Patient Testimonials

When I got hurt a couple of weeks before playoffs, it felt like the entire season flashed in front of me. I went down during a game, landed hard, and immediately felt this sharp, sweeping pain through my shoulder. I knew right away something was wrong. I left the game, and the worst thought hit me: this might be it, and it’s my senior year.

What made it harder was that my grandparents had flown in from Arkansas, my aunts were there from out of state too, my brother was home from college, and within the first ten minutes of the game, I was on the sideline. It was disappointing, but honestly, it was scary too.

We went straight to the ER that night for an X-ray to rule out anything broken. Nothing showed up structurally, which was a relief, but the prognosis still didn’t look good. A follow-up the next day at TCO Urgent Care revealed I had a long road ahead of me and still the potential of my season ending. My mom ended up connecting with someone on Monday at TCO who really understood how important the situation felt. She helped us get an appointment with a TCO shoulder specialist, Dr. Christopher Honstad, the very next day.

That appointment was the first time I felt real hope. Dr. Honstad was calm, straightforward, and understood both the emotional weight and the athletic pressure I was under. He said I needed to start physical therapy as soon as possible, and within 45 minutes, I was meeting the PT who would guide my entire comeback.

Physical Therapist Cody Suchla made a huge difference. He listened, understood what I wanted, and trusted my sense of what I could tolerate. One of the first things I told him was that we were going to win state. He laughed, but every week after that he kept asking how the games went, how the team was doing, and how I was feeling. He was relatable, creative, and made the whole process something I actually looked forward to.

The therapy itself wasn’t easy. I had significant pain, and we progressed slowly, but it was steady. Rehab bike work, strength training, stretching, pushing through certain movements and holding back on others. A week before I was supposed to return, Cody had another staff member build a custom shoulder brace for me. It ended up being exactly what allowed me to get back out there.

Four weeks after the injury, I returned for our game against Zimmerman. I wasn’t 100%, but I was back. Then, we went on a run and won Orono’s first-ever football state championship! Those last few weeks of the season are memories I’ll remember forever. After everything that happened, getting to finish my senior year on the field with my teammates meant everything. A bonus was having the honor to accept the Most Valuable Teammate award following the championship win.

Looking back, I’m so grateful for the care I received and for the caring people who made sure I had a chance to finish what I started. TCO helped give me my season back.

I am very happy with Dr. Lewis. He is very professional and kind. He does such a great job that I continue to have him do my surgeries. So far, he has done a shoulder repair, two knee replacements (right and left), and a hip replacement. Dr. Lewis is an excellent surgeon and a genuinely kind person. His staff is excellent too, especially Libby and Angela.

I broke my collarbone in a cycling accident this fall. Prior to the accident, I had separated my shoulder on the same side as the collarbone break about two decades ago. I had the surgery completed by another physician in the Twin Cities at a different practice. The physician installed a “hook plate” to set my collarbone and repair my separated shoulder. I was taking a huge amount of ibuprofen, Tylenol, and oxycodone to reduce the pain to a manageable level, yet it was still extremely difficult to sleep.

After enduring extraordinary pain for over a month, I decided to get a second opinion from Dr. O’Keefe at Twin Cities Orthopedics. At my first appointment Dr. O’Keefe analyzed my problem quickly and suggested a plan of action. He suggested removing the plate and installing a “tight rope” device to secure my shoulder to relieve pain and increase my range of motion. With my other provider I felt like I fell through the cracks even though I communicated how much pain I was experiencing. This was not the case with Dr. O’Keefe.

Just four days after my surgery with Dr. O’Keefe, I was able to stop taking pain medication entirely. He changed my life because I was finally able to sleep again. I could also feel that my range of motion was not limited by the plate. During my post-op appointment, Dr. O’Keefe’s PA, Beth, took as much time as needed to answer all my questions thoroughly. I would recommend Dr. O’Keefe and his team without hesitation.

My husband and I both had surgery done by Dr. Dwivedi and we couldn’t be more pleased. He is easy to talk to and he did great work! I no longer have numbness in my hands and arms at night. Overall, I am very happy!

I was diagnosed with a “frozen” shoulder and was recommended to start physical therapy first. I was very resistant. I just wanted to take a pill and have the pain gone. Since that wasn’t going to happen, I got in contact with Twin Cities Orthopedics in Staples. They were very flexible with scheduling, and easy to work with. They explained why they were scheduling me with two different therapists. If one was gone, the other one can step right in and already know what my treatment plan was. I thought that was brilliant and very forward thinking. The facility is very clean and the equipment was impressive. Allyson Sima and Peyton Landowski were my therapists. They were very kind, gentle, and very respectful regarding my pain. They truly do listen and want to work with patients. The key with them is, “working with you”. I really can’t say enough about TCO Staples. It’s a great facility with great therapists. I would highly recommend them!

Dr. Flikkema and his care team have been exceptional! I have truly been blown away at the professionalism and care they have all shown and provided. I was assigned to Dr. Flikkema when I called and asked for a surgeon that specialized in shoulder care. Boy, did I get lucky! I had prolonged seeing a specialist for about three years as I was trying various solutions to resolve my shoulder pain on my own. I spent thousands of dollars on massages, manipulation and mobility care, and physical therapy through my work benefits. The pain always came back.

