Patient Testimonials

Bill received a knee replacement that was custom fit to match him, and now he’s back doing what he loves ahead of schedule. Watch his video here.

Dr. Norberg and his team were wonderful with my 4 year old who broke his arm being a typical 4 year old (however, if you ask him, he was punching an Alien from outer space). I felt confident that my son was receiving great care. My questions were answered with understanding and compassion. I was never rushed or dismissed but rather listened to and reassured.

Thank you Dr. Norberg, Ryan, the x-ray team and nursing staff. You do great work and while I hope to not see you again, if we need to, you will be the first people we call!
– Claire B.

I can’t say enough about the care and support given by Dr. Heikes and her team.  I searched for to find the right fit with a surgeon to replace a knee that was giving me a lot of pain.  Dr. Heikes was my third opinion.  She was willing to sit down with me and my husband and answer all of our questions. I felt very comfortable with her by the time the appointment was over. Her confidence was amazing and I would do the second knee when and if it needs to be done without hesitation. Great job team.

I want to state that Dr. Thomas Comfort is a great Orthopedic Surgeon. 10 years ago, I had Dr. Comfort do a total knee replacement on my left knee and finally with the change in my health insurance, Dr. Comfort was back in my network so I could have my right knee done also. Thank you Dr. Comfort! I have full mobilization with both legs it’s like I’ve been given two brand new ones. I highly recommend Dr. Comfort to everyone as he is the best Orthopedic Surgeon. The recovery time was also very fast. Also I want to mention that with both knees working again, since June 12, 2017 I have lost 40 pounds because I can now exercise and move so much better.

Dr. Butterfield is an extremely knowledgeable, capable, and caring surgeon.  He cared for my teenage son from Urgent Care, MRIs, through surgery, to follow ups.  He consults with other surgeons to ensure he is on top of the latest information.  I would recommend him to any parent needing to hand their child over to a surgeon.

Dr. Langer gets it done quick, without much pain at all, and is very knowledgeable in the field.

Hi, I’m 58 and have had 2 full replacements and one redo. I had my first knee replaced in 2006 at 45.  Doctors always said the my constant knee pain was because I was so obese. I had laparoscopic surgery done first. Didn’t work. I had injections, and pain patches, I couldn’t walk stairs or get off the couch without help. My knee was damaged. I went to an orthopedic surgeon who said I needed replacement. It was the most unbearable pain I had ever felt. The physical therapy after was excruciating and lasted 6 months, 2 times a week.  I cried every day at therapy and it got so bad, I eventually quit going. Needless to say I never got full range of motion in that knee. I was no longer able to walk up stairs, ride a bike, or walk correctly. I lived with it for 10 years. I never thought I was going to have to go through that again. Well ten years later, my other knee began to have the same pain. I had asked a friend to recommend a new doctor for me to see and her recommendation was Dr. Comfort. After my first meeting with him, I was hooked. He took his time speaking with me, explaining what we could do and offered some things to try before I did the surgery. Things worked for a few years and then it came time to have my other knee replaced. I followed what he suggested as far as getting the knee strong before the surgery. The surgery went well, no problems. I knew as soon as I woke up that the pain was gone. I was able to have a physical therapist come to my home to help me do my exercises. I was happy to know that I could use different things I had at home to get in my workouts. Physical therapy was painless and only lasted a few weeks. I was able to regain full range of motion, again with no pain. With the exception of bad knee from my first surgery, I was able to walk up stairs normally. About 6 months later, I talked to Dr. Comfort about re-doing my first knee. He said it was going to be a harder and more complicated surgery because of how that knee was currently. I was afraid that if he couldn’t fix it, it would cause me more pain and problems. He said that since he hadn’t done the first surgery on that knee, he wouldn’t know exactly what was going on in my knee or how the surgery would be performed. I trusted him so much that I said, let’s go for it. It was a long surgery and my incision was 13 inches, as compared to a normal incision at 6 inches. He had to open in up all the way in order to remove the old knee, cut off some bone, and attach a new knee. It was sore for a few days, but again, a therapist came to my house to work with me. Over the few weeks that I worked with her, she was able to get me back to full range of motion, I could bend it to about 155. Eventually it stopped hurting and I was able to get up from a couch again without any help. Now, I can walk up the stairs with no problems and am able to bike and pedal all the way around.

Please, if you’re having pain, at least to meet with Dr. Comfort. He has a very gentle bedside manner, his staff is wonderful, kind, and caring and they are there for you throughout the complete process.

He has changed my life not once, but twice and he will always be my doctor for orthopedic work

Thank you Dr. Comfort and all of you that work with him.

In August 2016, I was having surgery on my ankle at Maple Grove Hospital.  While talking to the nurses, I mentioned that I needed to have knee replacement surgery but wasn’t sure what doctor to go to. They encouraged me to not wait to have knee replacement surgery because having it right away would improve my quality of life. The nurses highly recommended Dr. Brian O’Neill.  After healing from my ankle surgery, I made an appointment to see Dr. O’Neill.  I liked his approach and knew that when the time came that I would have him replace my knees. I had a total right knee replacement on in July, 2017.  I was fortunate to be part of the Excel program.  The nurses and staff at the hospital and Excel program were fantastic, I couldn’t have asked for better care.  I’m happy to report that after 8 weeks, I have returned to my normal routine.  My recovery from knee replacement surgery has far exceeded my expectations, my pain was well managed and I had great range of motion from the very beginning.  I am grateful to Dr. O’Neill and his team.  I still have my left knee to replace and plan to return to Dr. O’Neill when that time comes.

Let’s hear it now, three cheers for Dr. Zachary Arntson and Twin Cities Orthopedics (TCO) – HIP HIP Hooray, HIP HIP Hooray, HIP HIP Hooray!

I first met Dr. Arntson on June 14, 2017. He walked into the room and began his initial exam, asking questions and listening to my answers. I sensed a feeling of confidence in this young doctor that was tempered with an abundance of humility. I knew he understood the pain I was in, and he quickly put the steps in motion for a total hip replacement. He explained the surgical procedure (direct anterior approach) and its associated risks while reassuring me at the same time that I would be in good hands. I left the clinic that day feeling like there was finally a light at the end of the pain tunnel.

My surgery was scheduled for July 10th at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, MN. I was in the pre-surgery room waiting for Dr. Arntson to arrive for a last minute check in when he walked in to sign my right hip. We chatted about his recent vacation (my wife and I had been to the same place a few months before) and then it was time to head for the operating room.

The rest, as they say, is history. True to his word, I was up walking the halls WITH NO BONE ON BONE HIP PAIN that afternoon! I was discharged the next day and have continued to improve. This procedure is the best – no follow up physical therapy other than walking everyday and doing the exercises sent home by the physical therapist.

I can’t say enough about the staff at the TCO Fridley clinic.  Courteous, friendly and professional, there was hardly any wait time for appointments. As for Dr. Arntson, his sly smile is disarming and his sense of humor immediately puts you at ease. His calm and quiet confidence is surpassed only by his humility. He has been blessed with excellent surgical skills which he uses to serve others. If you need a hip replacement, this is the guy you want on your side.

Thank you, Dr. Arntson, for making the quality of my life better.

I thought Dr. Coetzee would enjoy seeing these pictures and hearing that Mary just completed her first Olympic distance triathlon.  She loved it.We think of Dr. C often and will be forever grateful for him.  Of course his skill is well known, but equally important is his complete lack of arrogance and ego, and his kind, caring, and patient nature.  Such a rare combination.   He is one in a million.
So, please pass this along to him.  I hope it brings a smile.
– Coleen ( Mary’s Mother )