Patient Testimonials

In 2015, my sophomore year of college, I was the starting goalkeeper for the Gustavus women’s soccer program when I took a knee to my hip in the beginning of the second half. I had sustained a hip pointer injury, but continued to play the following 35 minutes and overtime, in addition another 35 minutes of double overtime. After that, I played another full game and double overtime to end the season.

I took 2 weeks off from working out and felt able to workout again, however I battled hip pain off and on for another 8 months before seeing another doctor. After getting an MRI, it was confirmed that I had a left femoral acetabular impingement and a complex labral tear. I was referred to Dr. Larson, who assured me that all of my symptoms; pain in my joint, clicking, pinching, clenching and a shooting pain from my hips, down my leg, and up my abdomen was normal for the injury. We talked about alternative treatments but had decided surgery was my only option.

In August of 2016, I went into the OR and had a FAI decompression and labral repair and debreidment. In the same month I began physical therapy. I sat out my junior year of soccer at Gustavus but supported my teammates as they won the conference and went to the national tournament. I got strong enough and was cleared to return to play my senior year, but my heart was no longer in it and, although I completed the season, I did not have joy for the sport and I still had fear of taking a hard hit. I did not feel I had a proper comeback and I did not feel I overcame my surgery. I decided after graduation, passing my Nursing boards, and training in at the Mayo Clinic, that running a marathon would be my comeback. And that’s when I began training.

I had my 3 year check in with Dr. Larson at the new Vikings clinic just months before I was scheduled for my race. He assured me that my scans and physical assessment looked great and that running is a better choice for me. We talked about how the side to side motion and constant position changes was not good for my hip, and that a continuous forward motion like running would be better for my hip and my lifestyle.

I then ran the San Francisco half marathon in under 2 hours, continued my training, and ran the Twin Cities Marathon in 4 hours and 15 minutes without any hip pain. I plan on running many more marathons and half marathons in my future. I am signed up for a half marathon this August on the 4 year anniversary of my surgery. Celebrating 4 years without hip pain thanks to Dr. Larson, his amazing team, and his perfected recovery/rehab program.

I began regular running in the fall of 2012 after retiring at the age of 56. I became a volunteer coach for Moms on the Run. In the fall of 2016 I was going to turn 60, so I vowed to make it my best spring/summer/fall of running ever. I ran 3-4 days every week from May through October, finished four 10-mile road races, a half-marathon, a half-marathon relay, a 5k, a 5-mile trail race, Ragnar Great River, and Ragnar Northwoods Trail. It was a great year of running and I was pretty much pain free. I was a year-round outside runner. But then something happened in March 2017 while running with a friend who was rehabbing after a broken ankle. We took off too fast and something popped in my knee, but I kept running until I physically could not. During that year and into 2018, I ran in pain and tried different physical therapies, along with a meniscus procedure. It seemed to work for a bit. I continued with therapy, received cortisone injections, and eventually synvisc injections in both knees, but no relief. I was forced to stop running and simple walking became very difficult. On April 11, 2018, I had my left knee replaced and seven weeks later, on May 30, my right knee was replaced. It’s been a long, long (almost) year of very hard work, patience and determination, but I vowed that I would attempt to run again. After walking and biking a lot, I just recently made that attempt and it felt “good.” I still experience stiffness and I know that I’ll always “feel” my replaced knees, but I am pretty much pain free. I don’t think that any distance above a 5k is in my future, but just to be able to put on my shoes and go out for a short run is heaven to me. My goal is to participate in the Women Run the Cities 5k on May 19. I can’t say enough about the excellent care that I received from everyone involved in my surgeries and recovery. I will be forever grateful.

