they would feel the same way I do. Dr. Marek is a really kind and caring person. He will make a family and the patient feel really special just like he does for my mom and me.

Dear Dr. Dieterle,

I wanted to take the time to personally thank you for seeing me on July 6^th for severe shoulder pain. You were very respectful and caring as you reviewed my shoulder range of motion. How fortunate I was to be able to see you so quickly. Your expertise was evident and your willingness to try and further educate me on the issue at hand as well as future care was most appreciated. The cortisone shot relieved much of the extremely excruciating pain within 6 hours. It allowed me to use my hand; forearm and some shoulder motion and of course receive some much-needed rest. It provided me with the ability to once again type with this specific note to you. Your entire staff at the urgent care center was very helpful and understood my anxiety from the pain and lack of sleep. Please compliment them for me. Note that what may have been a routine review of a patient was most appreciated.

Your most helpful service was valued and your organization should know of your talent and skill with patients. Thank you again.