Patient Testimonials

I had been fortunate my whole life with great energy and great health. For 77 years I had worked hard, played hard, and enjoyed life. In 2013 it all changed very quickly. One Sunday, I sat down and could not stand up. My knee would not support me. I just felt terrible pain, pain, pain.

My primary care physician told me that an orthopedic specialist was needed and sent me to Twin Cities Orthopedics. I had no appointment and I was desperate. They said no doctor was available. After pleading my case, Dr. O’Neill had mercy and took me as an add-on patient. My x-rays showed bone on bone. I had a cortisone shot but the relief was short lived. I needed surgery.

Dr. O’Neill performed my first surgery in August. Fabulous! I was back at work in 3 weeks! But now the left knee seemed worse than ever. This time I could hardly wait to get the surgery done. Again, everything went great. I went home from rehab in 10 days, on Dec 23rd. On the way home I got groceries and cooked Christmas dinner for my family.

Today, one year later, my knees are great and again I will cook Christmas dinner for my family, very grateful for my new knees which give me truly a new life. A huge thank you to Dr. O’Neill and his great staff. I would highly recommend him to anyone needing this surgery.

Below is a letter from James, who traveled from Canada to have a hip replacement with Dr. Owen O’Neill through the EXCEL Program at Twin Cities Orthopedics.

It’s funny how life works; how small the world seems to be, and how sometimes things just happen to go just right. This is where my story begins. After several months of enduring hip pain, it became apparent that it was time for a total hip replacement (THR). One of the keys for me, and what I think was important at my age (72), was the length of recovery after the surgery. I am an avid golfer both in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and in Marco Island, Florida; an outdoor cottage guy during the Canadian summers; and a guy that you could say just can’t sit still for five minutes. I was introduced to Dr. Owen O’Neill and Twin Cities Orthopedics from a close friend here in Toronto. After a short conversation with Dr. O’Neill and a brief discussion over an X-ray I had sent him, I knew this was the perfect fit for me. The THR being performed at Excel would have me back to my life of mobility in a third of the time of other THR procedures up here in Toronto. From the moment I arrived in Minneapolis, it was evident that the Excel team provides patients with coordinated care as advertised. I experienced outstanding care from all administration, all the dedicated nurses, and especially from Dr. Owen O’Neill himself. All questions about the surgery – and more importantly for me, about my recovery – were answered. After the surgery, the first thing I uttered to my son and daughter was, “What time is my tee time?” I just felt great – recovering for a few days in the private orthopedic suite getting nothing but the best care from all the excellent nurses on staff. I can’t thank them enough for making me feel so comfortable after the surgery. After a few more days recovering in a hotel suite provided by Excel and another examination/X-ray with Dr. O’Neill, I was on my way back home to Toronto. I had my surgery on a Monday morning and I was on a plane back to Toronto on Friday afternoon, and that is all due to the expertise of Dr. O’Neill and his team. Now, a few weeks after the surgery, family and friends can’t believe how quickly I’m recovering after having had a total hip replacement. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to my follow-up X-ray in about three weeks and a discussion via phone with Dr. O’Neill to discuss when I can make it back to the first tee to shave a few strokes off the scorecard. Most sincerely, James M.- Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Dennis, an avid bicyclist, had been living with arthritis pain in his knees for years. He was able to manage that pain, thanks to Dr. Andrea Saterbak, who had been treating him for the past four years with cortisone shots and other noninvasive measures. “By 2013, I knew he was living his life around his knee pain,” she said. She suggested that it was time for his left knee to be replaced.

Read the full story here.

I am 76 years old and had an anterior right hip replacement done by Dr. O’Neill. I had had a previous hip replacement done on the left side by another doctor using the posterior approach in 2009. Though the outcomes for both surgeries were positive, the recovery period for the anterior approach was considerably less painful and much shorter.

After the posterior surgery, I had to use a walker for a period of three to four weeks and a cane for several weeks beyond that. After a period of three months, I was still noticeably limping on that leg. With that recovery experience, I was not looking forward to repeating that procedure again when my right hip began to fail in 2013. To my good fortune, a friend at my church told me about her recent hip replacement which had been performed by Dr. O’Neill. She said that he had used an anterior approach which required a 5 inch incision in contrast to the eight or nine inch incision required in the posterior approach. She said her total recovery time was less than three weeks.

That sounded really positive to me, so I made an appointment to see Dr. O’Neill. When I met with Dr. O’Neill, I was immediately impressed with his very positive attitude. He thoroughly explained the anterior approach and showed me photos of previous patients who had the anterior surgery. I was amazed to see those patients walking only with a cane several days after their surgeries. In addition to Dr. O’Neill’s positive attitude, I was impressed with his personality and patient relations. He was not the typical “surgical god” that some surgeons pretend to be. He was a real person.

Because I really liked Dr. O’Neill and his approach, I had my right hip replaced by him. After staying in the hospital for two days, I returned home to begin my recovery. To my amazement, after less than a week, I was walking using only a cane for support. Because I wanted to impress Dr. O’Neill when I went to see him for a nine day check-up, I walked into the exam room using no cane or walker. Since his staff was very impressed with my progress, they took some videos of me walking in the hall. I really had no pain and was walking with no limp.

In a short period of time after that, I was again able to play golf and to ice skate, two of my favorite activities which had been limited because of the hip pain. Though both of my replaced hips work well now, the process of getting to a functional level was totally different. If you are considering having a hip replacement, I would encourage you to consider the anterior approach. To my good fortune and to yours if you choose the anterior approach, no doctor is better qualified to perform the procedure than Dr. O’Neill.