I started seeing Seth right away after my total knee replacement. In the first couple of weeks, Seth’s understanding of the procedure and symptoms was very comforting. It was determined that a manipulation was necessary. The positive and reassuring attitudes and feedback I received from Seth and Ashley and the whole staff at the Blaine TCO PT facility was a game changer for me. Even on my tough days, Seth, Ashley, Sam, Kristina, Kasi, and Jared were professional and compassionate while sharing their knowledge of my situation with me. They made a “not-so-fun” situation very tolerable and they did help me reach my goals. I already have recommended this staff to friends who are in need of orthopedic PT services and will continue to do so. Thanks Seth, Ashley and all of the Blaine PT staff. Appreciate your professionalism, knowledge, humor :), and caring ways!!!

I am very thankful that I received such outstanding care from Dr. Gesensway at Twin Cities Orthopedics. He is a true professional and a superior surgeon. My healing has come along so much quicker than expected due to his skills. I have never fractured a wrist before (Colles fracture) but from the minute I walked in the door and met Dr. Gesensway, I suspected I was in for a good experience. I was by no means disappointed in any of the initial or follow-up care he and his team provided. Many thanks to David, Julia, Laura, and many others with whom I have had the pleasure to interact as a result of the bad fall I took on the ice. Thanks to all of you!

Dr. Michael Nemanich did a great job. I had left hip replacement surgery late on a Wednesday afternoon. I was released from the hospital on Friday afternoon. By Sunday I was cutting back on pain meds. On Monday I was driving and went for a walk. A week after surgery I would walk for an hour. Ten days after surgery I walked for two hours. I am very grateful for the wonderful care.

Christian Dawson has helped me multiple times! I had a stress fractured L4 par vertebrae on both sides. He helped strengthen my core and on March 8, 2019, he cleared me to run (for a certain amount of time), which is the one thing that I had been wanting to do. Because of this back injury, I was unable to ski with my friends, and play indoor soccer with my team. But because of Christian and the amazing people, facility, and equipment at TCO I will soon be able to do what I love!

I had to use a cane, wheelchair and walker before I had my knee replacement. I had taken shots as long as I could to get relief from the pain. I asked for the surgery and I am so glad I did! It wasn’t long after the surgery that I could enjoy taking steps without pain. My knee works fine! Looking forward to summer as it will be 1 year in July that I had my knee replaced. I am also looking forward to resuming garding and walking without pain and now with a stronger knee. Dr. Arntson explained everything to me. He always had time for my questions and concerns. His gentle spirit always calmed me.

I had a left hip replacement through the TCO EXCEL Program done by Dr. Arntson and within a few weeks, I had no use for a walker or cane. The surgery was perfect and Dr. Arntson was always there if I had a question or a concern. I totally recommend Dr. Arntson!

As a sophomore in college, my life is extremely busy. Balancing sports, class and extracurricular’s is a lot to handle, and now I have to work in time for an injury. I tore my ACL and partially tore my medial meniscus while playing soccer at my university. I have never had a serious injury before that prohibited me from playing the sport I love, so the whole injury recovery process is very new to me. I was completely lost on what the procedure was, where to find a surgeon, what physical therapy entailed and recovery time. Thankfully, Dr. Corey Wulf works closely with my university and he was able to explain the procedure to me and make me feel comfortable with the unfortunate situation I was in. After surgery, I felt even more worrisome on when I would be able to return to playing my sport. An injury as serious as an ACL put me at a recovery time for 9 months. I still have about 5 months until I am able to play again. However, my physical therapist at TCO, Karie Nash, has been extremely helpful. She has made the recovery process so much easier. Her insights and exercises have made a noticeable difference. Thanks to Karie, I am more confident in my knee and I look forward to continuing to work with her to guide me along with my recovery. With the help of these two TCO employees, I am continuing to get better and now I am a little closer to returning to the sport I love.

My comeback story starts with a flashback. It was 1978 and I was a 20-year-old Navy enlisted man. I was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, far from my childhood home in North Minneapolis. As I watched the sun set over the ocean I thought to myself, “Someday, I want to walk down a beautiful beach like this with Renee” (my girlfriend at the time). Fast-forward 40 years. I could barely walk half a city block. My legs felt weak, then numb. I experienced “foot drop,” with my right foot dragging due to nerve damage. One of my toes are completely numb and has been for years. Normal activities are a major struggle. Walking to a restaurant with friends meant they had to frequently stop to wait for me to catch up, or unintentionally leave me trailing far behind. Mowing the lawn was a lengthy ordeal and strolling along a beach – not trudging or stumbling in the sand – was not much of a possibility.

