Patient Testimonials

I am 48 years old and Dr. Comfort did a total hip replacement on my right hip on October 17th, 2017. I was admitted into the EXCEL Program that is offered through TCO and would recommend this option to anyone who qualifies for it. Dr. Comfort is a top-notch surgeon and does a great job. I am currently 4 weeks post-op and cannot say enough about the success of my surgery and recovery. The surgery was performed at High Pointe Surgery Center in Lake Elmo where everyone from the admission person to the nurses and staff were extremely attentive and helpful. I then spent one night at White Bear Heights for recovery and again the entire process was pleasant. I left the facility being able to walk up and down the halls using a walker, climbed a flight of stairs with a cane, and even walked a short distance with no aide at all. 5 days after my surgery I was only using a cane to get around, and by my 2 week post-op appointment with Dr. Comfort I was walking with little to no assistance and driving! I was back to work 2 weeks after my surgery much to the amazement of my co-workers, family, friends, and most of all me! I have to remind myself that it has only been 4 weeks and that I still need to take it easy as I feel so great. I cannot thank Dr. Comfort and his wonderful staff at TCO, High Pointe, and White Bear Heights enough for such an amazing experience. I would not hesitate to refer Dr. Comfort to anyone (and I actually have) and will not hesitate to return to him if the need arises in the future.

Thank you for giving me a pain-free life again!!!!

Dr. Hunt, this may seem too corny to endure, but I’ll risk it.  I find myself struggling to express the depth of my gratitude to you and the team of caring professionals you have gathered around you for the fifteen years or more you have added to my life. When I decided to go to you to replace my knees late in 2008, I was seriously facing the loss of most of my outdoor activities. In January, 2009, you and your team replaced both of my knees, and in two surgeries during 2011 you also replaced both of my shoulders. Now you have given me a new right hip.  Because of your work, I have continued to backpack with three generations of family members for days on end on Isle Royale every fall (sometimes twice in a season). Early last spring I backpacked about forty miles of the Superior Hiking trail with a friend. Libby and I have been able to tour the Peruvian Amazon and the Peruvian sacred valley, and then spend a week on the Galápagos Islands. As a pastor I made multiple trips to partner congregations in El Salvador and in Nigeria. Twice I’ve made it to Alaska, most recently with Libby for a stay with friends in Halibut Cove on Kachemak Bay. Two years ago Libby and I toured Iceland, reunited with her relatives in Sweden and with my relatives and friends in Norway. And for the last three years I’ve led delegations to explore how migratory birds connect Minnesota and Nicaragua.  All this scattered among countless forays across Minnesota and Wisconsin to go birding in remote wild corners of our region.

I only hope this little album of memories gives you some sense of my gratitude to you for your work and for my privilege of having access to this health care (when so many across the world do not).

Blessings, Keith O.

Dr. Steven Meisterling,

I just wanted to send a quick note to thank you for doing an amazing job on my surgery in June 2016. I started running again in January (after not being able to run for a year) and completed the Twin Cities Marathon this month with my 2 kids! Thank you for helping me return to the thing I love to do!

Kelly R.

I suffered with pain in my right shoulder for several years due to arthritis and eventually was in constant pain. It was disrupting my sleep and kept me from activities I used to enjoy. Dr. Kelly provided me with the treatment options, including full shoulder replacement surgery. At age 58, I wasn’t looking forward to surgery and weeks of recovery, but in August 2014 I took the plunge. I couldn’t be happier with every aspect of my choice to have Dr. Kelly and his team perform my surgery. I have known Dr. Kelly for several years and have found him to be an extremely talented surgeon who takes the time to answer my questions and help me decide what will be best for me. Because Dr. Kelly arranged my surgery through the EXCEL program, the entire process was extremely well-planned and coordinated. My surgery experience only took a few hours at the Crosstown Surgery Center in Edina, with a one-night hotel-like stay in a wonderful facility with a private room and fantastic nursing care. I was relaxed and slept very well that night (as compared to no sleep during previous stays in a hospital). The surgery went as smoothly as Dr. Kelly and Kaici had explained and my recovery went much faster and easier than I had ever anticipated. Within 6 weeks of surgery, I was using my shoulder for most of my normal day-to-day activities, and the shoulder continued to gain strength and rotation from the physical therapy and exercises. I have re-gained full use of my shoulder and don’t even think about it anymore. I was washing windows this spring and smiled because I realized I was using my right arm/shoulder – something I would not have done a year ago. I’m not sure why I waited so long to get it done! Everyone from the reception staff, the surgical team and recovery nurses were outstanding – their personal touch and genuine caring made me feel like a VIP! The EXCEL program was a blessing because it allowed me to get through joint replacement with minimal disruption in my life. For anyone considering any kind of orthopedic surgery, I would encourage you to consider Twin Cities Orthopedics. Dr. Kelly and TCO will always be my first and only choice for orthopedic care!

