Patient Testimonials

Dr. Wulf performed arthroscopic surgery on my shoulder. I am 7-weeks out and already have better range of motion with less pain. Dr. Wulf was great with the whole process from initial visits to physical therapy to injections to surgery. He always answered my questions and was good at explaining the surgical process. I am grateful for my positive experience with Dr. Wulf and TCO. I highly recommend Dr. Wulf and his staff – they are all very professional!

On September 17th, 2024, I fell from my bicycle and landed on my left shoulder. An MRI indicated multiple rotator cuff tears. I did not intend to have surgery due to age, prior injuries, and history of failed rotator cuff repairs on my right shoulder. After four months of dealing with pain, weakness, and sleepless nights, I decided to see Dr. Butterfield at Twin Cities Orthopedics.

I had little expectation of a successful long-term outcome. I just wanted relief from the pain without drugs. I was also willing to live with some pain and limited function, as I do with my right shoulder. During my discussion with Dr. Butterfield, he explained that the age of 70 is not the same for everyone, and because of my good health, I would be a good candidate for surgery. He also stated that because my left shoulder had no previous procedures, there was no scar tissue to deal with. After Dr. Butterfield finished talking, I told him he had given me hope, and I would like to go ahead with the surgery. The surgery date was on February 14th, 2025.

The are four key factors that contributed to my successful shoulder surgery:

1) Dr. Butterfield is a highly recommended surgeon, who did an excellent job repairing my shoulder. I appreciate his confidence and the hope he gave me during my assessment.

2) The sling that was issued to me was wonderful. It fit well and secured my shoulder to give excellent support. The slings provided to me for past surgeries on the right shoulder were completely inadequate.

3) My Physical Therapist, Ron Fischer, was great. He patiently worked to stretch and strengthen my shoulder. He gave me a good plan for home exercises. Ron was encouraging and easy to work with.

4) I tried to be the best patient I could be. I followed directions and restrictions as much as possible. The excellent sling helped make the difference. I also did daily stretches and strengthening exercises as instructed, except for the few times when I felt the shoulder needed some rest.

These four things contributed to the success of my surgery. I now have full range of motion, good strength, and I can get a good night’s sleep. I’m grateful to Dr. Butterfield and staff for the care and service I received at TCO.

Dr. Jason Barry and Rebecca Munson did a great job replacing my right shoulder. Before I had surgery, I couldn’t even lift a coffee cup or tie my shoes. Now, I am five weeks post-surgery and have a 25-pound limit. I have full range of motion and no pain. Dr. Barry also performed replacement surgery on my left shoulder back in 2018. Both are working well and have given me a new lease on life.  Dr. Barry and Rebecca Munson are an amazing care team if you ever need replacement surgery.

Dr. Bjerke performed surgery on my left shoulder on October 9th, 2024. I have been pleased with the results. My mobility and strength are improving every day; and I have not experienced any pain or soreness in my shoulder for quite some time.

There are four important factors in the success of my surgery:

1. I had an excellent surgeon and team that performed the surgery
2. I received a note in my post-surgery packet regarding a rental of cold compress machine. I did rent one and used it extensively for the first two to three weeks after surgery. This was very important in managing my pain. I did not have to use any prescribed pain medicine, just a heavy regiment of Advil and Tylenol.
3. Dr. Bjerke referred me to Mike Dickey for physical therapy. He is very good! He knows how to rehabilitate a shoulder and knows the intricacies of what is going to happen in recovery each week. I was very faithful following his rehab exercises and it paid off.
4. I had a great caregiver as my wife who has first-hand experience in rotator-cuff surgeries.

My activity level is improving. I am playing tennis three times a week, and I am not feeling any aftereffects in my shoulder. My workouts at the gym are going well. I am using light weights but also staying away from exercises that Dr. Bjerke and Mike Dickey recommended not doing. I am still doing my Mike Dickey rehab exercises faithfully. This was not a fun surgery. Recovery is long and I still feel like I am recovering. But I am glad I had it done and it is over. I made the right decision. Thank you to Dr. Bjerke being a great doctor and working with me through this multi-year shoulder experience.

I had a right shoulder joint replacement. Dr. Hunt did a phenomenal job! I had the nerve block which lasted three days and I had no pain. Icing helped with swelling as well. I was at the TCO EXCEL recovery suite overnight. Everyone there was very kind and took good care of me. They are where attentive to my needs. I highly recommend TCO!

I have been seeing Taylor for shoulder pain, and she is excellent! She is very knowledgeable, understanding and a joy to work with. Aric at the front desk is great! He is very friendly. He knows me by sight and has me checked in before I even get to the desk! I would highly recommend TCO Hudson!

Dr. Fritz and his Care Team did a fantastic job with our 6-year-old daughter! She broke her humerus just above the elbow. Dr. Fritz and his Team were helpful, understanding, knowledgeable, and in tune with what our daughter needed! Our favorite part of the process: our daughter had a loose tooth that the Team thought should come out prior to surgery so she wouldn’t swallow it during surgery. The tooth fairy came to visit during surgery! We highly recommend Dr. Fritz and his Team at TCO!

Eric Barth, the imaging team, and the check-in staff are all top notch. Eric spent time checking all possibilities and took the time to explain what the images showed and could not show. He helped suggest the next level of testing. I left with a less painful shoulder, which is getting better every minute, and a clear understanding of next steps. Thank you TCO team!

I had shoulder surgery performed by Dr. Ockuly after an injury, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the care I received. From the initial consultation to post-surgery follow-ups, Dr. Ockuly was professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly reassuring. He explained everything clearly, made me feel confident in the process. He treated me with care and respect.

Thanks to his skill and attention to detail, my surgery was a success. I am now well on my way to a full recovery with plans to return to college hockey next season. I highly recommend Dr. Ockuly to anyone in need of orthopedic care. His expertise and dedication made a tough situation much easier to handle.

I saw Wanda Lickteig after spending two years with a tennis elbow problem. Wanda is wonderful! She is a great listener and communicator. Overall, she is a great therapist. I whole-heartedly recommend her to anyone!