What happened to me? In my early 20s, I was helping a friend do some home repairs. I was pushing a wheelbarrow filled with heavy, wet concrete. I injured my back, herniating two discs. Prior to that injury, I was active and athletic. I had completed three marathons, two triathalons and numerous 5 and 10k races. The back injury immediately curtailed my distance running. Over the next few years, my pain levels increased. I consulted with Dr. Crowe of Twin Cities Orthopedics and we jointly decided surgery was my best option to relieve the pain. I was 29 years old.

After my initial surgery, the back pain eased, but that relief was short-lived. At age 31, I had a second surgery with Dr. Crowe. Over the next 20 years, I was rarely pain-free. As I aged, normal activities and daily chores become more and more difficult. In my late 50s, the pain and lack of mobility became so severe that I went back to Dr. Crowe for another consultation. One non-surgical option was a steroid injection between the L3 and L4 discs. I opted for this minimally invasive approach, only to experience extreme pain during the injection. It was one of the most excruciating experiences of my life. Sadly, it didn’t improve my situation. Like many men, I went into denial and avoidance. I did not seek medical attention for eight months.

By the time I summoned the courage to go back to Dr. Crowe, my situation was dire. I was experiencing severe neuropathy, with ongoing leg numbness, persistent nerve tingling and significant problems walking. Dr. Crowe referred me to a neurologist who performed a number of tests and came to the diagnosis of “Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy.” I asked him about treatment options and was told, “you’ll have to learn to live with it.” I still clung to that dream of walking along a beautiful beach with Renee, now my wife of 35 years. I told the neurologist about my desire. He paused and said, “You can still do that; you’ll just have to walk very slowly and take plenty of rest stops.” In other words, trudge along a few yards at a snail’s pace, then find a place to sit until I regained feeling in my legs, then repeat. Not exactly the romantic beach walk with Renee I envisioned as a 20-year-old.

This was no way to live. Renee and I talked and I decided I needed to seek out other treatment options. We considered going to a world-renowned medical center in southern Minnesota. But before doing that, I felt I should consult again with Dr. Crowe. I have a 30-year relationship with him and that is something I would not get at any other health care system, no matter how good it is. I made another appointment with Dr. Crowe. After a long talk, he told me the words I needed to hear. “You are too young to live this way,” he said. He said nerve decompression surgery might provide me the relief I yearned for. I put my trust in Dr. Crowe’s decades of expertise.

Dr. Crowe performed the surgery in December, 2018. I was on the operating table for more than six hours due to the very poor condition of my spine. The result has exceeded my expectations. The surgery gave me back my life. I owe a debt of gratitude to the entire Twin Cities Orthopedic team. Today, I am walking proof of Dr. Crowe’s knowledge and talent. I am pain-free. I have regained all feeling in my legs (and yes, even in that long-numb toe). The neuropathy is gone and I am regaining my strength. Just three weeks after the surgery, I could spend an hour working out on an elliptical machine. I began to extend the distance I walked each day.

In addition to thanking Dr. Crowe, I want to give a shout-out to his team. Jenny, my Care Coordinator, has been outstanding in answering all of my questions, scheduling appointments and making sure I was never in the dark as I went through the surgery and recovery. I can’t say enough good things about Brianna, PA-C. Brianna was present during my surgery and followed up with me at the end of that long day. She even offered to play a hand of cribbage with me that night. She took special steps to ensure my pain was under control, then worked to set up the physical therapy I needed to move forward with my recovery. In March of this year, my wife Renee and I traveled to the Florida panhandle and I enjoyed a long, memorable pain-free walk with her as the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico. Had you seen us strolling arm-in-arm along the shore, you wouldn’t have thought it was anything special, but for me it was an epic comeback for which I am deeply grateful.