My knee replacement with Dr. Kelly and the EXCEL program is one of the best medical experiences I’ve ever had. From the check- in at the surgery center to the discharge at York Gardens, everything was just wonderful. The staff is excellent. Every single doctor, nurse, therapist, and aide was a highly skilled professional who delivered such great care. I never sat around waiting for help – there was always someone right there when I needed them. There was also really good communication between all the team members so they were always up to speed on what was happening with me. There were so many small details that added up to big differences. Like no hospital gowns (!) I was given comfortable athletic wear instead. And I had the same two nurses the whole time at the rehab facility – one of them even came along in the van to pick me up from the surgery center. I felt so well cared for every step of the way. I would recommend this program to anybody who is considering surgery. It was truly outstanding.

I can’t say enough good words to express my appreciation for Dr. Kelly and his staff.

When researching doctors for my shoulder replacement surgery, I wanted to meet with Dr. Kelly because of what I read about his expertise in this area. I met a friendly, down-to-earth man with a sense of humor. I felt like a person he cared about instead of a number as I had found with other doctors I had seen.

After he explained the procedure to me I left confident I had found the right doctor.

I was so right! The surgery went well, as have all the follow-up appointments. Thanks also go to the team of people working with Dr. Kelly.

I guess you can say I’ve become one of Dr. Kelly’s biggest fans!

I have been going to the BWCA (Boundary Waters Canoe Area) since 1964 when my father took me on my first trip to this magical, wonderful place. Since then I have made 25-30 trips back to the BWCA, recently with my sons and nephews. To say that it has a special place in my heart is a gross understatement. 2 years ago I came off the last portage in near tears, suffering from arthritic pain. Since then, Dr. Owen O’Neill, Dr. Ed Kelly and their expert staffs have replaced 2 shoulders, 2 hips and 1 knee. The attached photo was taken earlier this year and shows me and my team (including my youngest son and nephew) over-looking “our unnamed lake” in the BWCA. We traveled over 10 miles to get there, crossing 3 lakes, 4 portages and 3 rivers. My sincere thanks to Dr. Kelly, Dr. O’Neill and their expert staffs for giving me this important piece of my life back! I strongly recommend them both and encourage you to schedule a visit if you are in pain like I was!

On a scale of 1 to 10, Dr. Kelly deserves an 11. Two years ago I had total shoulder replacement. This past May I had total knee replacement. Today I am playing tennis with my grandchildren with an arm and a knee that move as normal as anyone could expect for someone 70 years old. Having been active all my life, Dr. Kelly literally gave me my life back as I had known it. I am very grateful for his skill, and most especially for his insistence that I trust him in the rehab period. I did and the rest is very good history.

I’ve known Dr. Edward Kelly for almost 10 years, in that time he has replaced both shoulders and both knees. Dr. Kelly is not only a skilled surgeon, he is a humanist. He cares about the whole patient and is skilled at listening to his patient’s needs on both physical and emotional level. He makes you feel as if you are his only patient and considering the size of his practice is a feat of its own. He has given me back my active life — my osteoarthritis limited my physical activity and in general everyday activities. The surgeries were very successful — I have full range of motion on both shoulders and both knees. I thank Ed, Kaici and his whole team for great care and caring.

Dr. Kelly is knowledgeable, patient and thorough. He has put my arm back together and offered opinion on knee surgery. I always leave his exam room knowing I got the best advice.