Patient Testimonials

Dr. Andrew Ockuly is one of the most professional and genuinely caring doctors I’ve seen. From the moment I walked in with low back and hip issues, he took the time to listen, ask the right questions, and act quickly. He made sure to check on previous concerns, explained everything clearly, and never made me feel rushed. His attention to detail and thoughtful approach gave me confidence that I was in good hands. It’s rare to find a doctor who combines expertise with such a compassionate bedside manner. I truly felt heard and cared for. I highly recommend Dr. Andrew Ockuly for anyone looking for a physician who puts their patients first.

I suffer from Spondylolisthesis. I tried everything for two years: physical therapy, chiropractic care, strength training, Pilates, and steroid injections. I pretty much took two ibuprofen multiple times a day for two years until the pain got to be too much. Dr. Deal and Nathan walked me through my options and gave me all the time I needed to ask my questions. Six months ago, I had a L4-L5 spinal fusion. Even though there was stiffness following my surgery, the pain was gone immediately. I was up walking around slowly on day 1.

Within two weeks I was outside taking walks. Every day brought new joy, like getting out of bed and being able to stand straight while walking. Now, I do not need to rely on pain medication every day. I can bend and walk without pain in my back, glutes, or down my legs. I only wish I would have done this sooner. Dr. Deal has been kind and patient. Whenever I had questions, he explained things in a way that was easy to understand.

When my troubles began, I was 3 weeks into paid parental leave in July. I was looking forward to an exciting summer spending time with my newborn baby daughter. One morning I was hit with a crippling pain that began in my lower back and shot down my left leg. I called my wife at work and told her something was wrong and to come home immediately. After 2 visits with my primary doctor, we were referred to TCO and made an appointment with Dr. Nathan Wanderman. At my first appointment, he saw things in my MRI that others had not. It turned out I had a degenerative disc and a bulging disc that was pinching the nerve that ran down my left leg. I was barely able to walk without assistance. Dr. Wanderman was able to get me in for surgery by September and performed a double fusion surgery. He performed a Lumbar 4 – Sacral 1 ALIF and 2 days later performed Lumbar 4 Sacral 1 PLDF. I am so grateful for what Dr. Wanderman has given back to me. I walk with no problems. I’m able to hold my baby again. For being such a scary time in my life, he and his staff really made my wife and I feel that we were making the right decision. Speaking of his staff, I was nearly a weekly caller prior to and after surgery with questions. They were always prompt in returning my call no matter the question and were always happy to answer any concerns my wife and I had. Long story short, Dr. Nathan Wanderman and his staff have given me my life back, and my wife and I couldn’t be more grateful! Thank you again to everyone who made this surgery a success.

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Paul Crowe and his care team, as well as the EXCEL Surgery & Recovery Program through TCO. I dealt with crippling back pain for so many years and had to undergo an L5-S1 spinal fusion at 32 years old. All aspects of the EXCEL program are top-notch, and you can tell there was so much thought put into patient care and comfort. Dr. Crowe visited me several times after my procedure. He was great to chat with, answered all my questions, and gave me some encouragement for healing. I am now nearly three years out from my procedure, and I feel better than I ever have. I have my life back and can do activities I couldn’t before. I owe everything to Dr. Crowe, his team, and TCO.

I recently developed an excruciatingly painful condition (a herniated L4-L5 disc and pinched nerve) in my lower back that rendered me unable to walk without crutches. We contacted Twin Cities Orthopedics (TCO) on a Thursday afternoon and described the condition. They were able to access my test data and arrange an appointment to see Dr. Eric Deal right away on Monday. After evaluating the situation, Dr. Deal patiently explained the condition and the possible treatment options. We decided on surgery, and they were able to schedule me right away on that Thursday at their Eagan location. The surgery went without a hitch, and I was able to walk almost immediately, only needing the assistance of a cane for balance for the first few weeks.

I can honestly say that working with TCO was the most positive medical experience I have ever had. Every member of the TCO staff was completely professional and genuinely caring at every step. The facilities were pleasant and modern, and most conveniently located. The anesthesiologist (Dr. Anderson) listened carefully to my concerns, and we were able to avoid any nausea or allergic reactions which have historically been a real problem for me. Dr. Deal and his team did an incredible job with the surgery and the aftercare. Following this rather complex procedure, I had almost no pain and required no medications beyond ordinary Tylenol. I simply cannot say enough good things about the technical expertise and genuine care this group provided, and I wholeheartedly recommend TCO without reservation for anyone needing orthopedic care.

I cannot thank Dr. Deal enough for the procedure he performed on me. I went to see him with sciatica pain down my left leg and into my foot. When I came to in the surgery center, the pain was gone. It felt like a miracle! I loved the staff at the surgery center as well. TCO is great!

Ann Frett has cared for and about me and my troubled back. She has helped me make significant progress through treatment and identifying home exercises, refining them according to my feedback and her assessments. I’m grateful to her for setting up a plan that is already producing improved movement and comfort.

I was having a lot of lower back pain, with sciatica pain in the buttocks and down both legs and mostly on right side. I started treatment with Dr. Megan Rhyner. Some days I felt better than others. The injection started to feel better but that only lasted a week. So we proceeded to the next step and I met with Dr. Wanderman. I thought surgery would be a better option and boy it was a great choice. Immediately after surgery, the pain and sciatica pain disappeared. I recovered in the Eagan EXCEL Care Suites and had nothing but great care from TCO. I have nothing but great results from the surgery and have had great checkups with Dr. Wanderman. I’m coming up on my 6 month checkup and I believe all lifting restrictions will be taken away. If you are looking for a great doctor and team, Dr. Wanderman would be the ticket for great results.

I cannot say how thankful I am for Dr. Wanderman and his wonderful team! Everyone in Dr. Wanderman’s group at TCO played an important role in getting me back to my best self! I injured my L5-S1 disc 20 years ago, with intermittent conservative treatment I was mostly okay  for a long time. In recent years, I had increasing pain and new areas of pain that would not diminish even with the best conservative treatment and significant weight loss. Dr. Wanderman and Kesenya walked me through the surgery itself and the insurance timeline getting there. I had full trust in them to proceed. My surgery was uneventful and I woke up with no more pain shooting down my legs or into my hips! My low back aches have stopped as well. I sleep SO much better now.

I met PA, Megan, at my post-op who is another amazing person at TCO. She has been instrumental in explaining everything post-op related and is always great to meet with. She answers all my questions! All in all, I cannot say enough good about Dr. Wanderman and his people. I have referred several people to Dr. Wanderman and will continue to do so. Thank you all!

I had an absolutely amazing experience with Dr. Deal, Nathan Marcus, and Emily Harvey, as well as the team at the surgery center in Burnsville. An urgent surgery required quick scheduling and coordination over a holiday weekend. My situation was handled with the urgency it deserved, when other facilities may have pushed this out. At that moment, I felt as though I was the only patient in the TCO system that day. All hands were on deck, trying to help me get a pre-op appointment late on a Friday afternoon, getting the surgery scheduled for the day after a holiday, and making sure that I had everything lined up. I can honestly say that my experience with Dr. Deal’s team before, during, and after my surgery exceeded every single expectation I had. My husband and I are still in shock over the experience I had and I simply can’t express the gratitude I have for the TCO team.