Patient Testimonials

I’m so grateful for the excellent care I received from Dr. Gilbertson after I fell and rebroke my hip and femur. Because I was a trauma surgery patient, I was apprehensive about the surgery and who my surgeon would be. I realized how fortunate I was that Dr. Gilbertson was the trauma surgeon on call. My recovery has been challenging, but the care received from TCO staff has been great. Dr. Gilbertson’s bedside manner is very good. I highly recommend him and TCO.

I recently had surgery to replace my right hip with my provider Dr. Vorlicky and I wanted to express my appreciation for helping me with this procedure. This is the first hip surgery I’ve had and I didn’t have tremendous pain like with my knee. Thank you to Dr. Vorlicky and his team. You are phenomenal surgeons and I’m so thankful for your help in getting me back to normal. I hope anyone who reads this will consider Dr. Vorlicky and his team.

Prior to getting my hips replaced, I was quite restricted as to what I could do. I have always been very active and I’ve run 120 marathons, having completed the last one in 2019. I went in for some PT, for what we thought was piriformis syndrome, but the stretches/exercises were not helping me with the pain I was experiencing in the piriformis muscle area. I stopped riding a regular bike since I couldn’t get on and off easily, due to an extremely limited range of motion. Running wasn’t working for me and even walking became difficult to do without experiencing pain. I finally told my primary doctor things weren’t better even after I had really worked on my PT exercises. My doctor gave me a referral to go to Twin Cities Orthopedics to see if a doctor there could help further.

I had my first appointment with Dr. Bircher and the first thing they did was send me down the hall for X-rays. Dr. Bircher came in and asked me to describe the issues I was having. After listening to me, he shared the X-rays that had been taken of my hips. Prior to this, worn out hips were not even on my radar. I had just assumed it was tight muscles. Dr. Bircher showed me the X-rays and explained what was going on. He explained that my left hip was a little worse than the right, but I was bone on bone in both hips. He talked about various options (total hip replacement, resurfacing, delaying replacement) available to me. While it was a bit overwhelming, he talked me through my options and his recommendations. I went home and came back a week later with my wife and after we talked through options again. We decided to go ahead with a total hip replacement on the left side and then reassess the right side after that.

Dr. Bircher instilled me a great feeling of confidence in the upcoming surgery. The left hip replacement went very smoothly and within one week, I was out walking 2-3 miles in the neighborhood with a cane. After just a few more days I didn’t even need the cane. After 6 weeks I went in and we looked at X-rays of the new hip. We also discussed whether to move forward with the right hip. X-rays again showed bone on bone on the right side. I wasn’t experiencing the pain on the right like I had on the left, so Dr. Bircher said I could wait 3-9 months to see how things develop. He also pointed out the right hip isn’t going to get better, so it’s just a matter of how long to wait. He didn’t pressure me at all to go forward with replacing the right hip, but I was convinced it was the right thing for me to do.

3 months after total replacement of the left hip, Dr. Bircher replaced the right hip. Recovery went smoothly and I’m now 3 months post-surgery on the second hip. I’m walking 3-6 miles almost every day pain free! My range of motion is vastly improved. I’m looking forward to being able to zip around more with the grandkids this next summer instead of watching from the sidelines. I look forward to walking and fishing the shores of the river for hours at a time, instead of fishing until I’m too sore to continue.

I can’t begin to express my complete satisfaction with the results of my two hip replacements. I was so very impressed not only with Dr. Bircher’s skill as a surgeon, but just as importantly the trust I had in him throughout the process. From the very beginning he took the time to explain everything and never was in a hurry to get to the next patient when I was meeting with him. He gained my trust with his demeanor, openness, and interest in my situation. That eliminated any apprehension I might have with the upcoming procedures. I would highly recommend Dr. James Bircher for anyone considering joint replacement surgery. He is the BEST!

Everyone’s journey to total hip replacement surgery is unique but has a common element, which is the pain. For my left hip, the deciding moment was when an easy family hike in late fall 2020 became almost impossible for me to finish. I was astonished that the occasional twinge of pain was suddenly so intense, I had to come to a complete stop and call out to family for help. That’s when I knew. The choice of surgeons was easy. My RN husband has a positive medical relationship with Dr. Owen O’Neill, since he operated on my husband’s knee many years ago. I liked Dr. O’Neill immediately. He vibrates with warm confidence. He is direct into honest. He lets you know what he expects from you and what you can expect from him.

