Patient Testimonials

I can honestly say Dr. Norberg gave me my life back.

August 2012: I fell getting into an Xcel Energy elevator. The floor did not settle all the way, I caught my foot and by the time I hit the back side of the elevator I had: 1) broken the tip of my shoulder bone, 2) dislocated my shoulder and 3) broken/ripped two tendons. After 7 hours in the ER, the technicians were finally able to get my shoulder back in it’s socket.

FIRST SURGERY: September/October 2012 – Reconnect tendons followed by months of physical therapy. Daily exercises at home. It was painful and I still developed a frozen shoulder.

SECOND SURGERY: May 2013 – I was referred to Dr. Norberg from my first orthopedic surgeon. He said Dr. Norberg is “the best” for shoulders. Dr. Norberg reattached the tendons and released my frozen shoulder. More physical therapy, more exercises.

THIRD SURGERY: January 2016 – Reverse Shoulder Replacement. By this time, my tendons had pretty much dissolved. We could have tried to use a substitute tendon but my chances of lasting success were slim. My best option was a reverse shoulder replacement.

RESULTS: I am very happy to be able to use my shoulder with no pain. I can do normal home activities, i.e. fix my hair, wash my face, get dishes out of the cabinet, carry groceries. I can lift up to 20 lbs easily. I don’t try to lift anything heavy over my head and that is fine with me.

MY LIFE RENEWED: It is because of Dr. Norberg’s skill, care, concern and personal warmth that I have returned to my old self again. I am so very happy with my results. I would highly recommend Dr. Norberg to anyone needing shoulder help.

Bill H., my husband, had a total left knee done in April of 2015 and then he had his right knee done in January of 2016.  He is back on his bicycle and did his first Tour de Tonka last Saturday.  Bill just recently retired from nursing (he had a 40 year career in pulmonary and critical care/trauma) and I am also a nurse, so we understand how extraordinary his experience was and how well he has progressed. As Bill’s wife, I am just thrilled with the outcome of his surgeries.  Dr. O’Neill and his team gave him back his mobility and enhanced his quality of life.

I can’t express enough the satisfaction I have had with all aspects of my surgery, starting with Dr. Panek and all the adjunct caregivers from the hospital stay to his assistant Will. Dr. Panek’s expertise, intelligence, kindness and reassuring manner was absolute top notch. The surgery went perfectly, the results are such a relief to my well-being. I was able to regain my strength and flexibility within three to six months of the surgery. I went on a month long trip to Europe at the beginning of the sixth month, that he predicted could happen for me without pain or discomfort. I am forever grateful to my friend for recommending him. Thank you Dr. Panek.

I had knee replacement surgery and had only visited Dr. O’Neill once before the surgery. He told me I had a torn meniscus but also a lot of arthritis so I would need a knee replacement. He was very professional, courteous, and kind. He did a great job and the scar is minimal. I highly recommend him.

I had a very successful total left hip replacement in November 2011. The surgeon used the posterior approach procedure.

In May 2016 Dr. O’Neill performed an equally successful total hip replacement on my right side using the anterior approach procedure.

There are significant differences in the recovery process between these two approaches.

In the posterior method I used a walker/cane about 2 1/2 weeks and the discomfort was greater. I was back walking 18 holes of golf in about six weeks.

After the anterior procedure used by Dr. O’Neill, I started walking unaided (no cane) on day 2 after surgery. On day 7, post-surgery, I started putting and chipping at the golf course. On day 12, I was walking 3 miles most days at 90% of full stride. By week 3, I was walking 4-6 miles most days at 100%.

My wife and I are going hiking in the Italian Alps in August 2016.

WOW! What can I say about Dr. Owen O’Neill and his staff? I’m a super active mid 60’s guy who was playing a pretty high level of competitive racquetball 2 to 3 times per week until the last couple of years. My hip pain got to the point where I could not play at all, much less competitively. I was waking up 10 to 20 times per night from pain with obviously significant sleep interruption. Walking from the house to my truck in the driveway was very difficult.

