Patient Testimonials

Dr. Bircher and his team were exceptional! From early diagnosis to physical therapy, all services and staff were excellent! They made you feel comfortable, welcome, and appreciated as a valued patient. When Dr. Bircher and team prayed for a successful surgery and recovery, I felt at home! Thank you so much to Dr. Bircher and his team.

It was six months ago today that I had my knee replacement surgery. My experience throughout the entire process has been very positive. I began my journey with TCO when I first went to see Dr. Michael R. Johnson in March of 2025. I was having significant pain in my right knee. After getting X-rays taken, it was clear that I was a candidate for a total knee replacement. Dr. Johnson said I could start with injections if I wanted. I had my first injections back in March of 2025 and then had my second series in October of 2025. After the second series wore off, I went back to Dr. Johnson in February of 2026 and we discussed surgery again. I opted to wait until April due to work commitments. On April 22, 2026, I had my total knee replaced and I am incredibly grateful that I did.

The entire experience has been wonderful! I knew I made the right decision when I called TCO to get an appointment with Dr. Johnson. He is amazing and clearly an expert in his field. What most impressed me was his kind bedside manner where he took the time to fully explain what was going on with my knee, and what the surgery and recovery would entail. I left my first appointment knowing I was in great hands with him as my doctor. Dr. Johnson’s Care Coordinator, Jen, is phenomenal at her role. Her ever-present positive attitude and willingness to answer questions made such a difference in navigating the paperwork required for my medical leave. She was so patient and helpful! Not only did I have a great surgeon, but I was also fortunate to get to work with two amazing physical therapists. Jodi Z. and Ashley K. made PT a rewarding experience. They both understood my desire to progress through the recovery and helped push myself. They encouraged me and helped me achieve my therapy goals. Their knowledge and expertise, as well as their humor, helped me look forward to going to PT.

I will be forever grateful for having gone through this whole experience under the care of Dr. Johnson and his team. I tell people all the time how blessed I was and how wonderful they all were. I highly recommend Dr. Michael R. Johnson for anyone needing knee surgery.

Back at the end of 2025, I was having a lot of ankle pain. I am 77 years old and my ankle problem likely goes back to my high school sports days where I sprained it numerous times. I have been a patient at Twin Cities Orthopedics numerous times and had a hip and two knee replacements. I decided to see Dr. Holthusen about the pain in my right ankle and he determined that I had arthritis with worn and crooked bones. Dr. Holthusen told me that he had been doing feet and ankle repair for 15 years which made me feel comfortable about the surgery.

The surgery went exactly as he told – two weeks in a cast, four weeks in a boot, then transition to a shoe. This was a journey for my recovery but well worth the effort. I am now six months post-op without pain, and I can walk and hunt again. I am probably not 100% yet and I still have a full year to be completely healed, but my foot feels strong. I feel like there isn’t anything I can’t do at this point!  If you are having ankle problems, I would highly recommend Dr. Holthusen at TCO Waconia.

I had an appointment with Dr. Eggers at 12:40pm and then Dr. Panek at 3:15pm. Since I live out of town, I hoped I might get in early to one of my appointments. I explained my issues with Stephanie and Amy who were able to help squeeze me in which saved me a couple of hours plus the drive. These ladies need to know how much I appreciate their efforts to make my experience seamless! TCO has great people working for them.

Dr. Hoel and his team are wonderful. It’s been several years since my surgery. Back then, I was tentative about following through with it but I’m so glad I did. Being pain free is a true blessing and I have not had issues since.

Dr. Meyer replaced both of my hips within six months of each other. Both surgeries went extremely well! Both recoveries were relatively pain-free and simple for both. I put off surgery thinking that recovery would be much longer and more difficult than it was. I can confidently say that even just seven weeks after the second surgery, I am already feeling better and stronger than I have felt at any point in the last five years. Maybe even longer. I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt this good!

I put off hip surgery thinking that recovery would be much longer and more difficult than it was. I can confidently say that even just seven weeks after the second surgery, I am already feeling better and stronger than I have felt at any point in the last five years. Maybe even longer. I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt this good! Prior to surgery, the only thing I looked forward to was sitting in the recliner and trying to get comfortable. I’m happy I had both hips done and I look forward to continuing the rest of my life with more mobility and flexibility. I no longer have to fear that pain is holding me back! Dr. Meyer is an excellent surgeon, and I would highly recommend him to anyone considering a hip replacement!

I am an 84-year-old patient who received a total knee replacement from Dr. Vanden Berge. I am overjoyed and relieved by my outcome! After only a short nine weeks, I am experiencing a completely different quality of life. I’m able to get out of chairs, walk down hills, and bend down pain-free! I consulted other orthopedic surgeons outside of Twin Cities Orthopedics first, but was amazed by Dr. Vanden Bergen’s reputation and bedside manner which lead me to determining he would be my surgeon. I would highly recommend his expertise to anyone considering knee replacement surgery, regardless of their age.

I had both knees replaced by another surgeon two months apart in the fall of 2025 and the spring of 2026. One of my knees was popping out and buckling. This is where I started praying for a solution and Dr. James Bircher was the answer that came into my head. I went to a different TCO clinic just to see him, and he told me that I needed surgery right away to get a knee revision. I was very hesitant because I had just gone through two major knee surgeries. I even set up the appointment then canceled it since I was weary. Dr. Bircher personally called me to ask why I cancelled. He spent time explaining the importance of the surgery with me and answer all my questions right there on the phone. I was so impressed with that personal communication that I went ahead and got the surgery done. I didn’t have any pain during my recovery which was something I experiences with the first two. Dr. Bircher completely fixed my knee and even fixed a sciatica issue that I have had for years. He is very caring and he even prayed with me. I think Dr. Bircher is an outstanding person, and he is my new orthopedic doctor for life.

I have had several appointments with Dr. Marek and his PA, Ryan Bakko. I have been impressed with their responsiveness and willingness to partner with me in finding care solutions. I am currently pain free and able to return to all my activities without surgery. They are both great at listening and providing excellent follow-up care. I highly recommend Dr. Marek and his team at TCO.

Dr. Koch is an excellent orthopedic hand surgeon and very professional! The little finger on my left hand was afflicted with Dupuytren’s contracture where my little finger was curling toward the palm of my hand. I could not straighten my little finger, and it was very difficult using my hand. Dr. Koch performed a procedure on that pinkie finger using the XIAFLEX medicine/protocol with precision. She exceeded my expectations with her outstanding repair. I can straighten my finger and now have full use of my left hand. I am extremely pleased with the outcome thanks to Dr. Koch!