I was worried about recovery. I thought it would be long and painful, although Dr. O’Neill said I would be back to work in 10 days and driving in 7 days. His prediction was entirely accurate. Dr. O’Neill was honest about the future of my right hip. He told me I would “know” when it was time, but that future surgery was inevitable. He was right. A Halloween event in October of 2023 was the moment of truth. I was looking forward to my second surgery, which happened on December 1, 2023. I was home on December 2nd.

With Dr. O’Neill’s minimally invasive direct anterior technique I had just modest discomfort and I appreciated the great care I received at the Two Twelve Surgery Center in Chaska. The new facility is amazing. It’s spacious, safe, and there are plenty of hallways for walking. Also, the BLT I ordered for my first meal was delicious. You are so well treated that you want to stay longer but Dr. O’Neill believes that the quicker you are home, the quicker you can recover.

You need to start doing things for yourself ASAP. That is the mantra from TCO. Walking is your physical therapy. Believe it and believe in TCO.

I am a 73 year-old, active female who loves to snow ski, hike, wake surf, dance, and walk. Two years ago, I had a skiing accident out west that resulted in a horrific ankle sprain, but much to the surprise of my orthopedic care givers, there was no blown out knee and no broken leg. Thank god for my strong bones. I wore a boot during healing, but the docs didn’t prescribe physical therapy (PT), explaining that “most people don’t do it anyhow.” Then last year I had another skiing accident, where I was bucked off a ski lift at a local Minnesota hill, resulting in a severe hip contusion, but again, no broken bones. This time, I was prescribed PT, and I asked that they include my ankle in the RX for my hip. The first thing that saved me was meeting Beth Pesta, DPT. She and her team helped me recover from my hip injury and helped strengthen my ankle. The workouts were great at the clinic, and they gave me a detailed program for at home. As I completed PT, Beth recommended trainer Laurey Heinrich, CPT. I signed up and began training with Laurey last June. I was afraid that when she saw me, all that she would see was an overweight grey-haired old grandma, but it wasn’t long before she realized the activities I wanted to continue to do for years to come, and she started pushing me to gain strength. I have seen Laurey twice a week since June, and the results are showing! She has worked my entire body including flexibility and balance, and has made me stronger all over. In early August, I finally attempted to wake surf. I was unsure that I’d be able to get up, but I POPPED out of the water and enjoyed several great rides before the season was over. I continued to train to hike, starting with a mile, but eventually going for longer and longer hikes. And then ski season loomed. I had no interest in skiing until the ground was at least covered, and man made snow isn’t the best, but when I did start, I skied with more strength and vigor than I had even before my injuries. I was strong. I was more flexible than I had been, and my joints didn’t hurt. This PT and particularly the strength training has given me more years of being active, just how I’d always planned and hoped to age.

I have had excellent results from the surgeries performed by Dr. Owen O’Neill. He is extremely experienced and has a great bedside manner. His PA-C, Isabel Campos, and his coordinator, Ann Thompson, were very professional and helpful. I am getting back to the high intensity (strength and cardio) workouts that I need to maintain muscle and elevate my mood. I would recommend Dr. O’Neill to anyone with issues in their knees or hips, whether surgical or non-surgical.

Dr. O’Neill performed my hip replacement in late September of 2023, and I am thrilled with the results. I have resumed my workouts, including weight training and elliptical work. I have been able to swim, snorkel, hike and scramble without worrying about hip pain or dysfunction. The pain was minimal, and within 3 days I was walking without any assistive devices, doing stairs and everything I needed to do for self-care. I returned to a physical job within 2 weeks of my procedure, and haven’t had any issues with performing at a level that is better than I could before the procedure. His entire team has been proactive, responsive to questions and communication, and timely with all appointments. I should have done this sooner, and I will recommend Dr. O’Neill to anyone who needs hip surgery!

I am extremely happy with my new hip. I am back at the gym doing CrossFit and have not experienced any pain. This includes movements like lunging and deep squats. The procedure was an anterior approach hip replacement. I am six weeks into my recovery and I feel great. Thank you Dr. Arntson! I wish I had this done two years ago, that is my only regret.

I fell and broke the ball in the left hip. Dr. Arntson repaired the fracture with three screws. He did amazing work. Months later he did a left shoulder reverse replacement, and in April he will be doing a total hip replacement of my left hip. I have total confidence in him. He is a very caring and personable physician.

In early 2023, I had both a knee and hip replaced by Dr. Nemanich. First I got my new hip and never looked back. My knee was also a success but, I will say, it hurt more than the hip replacement. Dr. Nemanich is a skilled surgeon and a kind man. I have full confidence in him and do recommend him for your next surgery.