Patient Testimonials

I broke my ankle in 1977. After years of pain and mobility issues, Dr. Traynor’s knowledge and skill have set me on the road to recovery with a total ankle replacement. Since the procedure, my pain and mobility have improved significantly, and I continue to improve with physical therapy. I am currently more mobile than I have been in years with very little pain. Thank you to Dr. Traynor and your great staff at TCO!

I sprained my ankle several times over the past few years, but last summer it reached a point where it would roll even when I was just walking. It happened so often that I couldn’t trust it anymore. That’s when I finally decided to get it checked out.

I went to TCO, and after meeting with Dr. Jeffrey Seybold and reviewing my options, we decided surgery was the best path forward. Prior to surgery, he helped me manage the injury so I could finish my AAU season. I still wanted to play, and he understood how important that was to me. He gave me a cortisone shot to get through the summer and helped plan the timing of the surgery so it would fall between my AAU and high school season. I felt like he understood my goals, especially my hope of playing in college. Having a doctor who takes your sport seriously and respects your path makes a huge difference.

After surgery, I started physical therapy with Philip Punnoose at Training HAUS–Shakopee. He was focused, knowledgeable, and really invested in helping me get back to basketball. He made PT something I enjoyed going to. His bedside manner was great, but what stood out the most was how much he believed I could come back stronger.

As the swelling went down and I began return-to-play work, Philip tailored everything to basketball movements. We didn’t just do basic exercises. We worked on the cuts, jumps, and directional changes I would need on the court. The day before I was cleared, he even played a little one-on-one with me (you can probably guess who won).

Now, I’m back to playing full time with no pain and no restrictions. It feels good to trust my ankle again. This summer I will be heading to Texas to play for Houston Christian University, which has been a goal of mine for a long time. After everything that happened, I am grateful to be on the court and excited for what comes next.

Dr. Carlson did a great job working with me both during pre-op and post-op. The procedure was easier and the recovery was faster than I thought they would be. I had physical therapy with Mike Stay and Catherine Slaymaker at TCO Plymouth. Just under six weeks out, I am done with PT and getting back to my normal routine. The services I have gotten from Twin Cities Orthopedics have always been outstanding. Besides my recent knee replacement, they have done two shoulder replacements and an ankle replacement for me. I highly recommend Dr. Carlson and the entire care staff at TCO. They will be doing my future joint replacements.

I have had 23 surgeries in my life and Dr. Seybold is the best surgeon of them all. Ten months ago, I had a surgery on my right foot and toe that went wrong by another surgeon at another clinic. I ended up in the emergency room, and they referred me to Dr. Seybold. They said he was the best and he truly is!

From the first visit, he was patient, kind, and empathetic to my pain. He spent a long time with me going over the issues from my first surgery. He didn’t judge me. He believed in my pain and discomfort as it was excruciating to deal with. He came up with a game plan, and I have had two surgeries to correct the first surgery from a different surgeon.

I can’t say enough wonderful things about Dr. Seybold. I wish he worked on all parts of the body, because I don’t ever want another surgeon. Thank you to Dr. Seybold, Valerie, and the rest of his team. You have made a bad situation so much better!

I’ve dealt with foot problems my whole life. As a kid, as a teenager, even when I joined the Army, it never went away. I then hurt my right foot during training, and after that, I spent years seeing different doctors who couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I had surgeries, plates, bone scans, therapy, you name it. Nothing worked. Eventually, I was told there was nothing more they could do. I just had to live with it.

For nearly 20 years, I couldn’t walk 50 feet without pain. Then one morning, I heard a TCO commercial on the radio. Chris Hawkey was talking about his own experience, and something about it stuck with me. I decided to call. From the moment I walked into the clinic, I knew it was different. Everyone was respectful, helpful, and kind. When I met with Dr. Scott Holthusen, he looked at my X-rays, examined my feet, and said, ‘We can fix this.’ No one had ever said that to me before. He explained everything clearly and laid out a plan.

When surgery day came, the whole TCO team made me feel at ease. The nurses were incredible. When I woke up from surgery, I started crying because for the first time in more than 20 years, I wasn’t in pain. My recovery took time. I started physical therapy with Jenn Bradley, and she was amazing. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. Eventually, we began aquatic therapy, and it helped me take those first steps again. Slowly but surely, I began to see progress.

A few months later, I was walking. A few months after that, I was hiking again, something I hadn’t done since I was a teenager. I can now mow my lawn, shovel my driveway, and live without thinking about pain every day. TCO didn’t just fix my foot. They gave me back my life. Every person I met there treated me like family, and that made all the difference.

When you have a house full of rodeo riders, wrestlers, and football players, injuries are going to happen. At one point, we had seven broken bones in 14 months. That’s when we stopped going to the ER and started going straight to TCO Urgent Care in Vadnais Heights.

What makes Dr. Ockuly stand out is how approachable he is. He doesn’t just treat our boys, he gets to know them. He makes the experience feel personal and never rushed. They feel like they’re visiting a friend, not just a doctor. He even checks in after surgery or a big injury.

When my son Marshall broke his foot riding saddle bronc in North Dakota, he drove all the way home so he could go to TCO. That same weekend, we happened to see Dr. Ockuly at the state rodeo finals, and he took the time to check Marshall’s foot under a tent between events. That’s the kind of care you don’t forget.

Dr. Ockuly truly understands how important it is for kids to get back to doing what they love. Every conversation is clear, supportive, and focused on getting us back on track. As a mom, that kind of trust means everything. I know that no matter what, we’re in good hands.

I saw Dr. Tanner regarding my ankle. I had advanced bone on bone arthritis and two torn ligaments. He was very thorough when regarding what my options were as well the outcomes for each option. I choose a full ankle replacement. He agreed that would be my best option considering my age as well as the degree of damage to my ankle. Both the surgery and recovery have been very good. Follow up appointments with Dr. Tanner are very thorough and thoughtful as well. I would highly recommend him for a surgical procedure.

I saw Dr. Traynor for an ongoing infection from a previous left total ankle replacement. He was amazing! We talked about three different options that I could try. I chose to have my implant removed and receive IV antibiotics so I could then get a new ankle implant put in six weeks later. Throughout this entire process Dr. Traynor was caring, took time to listen to me, and gave me all my options upfront. I received the BEST surgical care from him and his team to treat my issue. Thanks to Dr. Traynor, I will be able to have full use of my ankle and get back to being able to move again without pain.

I broke my ankle playing soccer and came to Twin Cities Orthopedics. Dr. Mittelsteadt and the whole team were always kind, patient, and respectful. My surgery went smoothly. They guided me through physical therapy and my post-op appointments. Even when it came time to remove the hardware, I felt comfortable and supported. I never felt rushed or judged. I am very grateful for how they handled my whole recovery journey.

Dr. Seybold and his team are great to work with. From the first evaluation of my ankle to the actual surgery and recovery, everything was done in a way that made me feel very comfortable with the process. I would recommend Twin Cities Orthopedics, Dr. Seybold, and his team to anybody that needs orthopedic care.