Patient Testimonials

I have struggled with bilateral hip osteoarthritis for the past 7 years. I was losing my ability to walk and the pain was becoming intolerable when I met Dr. Jeffrey Mair, an orthopedic surgeon with TCO Waconia. Previous orthopedic providers had refused to treat me and simply provided bariatric surgery flyers and told me to come back when I hit the magic BMI. While BMI is a very important factor in success, it is not the only factor to be considered. Dr Mair, from the moment I met him, gave me confidence that he would do my surgeries, likely 3 to 6 months apart and he believed I could be successful. I had my first hip replacement in June. I was compliant in all the team’s recommendations for post operative recovery and was ready for my second hip in August. Just 2 months apart. The procedures have been life changing. I am no longer living with pain, I am getting stronger every week allowing me to get back to activities that I love. Dr Mair, Cody his PA and my PT champions Deb and Natalie have been my personal cheerleaders throughout the entire process. I cannot say enough about the treatment team that helped me find determination to succeed when I felt so hopeless about my physical future. If you are living with hip pain, see Dr. Mair. He will listen, he will care and he will find treatment that helps you get back in to your life. If I can do it, so can you.

I’m a 66 year old female and my story begins when I had my left hip replaced at another facility in 2020. It came time to have my other hip replaced and a friend of mine advised me to have the anterior hip replacement done by this wonderful surgeon, Dr. Owen O’Neill. After talking with my friend for a while, he had me convinced to set up an appointment with Dr. O’Neill and I’m glad I did. The scheduling was quick and he’s a wonderful doctor with a wonderful care team.

It was a breeze. I had a one night stay at the EXCEL Care Suites and I was sent home with a packaged lunch the following morning. How wonderful is that? I had very little pain and one week later I was walking on my own without a walker or cane! I was shocked at how fast the anterior hip replacement recovery was compared to the posterior hip replacement.

If you ever need to have a hip replacement, don’t put it off. Choose the anterior hip replacement with Dr. Owen O’Neill. I can’t wait until this summer so I can get back to camping! Before my hip replacement, walking on uneven ground or even standing for any length of time was the worst! I thought my camping days were coming to an end. I’m here to say I had my operation in September 2024 and I already know I am not going to have that problem anymore with camping, as I’m already walking up and down my basement steps and dong all my house hold activities, including raking on uneven ground! I can’t wait to camp and enjoy life again pain-free. Set up an appointment with Dr. Owen O’Neill, you will be glad you did.

It was getting harder for me to walk and I was having trouble sleeping because of the pain. After I met with Dr. James Bircher, he recommended a hip replacement and it was the best thing I could have done. On the day of the surgery he talked to me and even said a prayer, which not only impressed me but put me at ease. I feel so much better. After a couple of months, I am walking and sleeping so much better. I am so happy I went through the procedure. I am eventually going to have the other hip replaced and I will definitely go back to Dr. Bircher. The only difference will be is that I won’t wait as long as I did with the first hip. I would highly recommend Dr. Bircher and his teams. They were great.

Dr. Michael R. Johnson is a great asset to the TCO community. I immediately felt I was in the best of hands. He has extensive experience in hip replacement surgery, explains things well and has a caring bedside manner. Dr. Johnson gave me a hip injection to bridge me to surgery. The hip injection gave me immediate relief. I was able to put on 20,000 steps at the state fair the following day!

It was a great surgical experience from anesthesia, perfect spinal, pain control, physical therapy, and the overnight stay with the EXCEL program. I am six weeks post-surgery and thanks to Dr. Johnson and team, I’ll be out on the pickleball courts soon!

I have been delighted with the entire experience. From the initial discussion with Dr. Owen O’Neill to surgery at the TCO Eagan facility, everything was top-notch. I received detailed prep and recovery instructions and started walking three miles per day after two weeks with less pain than before surgery.

