Patient Testimonials

Larry was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease at the age of twenty-five and has severe spinal stenosis. He has been living with damaged discs in his lower back for the last forty years. When the pain kept him from doing the thing he loved most – riding his motorcycle– Larry turned to Dr. Christian DuBois at Twin Cities Orthopedics for treatment.

Click here to watch Larry’s story

I found out about Lakeview Hospital’s orthopedic surgery from advertisements in my local paper. After a little research online and speaking to a few others on the Iron Range who have had work done at Lakeview, I made my first appointment.

I was very impressed with the facility, and the care I got from Dr. Panek was outstanding. He was very informative and caring, and the rest of the hospital staff was wonderful. I’d like to give a big thanks to Dr. Panek and all the others for taking such good care of me.

I am very pleased with my recovery and results. I would recommend Lakeview Hospital to anyone needing orthopedic surgery. I am going to need my other knee done in the future and would like to come back to Lakeview.

I had a bad knee. It hurt, I was limited in what I could do, and I was frustrated with myself. I went to Dr. O’Neill to get his opinion, and after a thorough examination and a conservative approach to relieving the pain, he recommended a knee replacement. It was not his first option, which I appreciated.

The information he provided to me before I decided to proceed with the replacement was exceptional. The pre-surgery information was exceptional both at his clinic and at Fairview Southdale Hospital. The recovery wasn’t fun, but on the 20th day following surgery I was walking through Lindbergh Terminal to a plane to travel to Phoenix for meetings. Within 3 months I was in Mexico, going down a zip line and repelling down from a very tall tree.

A year after surgery I remain extremely pleased with the surgery, the outcome, and the ability to live a much more active life. Dr. O’Neill is good at what he does.

Jack R. said that his hip surgery “changed his life,” and couldn’t have been happier with the excellent care he received from Scott Anseth, MD. Before surgery, hip pain kept Jack awake at night and prevented him from enjoying his favorite outdoor activities, such as hunting and fishing. “After surgery, the dull aching pain that I was experiencing was gone,” he said. “It was amazing.”Shortly thereafter his flexibility returned and simple tasks such as putting on socks became easy again. Four weeks after surgery Jack was traveling again for work and felt great. “I can now enjoy outdoor activities again,” he said. “My sons are having trouble keeping up with me when pheasant and deer hunting!”

“You’re so young!” That was the overwhelming response Joni C. received from almost everyone when discussing her hip issues. “All of those concerns were put to rest after my first visit to Twin Cities Orthopedics and Dr. Anseth. The staff took the time to listen to me and then to explain all of my options,” she said (pictured left to right: Dr. Anseth, Joni, Heidi Bolgren, PA-C, Patti D., Clinical Assistant, Matt V., Athletic Trainer). Dr. Anseth and his staff explained all treatment options to Joni and addressed her concerns about overall quality of life. “I left that day with all of the information I needed to make an informed decision,” she said. A few weeks later, Joni decided to proceed with a hip replacement. “From that day everything moved smoothly and without a hitch, unlike my hip,” she said.While her recovery exercises were a challenge, Joni is glad she put in the effort to complete them. “I have diligently done all of my exercises, even when they were a bit tough, and have had wonderful results so far,” she said. She is looking forward to spending her next birthday in Florida, “walking on the beach, pain free.”

Marjorie S. had bilateral total knee replacements performed by Dr. Anseth (pictured) and was very pleased with the results. “I couldn’t have asked for a better experience than what I have had with Dr. Anseth, Twin Cities Orthopedics and the Joint Replacement Center,” said Marjorie. “The pre-surgical education and information is comprehensive, yet easily understood. Everyone was willing to take the time to address any concerns,” she said. “I’ll be telling everyone where they should go for their orthopedic concerns.”

Bill R. of Plymouth had both of his knees replaced by Allan Hunt, MD at the same time. “Dr. Hunt was fabulous,” said Bill. Three months after the surgery and “I am playing golf totally pain free,” he said.

Roger (pictured on left) was suffering from pain in his hip when climbing stairs, walking, and sitting for longer than 10 minutes. During his appointment with Michael Nemanich, MD (pictured on right), he and Roger discussed a total hip replacement. “Both my wife and I were struck by his humbleness and patient centric approach,” he said.“The day after surgery I was able to pass the physical therapists requirement for discharge and five days after surgery I no longer needed any aid to walk,” said Roger. “Dr. Nemanich and his staff have given me a quality of life back I wasn’t sure I could have.”

It only took a month for Kerry H. to return to the links after his total replacement with Andrew F. Arthur, MD. He was pain-free and playing better than ever. “Within the next week I had walked three 18-hole rounds,” he said. “My handicap has dropped from 20 to 14 this summer.” Not only that, but he hit a hole in one (pictured). “How could I be more delighted?” he said.

Sharelle P. (pictured on left) had a total knee replacement performed by Dr. O’Neill (pictured) as a part of the EXCEL program at Twin Cities Orthopedics. The program’s focus of providing an all-encompassing patient experience helped her make a rapid recovery from surgery. “I had confidence in my knee right away,” she said. “I haven’t really had any pain and am able to do things I haven’t done in years.”Excel, which debuted in June of 2012, provides patients with coordinated care from day one to full recovery with personalized service from their surgeon and a nurse practitioner. This includes an orthopedic recovery suite that offers specialized orthopedic care, with 24-hour RN care, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy. “The environment was much more comfortable than the hospital,” said Sharelle. “I was there because I was recovering and not because I was sick.”As a part of that coordinated care patients attend Excel Camp, a class that prepares them for surgery and introduces them to the staff they will be in contact with before and after the procedure. “They explained every step of the process in great detail and answered every question I had,” said Sharelle. “I was very well prepared for what was to come.”In addition to preparing Sharelle for her surgery and recovery, the friendliness of the Excel staff helped put her at ease throughout the entire experience. “From the person who greeted me at 5:30 a.m. to the person that rolled me out to my car” the staff was outstanding, she said. Throughout her recovery in the private orthopedic suite, Sharelle said she “quickly received assistance when needed” and “saw my surgeon everyday that I was there.”