Patient Testimonials

When deciding the best course of action for my knee replacement surgery, I chose the TCO EXCEL Program for several reasons.

It was very important to me that I minimize the risk of complications from such an invasive surgery. Dr. Anseth explained to me that there was a lower percentage of risk of infection by having my surgery at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Surgery Center rather than at a traditional hospital. In addition, I would not need to spend the first day or two in the hospital prior to going to an extended care facility. The EXCEL Program allowed me to be transported directly from the surgery center to the extended care facility. This enabled me to begin physical therapy literally immediately and shortened my overall length of stay.

While in the extended care facility, I received excellent care! I was monitored twenty-four hours a day. My pain level was monitored closely, taken seriously, and addressed immediately. Everyone I dealt with was kind, respectful, and understanding. A real class act!

To my husband and I, the best part came after I returned home. Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING), was included into one bill! This saved us so much time consuming paperwork and frustration. This was extremely convenient.

I would definitely recommend the EXCEL program!

My AMAZING experience started from scheduling my appointment via phone with her staff. They had her booked until Thursday, a whole week out, but they were aware of my pain and urgency and got me in the next morning to see her to get my knee checked out. I arrived to my appointment the next day 50 minutes early which I let the staff at the front know I was early and no worries. I no more than sat down after doing my paperwork and out comes a lady to take me back already! I was shocked! I got into the room, explained everything and they started taking images right away! The flow was going amazing, each person super friendly and service crazy good! I finished images and took me back to my room which not much longer in pops Dr. Saterbak and her assistant! I was again shocked, as most places I am used to waiting forever in the room for the Dr. She did her exams and tests and she re-sorted her whole schedule out to fit me to go get an MRI right away this morning and find out today the results with her shuffling surgery and other patients and me to get everything done hopefully by 2pm today. I was super thrilled and agreed of course. I got approved for my MRI in less then a minute, got walked down there by a super friendly staff member and paperwork completed right away. After that, I was greeted by an awesome, friendly MRI technician! He went through everything with me, locked my stuff up and made me comfortable and it went super fast! When finished, he helped me up and walked me back down to Dr. Saterbak’s unit to be seen right away! I was planning to see her around 1:30pm and it was around 9:30am and I already had images, test, MRI and results ready to be told to me!! I was blown away by the speed and efficiency to make this go so smoothly! I got the results and scheduled surgery right away. All I can say is, I won’t recommend anywhere else, nor anyone else! This place actually made me feel at ease and comfortable which is hard to find places like this, but I found mine! I couldn’t say enough about the staff there and doctor. They were superb. Hand offs to each other were so smooth and friendly and they are true experts at what they do! The doctor, she is amazing and super knowledgeable supported with an expert team! I am truly happy and blessed to have been so lucky to find her. I will recommend everyone here and share my wonderful experience with everyone! Thank you all!!

The surgical team was phenomenal and everyone left me feeling confident and well cared for. I especially appreciated that my best friend was able to be with me up until it was time to roll into the operating room. It was such a big help in reducing that intensely anxious pre-operating feeling!

After surgery I was able to recover at the EXCEL center instead of the hospital. I absolutely recommend that to anyone who is able to qualify. I couldn’t get over the superb care and quiet, peaceful environment. Thank you Justina and company! You are all fantastic!

And it meant a lot to me that Dr. O’Neill came to see me that eve (surgery day) and walked with me a bit. It is such a great feeling that my doctor is as excited about these results as his patients are. And yes, I was up walking with my walker in just hours after my surgery. I went from walker to a cane within a few days, and within a week and a half, I no longer needed the cane. By one month post-op I was walking 3-4 miles each day and back to work. Throughout the rest of the summer and fall I averaged 35-40 miles a week walking with no pain.

Not exaggerating even a little, Dr. O’Neill and his great staff have given me back the ability to enjoy my family, friends and work. There is no way to express what it means to me to be able to move, sleep and have more energy for anything I want to do without constant exhausting pain. And such a gift to have my life back so swiftly with no need for extensive physical therapy, no extensive scarring from muscles being cut and so much less pain than I imagine a traditional approach would have generated.

Heartfelt thanks to all of you! You are the best!

Dr. Karlstad has been unequaled in patience, expertise and care. I totally trust him and know that he will do anything he can to make you “new” again. He is an EXCELLENT surgeon.

I had my left meniscus repaired in October 2013 with Dr. Christopher Meyer at the Edina- Crosstown Surgery Center.

