Patient Testimonials

I was in a lot of pain during the year leading up to my hip replacement surgery. At the relatively young age of 53 osteoarthritis had left me with a hip that had very little of the cushioning cartilage left and felt more like a bone-on-bone connection. Everyday tasks like walking the dog or grocery shopping became unbearably painful. So I was looking forward to this surgery! Dr. Mair and the EXCEL team did a great job making the experience as pleasant as possible. From the pre-surgical workshop to the morning I headed home, the care was exceptional. I also made use of the physical therapy that was available at the Waconia clinic. This was an important part of my recovery, as my leg muscles had atrophied during the previous year. I highly recommend Dr. Mair and his care team.

On 12-2-16 I had an ulnar transposition done by Dr. Olmsted. The results have been very good, but not really as good as Dr. Olmsted himself.  My experience with him and his care team has been wonderful in all ways possible. I can’t say enough for both their professional abilities and their personal matter. Simply outstanding!

On 6/7/16 I had a total hip replacement of my left hip. TCO did an outstanding job from start to finish. At 62, I was not especially interested in convalescing in a hospital setting. The surgery suites provided the perfect alternative. In fact, I wanted to stay longer. Dr. Anseth and the entire TCO/EXCEL team was the ideal group for my hip replacement procedure. What I most appreciated was their positive attitudes and the realistic expectations they laid out for me. They expected my recovery to take about 6 weeks and it did. They were always encouraging and answered promptly any of my questions/concerns (even when they were silly – i.e. how soon can I get a pedicure) If I should need any future orthopedic surgeries, TCO/EXCEL will be the program for me.

My surgery at the 212 Surgery center and the time in the 212 recovery suite was amazing. My physical therapy went very well. I am working out at the pool and on the treadmill at home  almost every day. I am doing really well. Thanks to Dr. Meyer and the Excel program.

I had a total knee replacement in September 2016 by Dr. Panek in the EXCEL Program at TCO – Robbinsdale. I cannot say enough great things about my experience. From the first consult, through the surgery and aftercare, the care was exceptional and my surgery and recovery was smooth and swift. Dr. Panek was a great listener and his positive demeanor and skill as a surgeon put me at ease. The EXCEL Program allowed me to stay in this quiet and peaceful setting, with a nurse that was fully available around the clock to assist me in a quick recovery. I was able to go home in two days. I continued my recovery by receiving exceptional, personalized physical therapy at TCO’s PT clinic in Stillwater. I believe I recovered quicker with this program and I highly recommend Dr. TJ Panek and the EXCEL Program for anyone considering a knee replacement.

I saw Dr. Sanders at the clinic in Olivia, MN last September. I had a total knee replacement in my right knee in October and then had my left knee done in December. Both Dr. Sanders and his assistant, Matt, explained everything in a very understandable way. All my questions were answered, and a model of the replacement was shown to me. On my first follow up after surgery, my wife who was not with me for my first visit asked to see the model and they did so. The clinic in Olivia is staffed with very nice people, and the hospital nurses were great. I am so glad I had Dr. Sanders do my knees, and I am glad I had it done in Olivia. My knees have never felt so good. Thank you.

When I was a teenager, I broke my scaphoid bone in my right wrist in a dirt bike accident. I had received my care and surgery at a different Orthopedic clinic. Fast forward about 5 years, my wrist would still ache and hurt, so I turned to Dr. Meletiou for a second opinion. I left my appointment wishing I had just seen him the first time, my original surgery had never healed, leaving a nonunion and a tough surgery with a long healing time ahead. Dr. Meletiou and the entire staff at TCO made everything a breeze, and I was always treated like a person, not just a name on the patient list, even though I was a pain and always pushed my restrictions to the limit (I’m sure they loved that, haha). Fast forward another few years, and my wrist is back to being fully functional with no aches or pains thanks to the team at TCO! I always highly recommend anyone I know to go there for any issues they might be facing.

Dr. Butterfield was outstanding, very little pain after surgery, I was back to work in 6 weeks. My shoulder healed up with better motion then I thought I would have. Dr Butterfield was very professional and very concerned about my condition. I have no second thoughts about going back to him again if needed. OUTSTANDING DOCTOR!

Prior to seeing Dr. McCarthy I had been in pain in both my wrists and elbows for approximately 4 years and had seen six other physicians. I was diagnosed with a number of different ailments, given several prescriptions, and was also told there was nothing wrong with me. Dr. McCarthy found the cause of the pain I was experiencing in my first visit. Surgery was scheduled for one elbow/wrist and six weeks later the other elbow/wrist. I have since been pain free and I can’t thank her enough.

I’m so very grateful to Dr. Corey Wulf, Brittany W., and Becky S. at TCO that I had the opportunity to participate in the DeNovo NT clinical trial. The result has been a literal God-send!  Having been a serious marathoner for the past 20 years and a marathon coach for the last 6 years, I was devastated when I reached a point of knee pain that wouldn’t allow me to run a step.  At the time, I was diagnosed by both TRIA and TCO with a medial chondral defect in the right knee. 

I ultimately elected to have my surgery done by Dr. Wulf at TCO for several important reasons: Dr. Wulf was recommended to me by other runners and running professionals.  More importantly, Dr. Wulf is also a runner and so I knew he truly understood how much it meant for me to get back to my sport.  At age 50, most places would have considered it a success if I could just walk without pain, but Dr. Wulf was committed to helping me race again. And the great thing was that it was not just my goal – it was Dr. Wulf’s and his entire team’s goal as well!

My first surgery was a microfracture surgery. I elected to have this surgery because it was a shorter recovery and being fit I had a reasonable chance of it being successful.  A year post I still could not run without pain and was fairly discouraged.  In one of my follow up appointments as we were talking through next options, Dr. Wulf talked with me about a new type of cartilage transplant surgery that he felt I was a good candidate for and that he had had good success with it.  At the time, Dr. Wulf was one of a very few orthopedic surgeons that was experienced performing this surgery.  It was a long recovery (a solid year) but I followed Dr. Wulf’s protocol to the letter. Everyone I worked with at TCO and the Institute of Athletic Medicine was so encouraging and supportive through the process.  Finally after reviewing my MRI one year post surgery, Dr. Wulf gave me the all-clear to begin training again on April 10^th, 2015.  I continued to work with PT at the IAM and joined Orange Theory Fitness in Eden Prairie in May and got stronger as the length of time I could run got longer.  Then on August 1, 2015 I ran my first race – the Minnesota Half Marathon 5K.  It felt so wonderful to race again!  I ended up finishing 4^th in my age group with an average chip pace of 8:16 min/mile!  Words can’t come close to describing how great it felt to be back in the game.  I owe it to Dr. Wulf and his team for working so hard to help me achieve such a great outcome after that devastating diagnosis.  I am so very grateful that I was selected to participate in the clinical trial.  I want to be sure others have the opportunity to benefit from this type of surgery.  For me, it was a clear success.  While I may not run marathons any longer, the surgery enabled me to run and race again without pain. As a runner, that is life.   I’m forever grateful to Dr. Wulf and his team at TCO.  THANK YOU!