Upon my first visit, Dr. Flikkema listened to my history and created a plan. He showed compassion and answered all my questions. I had a few concerns, and he put me at ease. Once he confirmed that I had two tears in two different tendons of my rotator cuff, the surgery date was scheduled. His care team jumped into action. Kendall, his Care Coordinator, got me set up with my physical therapist and follow appointments during the pre-op phase. She kindly filled in my work LOA paperwork and did it all in a timely manner. She was quick to follow up the same day whenever I reached out.

As surgery day approached, Matt, Dr. Flikkema’s physician assistant touched base several times via phone calls. He was very friendly and made sure to answer any additional questions I had. I was so impressed that his care team showed a sense of urgency in getting back to me. I knew I was in good hands with what I was experiencing and I hadn’t even had the surgery yet.

Surgery day went great! Dr. Flikkema stopped in before surgery as well as after to speak with my family member. I was nervous and dreaded going home to live with discomfort and pain for the next several weeks. But guess what? I was surprisingly very comfortable with the medication prescribed and the use of the NICE (cold and compression) machine, all suggested by his care team. My pain level was a low 1-2. It felt a little achy here and there, but I was never above a pain level of 2. I truly felt blessed to have had the experience I had. It was very helpful to have the extended team that personally called me and came to my house to help me use the ZYNEX Tens unit for pain relief and the NICE machine. Again, super professional, and helpful. That NICE machine was a saving grace for ease of use and simplicity. I highly recommend this machine, even if it isn’t covered by insurance. It was worth every penny, and it literally helped make my post-op recovery pain free!

The final care team I worked with was my physical therapist, Nirvan, and his student Sara. Both have been fantastic in getting me off on the right steps to mobility, strength, and an improved range of motion. They continue to support me and answer questions with care and compassion.

Finally, a huge thank you to Twin Cities Orthopedics! I feel blessed and lucky to have been given this experience with Dr. Flikkema. He is so knowledgeable, charismatic, patient-centered, and extremely professional. Even at my 2-week post-op appointment, he spent a few minutes going through my arthroscopic pictures and explained how he performed my surgery. Few physicians do that so thank you! You and all your team are exceptional! It was the best medical experience, and I contribute that to you and your trained, patient-centered care team! On a scale of a 1 out of 10, this team deserves a 12!

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.

My experience with rotator cuff repair has been exceptional from start to finish, thanks to the incredible team of Dr. Jason Barry, Peggy Schnobrich, Rebecca Munson, and Jarred Frisk. What could have been a long, intimidating recovery instead became a smooth, confidence-building journey because of their skill, communication, and genuine care.

Dr. Barry performed my surgery with remarkable precision and professionalism. He took the time to explain the procedure, set clear expectations, and made me feel completely at ease. His expertise is evident not only in the operating room but in the steady, reliable progress I have made since the surgery.

Peggy Schnobrich, my CRNA, played a crucial role in making the surgical experience as smooth and stress-free as possible. Her reassuring presence, attention to detail, and ability to put me at ease before anesthesia made a world of difference. I felt safe, informed, and genuinely cared for in her hands.

Rebecca Munson, PA, has been an outstanding partner throughout the process. Her calm, reassuring presence and thorough follow-up care made every appointment feel productive and supportive. She answered questions before I even had to ask them and she always made sure I understood each step of recovery.

Jarred Frisk, my physical therapist, has been instrumental in getting my shoulder back to top strength and mobility. Jarred brings a rare mix of technical knowledge, patience, and encouragement. He tailors each session to my progress, celebrates milestones big and small, and pushes me just the right amount to keep improving.

Together, this team turned a major surgery into a genuinely positive experience. I am healing better and faster than I ever expected. I am deeply grateful for their dedication. I couldn’t recommend Dr. Barry, Rebecca Munson, and Jarred Frisk more highly.

It was supposed to be nothing more than a quick ride to the store, but a small crack in the sidewalk changed everything. I went down, and just like that, plans for basketball, boating and endless outdoor fun were put on hold.

I broke my radius and dislocated my ulna, which led to a long night in the emergency room. They coordinated with Twin Cities Orthopedics and shared my case with Dr. Amy Moeller, who had treated me earlier that spring for a basketball-related thumb injury. By the next morning, Dr. Moeller’s team had reached out, and surgery was scheduled for the following day.

What followed was not just recovery. It was a mental and physical grind.

1,630 hours watching practices from the sidelines. 5,000 right-hand-only shots. 540 minutes of one-on-one, controlled basketball training. 350 minutes of right-hand-only ball handling. 12 physical therapy appointments.

After 97 mentally and physically exhausting days, I was finally given the green light to play basketball again, fully, freely and without restrictions. There were days I asked, ‘Why me? Will I ever get back?’ With the incredible support of the staff at TCO and everyone around me, I kept pushing.

All of that work paid off. In my first game back, I scored 14 points. That moment did not happen alone. It was made possible by the incredible care from Dr. Moeller and her team, the TCO hand therapy staff, and an unwavering network of family, trainers, coaches, teammates and friends.

What started as a simple summer outing became a powerful reminder of resilience, faith, and just how much heart it takes to fight your way back to the court.

I first met Dr. Walker by through a telephone call while I was waiting in the hospital for my operation. He asked me if I wanted to keep waiting for surgery on my operation day when he had already operated on many other patients. He told me that if I didn’t want to keep waiting, I could eat and he would try to schedule me first on the following day. This was an example of how much he truly cared for me and my treatment over the six months since my surgery. He is direct, explains medical details succinctly, and always has a welcoming smile. I am grateful that I met Dr. Walker and that he gave me my life back by repairing my arm.