I had a hip replacement on my right hip in June 2013 with the new direct anterior approach. I never expected things to be good so soon. Dr. O’Neill indicated that the healing time was short and that I would be up and about rather quickly, but the healing exceeded my expectations. By two weeks after the operation

I am walking comfortably, do not need any supports such as a walker or a cane, I can bend comfortably, and I get up and down, walk, get in an out of cars, etc. more comfortably than I have been able to do in years.

The operation, the post operation care, the attention of the staff and Dr. O’Neill’s superb work deserves the highest commendation. All the information I received before the procedure was right on point, I was kept clearly informed every step of the way. I wish I had realized how easy this would be because I would not have waited this long to get this surgery. I feel like a new person and am grateful that such work can be done so well. Highest commendations to Dr. O’Neill and his staff.

I have been a teacher and boy’s high school hockey coach for almost 50 years. I am 70 years old and still coaching in Albert Lea. This past year my right hip was becoming so painful that I did all my coaching from the bench and didn’t skate at all. I went to Florida for stem cell therapy in hope that would rectify my condition. Part of the therapy included having a PRP treatment 6-8 weeks after the initial stem cell transplant. Dr. O’Neill offered this treatment. We met and I had an x-ray and then a conference. He explained that it was bone-on-bone and there was no evidence of improvement. He did give me the treatment and I came back in 6 weeks. No improvement. I then had a cortisone shot and it had no effect. I knew I was at the end of the line and so I asked Dr. O’Neill if he would do an anterior total hip replacement. We went over the procedure and on June 3rd I had the operation at St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee, MN.

Wow! What a pain-free experience. I had no pain from day one, and didn’t take one pain pill after being released from the hospital. I walked without any assistance. I didn’t need a walker, crutches, or a cane!

The staff at St. Francis was terrific! In fact, the x-ray tech was one of my former hockey players and the anesthetist was a former student of mine. Everyone was very professional, but very friendly and extremely caring. I left the hospital the day after my surgery.

Since the surgery I have been back for a 2 week and a 6 week checkup at which time I met with Dr. O’Neill and his assistant, Jessie. I have made steady progress throughout my recovery period. Five weeks after my surgery I skated for the first time and it felt great to be back on the ice again. I am looking forward to the coming hockey season. I couldn’t have had a better team of professionals, but moreover, great people with such an interest in my well-being and recovery. Their great personalities actually made this an enjoyable experience. My wife and I are also very grateful to Rebecca who in the pre and post-operative periods answered all of our calls and was so very pleasant and helpful.

I definitely would suggest this treatment to others. The people in Albert Lea have been amazed at my progress. I have recommended and given Dr. O’Neill’s name to many interested and prospective hip surgery candidates. I can only say “Thank You!” to Dr. O’Neill and his staff for their great work and for taking such good care of me!

Hi Dr. Larson and care team, and Emily Beyers!

I have been thanking you all every day since the surgery was performed, but these past weeks I felt the need to reach out and send you some photos of some of my most recent activities out here in Oregon to share my joy and my awe at being here. Just today I hiked 6 miles and 1400 ft elevation on one of the local mountain trails. I am going to the Desolation Wilderness in Calif in Mid July and am “training” to climb Mt McLaughlin with new friends in August- its about 9600 ft. The photos enclosed show my first few hikes here in Oregon, which I took in the first week of June- they seem pretty easy now!

I can’t thank-you all enough, but I’m trying… every hike I carry you all with me. I’m working on the internal and external rotation, plus basic core strengthening and continued pelvic stability exercises. My PT says I’m doing great- my new goal was to hike 10 miles, and I’m already at 7, so I changed the goal to hiking Mt McLaughlin.Ha ha!

I hope you are all well and getting some great summer time in, and if you EVER wondered about your vocation, please take a look at these photos and accept the gratitude and joy I send you.

I had left hip replacement 2006 and right hip March 2013 by Dr. O’Neill. Both hips were bone on bone and I was taking too many drugs to keep playing tennis and other fun stuff. Both results provided a like new hip with no pain nor problems. Recovery at home after three nights and two nights in the hospital was very uneventful and was off all pain medications by week 3 1/2. Working with Dr. O’Neill and staff was always a positive experience and I have referred three people to him so far and will continue to do so. The minimally invasive hip replacement procedure hospital stay and recovery seemed less than I anticipated each time. I am cleared to play senior tennis doubles eight weeks after surgery and am very happy with the result.

Julie A. has taught horseback riding and trained horses for a living for over 25 years in Saline, Michigan. After she began to experience hip pain, she was diagnosed with Femoralacetabular Impingement (FAI). Following an unsuccessful arthroscopic surgery with a local surgeon, she learned that Dr. Christopher Larson of Twin Cities Orthopedics specializes in treating FAI.Julie traveled from Michigan to Minnesota through a winter snowstorm to have surgery with Dr. Larson and couldn’t be happier with the results. “From the pre-operative nursing staff and OR team at Fairview Southdale Hospital to Dr. Larson’s staff, I can only give praise for the wonderful care I received before, during and after surgery,” said Julie. Two years after her second surgery, Julie is pleased to report that she has been able to continue her career “with minimal pain and a greater range of motion.”

Abbey nervously waited for her appointment with Dr. Andrea Saterbak at St. Croix Orthopedics. She had injured her knee in a high school basketball game and knew that her upcoming track and field season hinged on what the doctor had to say. As a senior at Ellsworth High School, she didn’t want to miss the rest of basketball season. More importantly, she was the favorite to win the Wisconsin state discus championship and track and field season was just months away.  She had missed the state title by only inches the year before, and she wanted one last shot to claim the championship. As the nurse called Abbey’s name, she knew her dreams and goals hung in the balance.

Click here to watch Abbey’s story