Why I would highly recommend a hip replacement by Dr. O’Neill:
– His deep experience with the anterior approach
– His ability to allay any concerns and see the potential for a positive impact
– Use of the TCO Eagan site for surgery
– A serious commitment to infection prevention
– Effective and well-designed exercise preparation and recovery plan

I was able to return to my active life after just seven weeks!

When my active lifestyle was compromised by osteoarthritis of the hip, I was referred to Dr. Owen O’Neill by a relative who had an outstanding experience with him. His expertise with anterior hip replacement, his demeanor, and his exceptional staff made choosing him an easy decision.

TCO’s EXCEL Surgery & Recovery Program streamlines the entire process. From the overnight stay at a nearby care suite to the ease of the bundled invoice to my insurance plan, this program is top-notch. My surgery was on September 3rd and was a real success for me. I moved well after surgery, easily managed my pain, and there were few restrictions other than following Dr. O’Neill’s protocols. I even attended an event 2.5 weeks after surgery and walked easily without a need for any apparatus. I’m convinced the anterior approach is the way to go to get back to life quickly.

I’ve had two follow-up appointments and X-rays and as of November 5th, I am cleared without restrictions (except long-distance running). I will have a standard follow-up appointment in one year. If you’re searching for excellence in a surgeon and team, I wholeheartedly recommend you schedule an appointment with Dr. O’Neill.

In 2018, I was told I needed a hip replacement by another orthopedic practice and I said, I’m not getting one, how long do I have? I was told 3 years. In the Spring of 2024, I had enough ibuprofen and decided to schedule an appointment.  I was also motivated by an upcoming project completion in July. I knew I was going with TCO as I was aware of their reputation. Researching hip doctors, I found Dr. Bircher  and I’m so glad I did, and when I met with him he was professional and to the point. He stated I was good candidate for a successful hip surgery. I enjoyed his friendly confidence. He explained things and as a result, I went in July with no worries. I followed the recommended home therapy and was able to return to work with some caution and restrictions in about 60 days. Follow up appointments were great. Dr Bircher and his staff always gave me all of the time I needed to describe where I was at. I should also add that on the day of the surgery the staff was remarkable. One by one they each came in to meet me to explain their role and to wish me luck; A+ on it all. Do this thing. The pain I had endured was gone immediately after surgery. I used a walker for a two weeks to ensure no falls, then went to a cane and could do pretty much what I wanted to do. By the way great job on the closure too. My scar is as thin as a kite string.

Wonderful experience! I was back walking my two miles after five and a half weeks. Dr. Joseph Nessler is a gifted surgeon!

I am seven weeks post-op after having a total hip replacement done by Dr. Owen O’Neill. I just got home from a high-intensity Zumba class and experienced absolutely no pain! I couldn’t say that before my surgery. I had my procedure done at the Orthopedic Institute. I felt like I was at the Ritz Carlston! Just a beautiful facility with wonderful and caring personnel. Plus, the food was delicious! I stayed one night and had maybe two to three days of pain, nothing severe. I walked without assistive devices by day four, even up and down stairs. I started out by walking maybe two or three blocks and can now walk around the lakes with no issues. I also take many classes at the Eden Prairie Community Center. I had very limited range of motion before surgery and that improves daily. My only question to myself is why did I wait so long? Dr. O’Neill and staff are wonderful and caring. I could not recommend them more highly. Kayla is just a sweetheart. I had the anterior approach, no PT afterwards, and a swift and quite painless recovery.

Dr. Owen O’Neill performed a total hip replacement. I had a degenerative hip which was causing a great deal of pain. I was more than pleased with my pre-operative care, very informative and accessible. I had my surgery in a surgery center instead of in a hospital which decreased the possibility of infection, which was very comforting for me. Dr. O’Neill and his staff were very approachable and always ready to answer any questions. After having some difficulties, I was able to get an appointment to be seen in one day. In other healthcare situations, this is not an option. Dr. O’Neill’s team was very accommodating. My post-op difficulty turned out to be not a medical problem, but my visit certainly eased my mind,  which I greatly appreciated.