I had the best care and felt so comfortable with Dr. Meyer. He truly is the best orthopedic knee surgeon in the Twin Cities area! Dr. Meyer knows about meniscus tears and he is so knowledgeable and experienced. My knee healed very well! Listening to Dr. Meyer and taking the full 12 weeks recovering before I returned to my normal exercising was very important for healing!

I recommend Dr. Meyer all the time to friends in the area. He is the best! I truly appreciate his excellent care and I can attest that he is a great asset to the TCO team.

On December 28, 2015, I saw Dr. Gerlach with a pain in the palm of my hand and tension in my wrist. After discussion he did my surgery and couldn’t be happier. Before this surgery I was going to the chiropractor 2-3 times per week with shoulder pain. Since the surgery there has been no pain. The incisions he made were within the lines of my hand and you can hardly see where the incisions were made. I couldn’t be happier. He was great! Lisa the hand therapist has been great as well with post-op therapy. The rest of the staff has been great as well.

I wanted to extend my sincere appreciation for the care and treatment for my total knee arthroplasty I received from Dr. O’Neill and his team. I couldn’t be happier with the results!
I am so glad that you recommended the EXCEL Program. Everything about that program was positive, and I can’t help but attribute my positive recovery to Dr. O’Neill‘s skill and that program. Coming to the end of week seven, my range of motion is normal—better than expected. I’m at least 0 to 140°, and being an over-achiever, I’m working towards -2 to 145°. The swelling in my knee hasn’t been this mild for many years. I’m doing exercises I had given up, like squats and lunges, and back on the treadmill. I can’t wait to get outside and back into my fitness walking, golf and gardening!

Dr. Owen O’Neill has replaced both of my hips. The first was done October 16, 2007 and the second was done recently on November 13, 2015. In 2007 he explained to me that the surgery would be as minimally invasive as possible but it was done using the then traditional approach (either lateral, from the side, or posterior, from the back). Actually the first was somewhat a combination of the two; I’ve described that left hip replacement as having the incision in a southwesterly location. I was told of the physical limitations and pain I would experience until I was fully recovered. I used crutches, did all of the physical therapy exercises and managed the pain with medication. There were no surprises and I was very satisfied with the results

The recent 2015 replacement was done using the direct anterior approach. Before the surgery Dr. O’Neill explained that this different approach should minimize the pain (and the necessary medication), speed healing and generally provide a quicker recovery. Of course I somewhat seriously asked why we didn’t do it that way the first time. It is now about 2-1/2 months after the second surgery and I’ve jokingly told Dr. O’Neill that hip replacement has become similar to getting fast food; drive up to the first window, insurance makes the payment, drive to the second window, get a new hip and go home.

I don’t recall exactly how long I used crutches in 2007, how much pain medication I took or how long it was until I was able to resume all physical activities without any limitations. I do recall enough to know the difference in the overall recovery from the two surgeries was remarkable. In 2015 I used the crutches for less than a week, I did not use all of only one prescription for pain medication, I was carefully riding the stationary bike in less than two weeks in addition to doing the physical therapy exercises and I was walking normally with no pain in about a month. At about a month post-surgery I was able to increase my workouts to about an hour and one-half nearly every day (bike, weights and exercises). I will resume outdoor biking up to 30 miles a day when Minnesota weather permits. My recovery from the most recent surgery was so much quicker and involved much less pain. I don’t believe any surgeon could have done a better job and it’s a big plus when your doctor is also a very nice fellow.

I could not have been happier with TCO- from start to finish it has been a very positive experience. All were so good to always communicate so I knew what to expect in time leading up to surgery, through surgery and throughout the recovery process. Very happy with Dr. Mair, Michelle, and Justine- they all took the time to answer all of my questions and let me know exactly what to expect. I also loved having surgery at the Two Twelve Surgery Center. It was a perfect fit for me! The room was great, nurses were so nice, great food, room was nice and quiet.

One thing I really appreciate is that Dr. Mair is very conservative. He did not recommend surgery until we had looked at all my options. I was so thankful that he was my doctor throughout the time leading up to surgery, during surgery and recovery. I had total confidence in Dr. Mair and his team. They have been wonderful!

In March, it will be two years since Dr. Knowlan replaced both of my knees. There are no words to express my appreciation. I was a 62 year old beat up P.E teacher with osteoarthritis and Dr. Knowlan came up with a plan for a bilateral knee replacement. Because of his surgical skills, I was on the driving range one month later and playing one week after that. Two years later and I have no need for ibuprofen, Tylenol, etc. I can walk daily for 5 miles and do the elliptical for 45 minutes with no pain and no discomfort. Great surgeon and wonderful physical therapists.