Patient Testimonials

I had lumbar L4-5 fusion surgery performed by Dr. Eric Deal.  The care that I received from Dr. Deal, his PA-C, Nathan Marcus, and the entire TCO team (including the surgery center and physical therapy) was excellent! The day of my surgery, even though it was an early morning, Dr. Deal still checked on me at 8:00PM in my surgery center room before going home that day, I was very impressed!

I just visited Dr. Deal for my one year check and the sciatica pain (among other issues) that I saw him for initially is now gone!
I can highly recommend Dr. Deal and his team!

When my troubles began, I was 3 weeks into paid parental leave in July. I was looking forward to an exciting summer spending time with my newborn baby daughter. One morning I was hit with a crippling pain that began in my lower back and shot down my left leg. I called my wife at work and told her something was wrong and to come home immediately. After 2 visits with my primary doctor, we were referred to TCO and made an appointment with Dr. Nathan Wanderman. At my first appointment, he saw things in my MRI that others had not. It turned out I had a degenerative disc and a bulging disc that was pinching the nerve that ran down my left leg. I was barely able to walk without assistance. Dr. Wanderman was able to get me in for surgery by September and performed a double fusion surgery. He performed a Lumbar 4 – Sacral 1 ALIF and 2 days later performed Lumbar 4 Sacral 1 PLDF. I am so grateful for what Dr. Wanderman has given back to me. I walk with no problems. I’m able to hold my baby again. For being such a scary time in my life, he and his staff really made my wife and I feel that we were making the right decision. Speaking of his staff, I was nearly a weekly caller prior to and after surgery with questions. They were always prompt in returning my call no matter the question and were always happy to answer any concerns my wife and I had. Long story short, Dr. Nathan Wanderman and his staff have given me my life back, and my wife and I couldn’t be more grateful! Thank you again to everyone who made this surgery a success.

Dr. Eric Deal performed a microdiscectomy on me to repair a herniated disc in the L5 – S1 region. The result was an almost immediate relief from the pain I had been suffering from for months! During my initial consultation with Dr. Deal, he presented my diagnosis and treatment options in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner. I felt comfortable choosing microdiscectomy as the best option for me. Emily, Dr. Deal’s care coordinator, explained the scheduling process and pre-surgery requirements and provided all necessary information and documents. She took time to answer all of my questions and made sure that I was comfortable with everything. The outpatient surgery took place at TCO Eagan. The entire process at that location was very thorough. They were great! I hope to any additional surgeries, but if needed, I am 100% confident in Dr. Deal and his team. I highly recommend them!

When I awoke following fusion surgery, I had nearly full use of my arm and hand again. Recovery went exactly as forecasted, and I consider the surgery a major success. Dr. Garry Banks is excellent, explaining the procedure and what to expect clearly. I highly recommend Dr. Banks and his PA Jessica Staples.

I had a great experience with TCO’s Dr. Nathan Wanderman and his team. I set out to take care of my back issues and leg pain, and they did exactly what they explained to me. I am honestly doing much better and feeling comfortable at any sitting or standing position now. l was told my incision was healing great, and l appeared to be showing NO discomfort. I am a happy patient.

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Paul Crowe and his care team, as well as the EXCEL Surgery & Recovery Program through TCO. I dealt with crippling back pain for so many years and had to undergo an L5-S1 spinal fusion at 32 years old. All aspects of the EXCEL program are top-notch, and you can tell there was so much thought put into patient care and comfort. Dr. Crowe visited me several times after my procedure. He was great to chat with, answered all my questions, and gave me some encouragement for healing. I am now nearly three years out from my procedure, and I feel better than I ever have. I have my life back and can do activities I couldn’t before. I owe everything to Dr. Crowe, his team, and TCO.

I recently developed an excruciatingly painful condition (a herniated L4-L5 disc and pinched nerve) in my lower back that rendered me unable to walk without crutches. We contacted Twin Cities Orthopedics (TCO) on a Thursday afternoon and described the condition. They were able to access my test data and arrange an appointment to see Dr. Eric Deal right away on Monday. After evaluating the situation, Dr. Deal patiently explained the condition and the possible treatment options. We decided on surgery, and they were able to schedule me right away on that Thursday at their Eagan location. The surgery went without a hitch, and I was able to walk almost immediately, only needing the assistance of a cane for balance for the first few weeks.

I can honestly say that working with TCO was the most positive medical experience I have ever had. Every member of the TCO staff was completely professional and genuinely caring at every step. The facilities were pleasant and modern, and most conveniently located. The anesthesiologist (Dr. Anderson) listened carefully to my concerns, and we were able to avoid any nausea or allergic reactions which have historically been a real problem for me. Dr. Deal and his team did an incredible job with the surgery and the aftercare. Following this rather complex procedure, I had almost no pain and required no medications beyond ordinary Tylenol. I simply cannot say enough good things about the technical expertise and genuine care this group provided, and I wholeheartedly recommend TCO without reservation for anyone needing orthopedic care.

I was recommended to Dr. Banks years ago for back pain. I was very blessed with a very good surgeon. Dr. Banks has performed four back surgeries on me over the years and I was pain-free after each one!

Once again, I write this with gratitude for Dr. Hoel. I recently completed my second back fusion due to my degenerative disc disease. The first fusion saved me from a wheelchair. This second fusion saved me from the continued loss of function of my right hand. In just six weeks, my hand strength has started to return. That result was not necessarily going to happen. The goal was simply to stop the progression of the weakness. As with my first fusion, the recovery was very manageable in terms of pain.

Dr Hoel always took the time to be thorough in his explanations. He answered all my questions and was careful in his diagnoses and ordering of tests. His PA, Christina Erdman was always prompt and thorough in returning my email messages. His support staff was also very helpful. I highly recommend Dr Hoel and his team.

Dr. Michalik did a great job identifying and prescribing treatment at my first visit. He provided clear and understandable information. He paid attention to what I had to say. I would recommend him to any one with back issues.