Patient Testimonials

Two months after my hip replacement surgery, I am fully recovered and able to continue my normal activities. I am able to walk more than two miles with no restrictions. I have had no pain and needed no pain medication. I am 80 years old, so this is a testimonial to the skill of Dr. Wetter and his team. His manner was both professional and caring. I would recommend him highly.

Dr. Bircher worked with me for arthritis pain in my right leg. After some injections and waiting out the pain (while recovering from a different surgery) we were ready for hip replacement. Dr. Bircher encouraged me to stop smoking and I am now on 7 months of no smoking. Surgery went wonderfully. I woke up and as I was walking around, he was in my hallway to check on me. The pain was gone right away. He talked me through a lot of pain before surgery, but I’m so glad I did it.

I wanted to take time to recognize the exceptional care that I received from Dr. Gerlach and his entire team. I went to three hand surgeons and Dr.  Gerlach was the only doctor that truly listened to me and my concerns. Long story short, I couldn’t get the surgery for two months after injury and Dr. Gerlach was the only doctor willing to work with me so I could go on disability before my surgery. That was a huge deal because I may have lost my job otherwise. The reason why I had to wait for surgery was because I wanted to see if injections would fix the issue first, but unfortunately it did not. I use my hands for heavy manual labor and I was in so much pain that I had to take time off from work until I could have surgery.

In addition to Dr. Gerlach being the only doctor that really listened to my situation, he was the only one that truly cared. For that reason alone, I highly recommend him and his care team. His assistant, Stephanie, made sure my forms were completed. She was excellent at communicating the entire process to me. It’s not just the doctor you need to research, but also their entire team. His team was excellent in all categories.

The surgery went as well as it could, and I experienced zero pain after the surgery. I cannot stress enough Dr. Gerlach is as close to being as perfect as it’s gets.

My experience at TCO with Dr. Arntson is an A+. I came to TCO not able to walk. Dr. Arntson was able to diagnose the issue and provide professional care. I highly recommend Dr. Arntson. I’m 43 post-surgery, having my right hip replaced with a titanium ball and stem. I’m walking without support, my pain and aches are very minimal. I don’t have to rely on pain medication either. I have received the best care. I’m 84 years old and am very grateful to Dr. Arntson for his outstanding care and knowledge to perform a difficult surgery on me.

I rolled my ATV when I was up north and broke my collar bone. The entire thing was so emotional, scary, and not close to home! Dr. Honstad performed the surgery to repair my comminuted fracture within days of the accident. It has healed properly and I am back to my regular hobbies of gardening, and all seasons of outdoor activities! I have no pain and complete movement of my shoulder/arm in any way. Thank you Dr. Honstad!

Dr. Vargas did a Cheilectomy on my right big toe. It was an old injury that needed to be fixed. The surgery and recovery has gone very well. Dr. Vargas has been great. He gave me options other than surgery when I first met with him. When those didn’t fix it, I opted for surgery and am very happy with the results. He has been professional, attentive and pleasant. I definitely recommend him.

Dr. Knowlan and his team did a fantastic job with my hip replacement surgery and I am nearly back to normal after just 15 days. The entire experience from diagnosis, to planning, to execution and recovery, was very professional and effective. The crew at Woodwinds Hospital was great as well. They helped me through the first 18 hours after surgery and quickly got me on the way home the next morning. Thank you Dr. Knowlan. I really appreciate what you’ve done for me!

I had multiple cat punctures/bites a few weeks ago. The infection got the best of me and I was admitted to M Health Fairview for bloodwork and IV antibiotics. After careful consideration, Dr. Koch decided I needed surgery to remediate the infection in my hand, as it was spreading into my tendons and joints. This was not something I ever imagined! She talked with me and made me a part of the decision. The surgery went fine and it turned out that it was necessary to have the surgery as the consequences could have been dire. I’m sure this was a very basic surgery for Dr. Koch, but she and her team were very thorough, mindful and compassionate from day one in the hospital to my last follow up appointment.

When I reflect on the experience overall, Dr. Koch comes to mind as an surgeon that I completely trusted throughout and would strongly encourage anyone to seek her out for care. I feel grateful to have been her patient. The healing journey continues. I still have the homemade “shorty” cast she fashioned for me before my surgery. I got very attached to it because it really helped with my pain.

If you find yourself in need of being put back together, I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Engasser. In August 2023, I tripped and fell forward. I landed very hard on my left side and literally couldn’t move. After being admitted to the hospital and told the news, I was told by Dr. Engasser that he would be performing surgery to fix my broken femur/hip the following morning. He explained the procedure and timeframe. The next 12 hours were a blur. When I woke after surgery, Dr. Engasser was there telling me surgery went great and that I should be up walking later that day. True to his word, with the help of internal hardware and a walker, I was up and walking that day.

At a final follow up visit after PT, Dr. Engasser said the X-rays were textbook perfect. Bone growth and anchors were exactly where they needed to be. There was no difference from leg to leg, and no glitches in gait when walking. I felt I’d been given a miracle. Dr. Engasser and his staff are by far the best orthopedic specialist team I could have been blessed with. I’m 68 years old and have broken a lot of bones. I am just so very thankful Dr. Engasser was on call the weekend I needed him. Absolute best!

I am so thankful for my hip replacement completed by Dr. Nessler. I am not even three weeks from surgery and I am doing great. I look forward to getting back to life!