First of all, my hip pain disappeared completely. What a magnificent relief. Secondly Dr. O’Neill and his staff made me feel listened to, empathized with and cared for. I managed to strain my inner thigh muscle 3 days after surgery, so that set my recovery back a bit, but here I am 3 months out and super pleased with the results. My left hip also needs replacement and at my 3 week checkup, in spite of the strained muscle issue, I told Dr. O’Neill that I couldn’t wait to get the left hip done. I’m scheduled for that in October 2016 and I expect to be back at racquetball by January or February 2017. Without hesitation I recommend Dr. O’Neill and his staff. On a scale of 1-10 they get a 15.

As a young man in about junior high, I began dealing with chronic knee pain which my mother passed off as growing pains. Finally, a trip to the doctor revealed I in fact had the beginning stages of arthritis in both my knees. The protocol at the time was a Hemiepiphyseal stapling surgery (I am NOT a doctor, so please know this may NOT be exact name of the procedure I had done – I had BOTH knees done at the same time). I can tell you it was a painful two summer stint of surgeries and recoveries which were successful in limiting my pain, and allowing me a “normal” life for the next 30 years. I made it to 52 without “serious” complications. I did have a small surgery done on one knee after the removal of the staples for some internal issues which I must admit were likely due to my personal habits (competitive curling).

At the ripe old age of 50, the effects of the earlier surgeries had “worn off” and I needed help. My wife and children encouraged me to visit another doctor to evaluate my situation. I knew in the back of my mind that I was in trouble, but when I met Dr. Steven Meisterling, I immediately trusted him and his opinion. The road to knee replacement was charted and I never looked back. I just had my 6 week post-op appointment and I can say without reservation, Dr. Meisterling and his team have given me 10 years of my life back. My new knee is essentially pain free, I have amazing range of motion and I am truly getting my life back. Prior to surgery, I was very limited in my ability to get around, both at home and at work. I coach track and field and the most recent season, pre-surgery, was brutal to say the least. Next season promises to be amazing given the success of my recent surgery. I will be able to grouse hunt, deer hunt and just do the simple things in life that had evaded me for too long.

At my last appointment, I was very clear to tell Dr. Meisterling that while he may be the “head coach”, the team he has pulled together is absolutely amazing. From the office personnel that answer the phones, through the nurses, PA, and to Dr. Meisterling, the staff is outstanding. They have treated me with the utmost respect and professionalism. The trust I had in Dr. Meisterling on my first appointment was genuine and my instincts were accurate.

I have scheduled my second knee replacement and I am confident that the outcome of the next knee replacement surgery will be as good as my first. With the support of Dr. Meisterling’s team, the physical therapists, and some work on my part, I will enjoy a long life of pain-free living. Thank you to all of you for your hard work and in truly making my life better. I am truly blessed.

Dr. Lewis develops a great patient relationship and is a great surgeon. I have been a patient of his for many years and I highly recommend him.

I first met Dr. Gulli in 2008 as I had a major MVA in which I suffered femur fractures to both legs, a broken ankle, a severely damaged left ankle, a broken nose, and several lacerations.  Dr. Gulli was called to perform my surgeries on my femurs and ankles in the emergency room.  It is now 2016 (8 years! WOW!) and I have healed very well and quickly due to his amazing work.  I was told I would not walk without help for up to 12 months, but I was up and walking in 3 months with cam boots and a walker.  I have rods in both legs from hip to knee and hardware in my ankle as well and I have had no issues with the hardware at all.  I had my arthroscopy in June of 2016 due to torn meniscus and misaligned knee cap.  I am healing well with that as well.  I praise him for the work he did for me, he made it so I was able to walk again after several months of PT but I did it!  Dr. Gulli is very patient orientated and is thorough in what he does.  I feel comfortable going to him and will recommend him to people in need of orthopedic care! Great doctor, great surgeon, and great facility!

Fell off my mountain bike and busted my collar bone into 4 pieces. Although it would have healed on it’s own, there was a chance that it would do so incorrectly. Dr. Dieterle put me back together (anatomically correct!) and I’m pleased. I’ve had colds last longer.