Patient Testimonials

IN A LEAGUE OF MY OWN. Having bilateral total knee replacement on Jan 7th, 2019 puts you on a path few have ventured. But after years of injections and medication fails, it was time to make the decision to replace both knees. I’m turning 62 in a few weeks. I’m an active wife, mother and grammy, or I should say I was until the daily pain of bone-on-bone would send me to the recliner with my ice packs by the afternoon. The best part of the summer days were my husband and I’s early morning 20 mile bike rides around our area. Biking was the one thing I could do, yes bike 20 miles, but not walk 3 blocks! My appointment in Oct 2018 with Dr. Joe Nemanich started the discussion of what could be next and we picked the date for my bilateral TKR. On Nov 1st, I began my pre-hab at home with a daily routine to get in the best shape for Jan. I was confident going into surgery Jan 7th. It was a tough few weeks, but things seemed to be coming along according to my PT, Leah Toth, at Burnsville TCO. At 5 weeks post-op, it was apparent progress stopped and very active scar tissue took over and locked me at 90 degrees. The next step was the dreaded MUA on Feb 25th. Another blow to my recovery, but you have to keep fighting on! Leah and her team have been fantastic! They continue to encourage me every step of the way! Seeing your therapist everyday for 2 weeks at 80 minutes a session builds more than the usual relationship. Through tears of pain and frustration, there were also happy tears when a new ROM had been achieved! This has been one of the biggest events in my life. I’m still a comeback in progress, but I’m looking forward to each month that brings me closer to living pain free and chasing my grandkids this summer. I missed opening day at Target Field, but will look forward to attending some great summer evenings there.

I’m a 75 year-old (previously active) female and needed a full knee replacement, which Dr. Anseth performed in September of 2018. Thanks to his skill and the wonderful physical therapy I received at TCO, I was able to fly to the mountains of central Mexico on 2/1, and successfully and without pain, walk 3-4 miles per day for six weeks, up and down the foothills on consistently uneven and sometimes treacherous surfaces.

I had the other knee replaced elsewhere some years before, unsuccessfully, so was very apprehensive to do this second knee. Dr. Anseth’s excellent listening skills, reassurance about anesthesia, a phone call to me the night prior to surgery and his deep and up-to-date knowledge in this field, moved me forward with confidence. I am very grateful to have a different and very positive outcome.

For several years I walked with a tremendously bad limp. My right knee was bone to bone with arthritis. It hurt so bad that I was unable to even take nice walks with my wife. On March 3rd of 2015, Dr. David Anderson, with his excellent medical abilities, gave me a brand new right knee. I now enjoy life, pain-free and once again take wonderful walks with my wife. Every year since my operation I thank Dr. David Anderson in person for absolutely changing my life.

Once again, thank you, Dr. David Anderson.

Sincerely
Bruce

I have only good things to say about the EXCEL Program and my knee replacement done by Dr. Saterbak. The program is brilliant. I had a setback after a couple months but all was covered. Thank you!

Hey Dr. Knowlan, Jerry here. March 11th was my 4 year anniversary of my bilateral knee replacements. Thank you again for returning my mobility. Everything is fantastic, no pain, no Tylenol, no drugs, nothing. I cannot thank you enough and keep up the great work. You, sir, are a great surgeon. Thanks forever. JB

At age 65, my right knee had deteriorated to a point where I was in constant pain. My activities were quite limited and I knew I needed a knee replacement. After thoroughly researching alternative surgeons, I interviewed Dr. Anseth and instantly chose him – his web site was great and he was even better in person! I could not be happier with my choice. The surgery was smooth and the recovery was exactly as predicted. In fact, several times I checked in with Heidi on progress and other questions, and her predictions on recovery events were consistently accurate. Now, one year later, the new knee has passed all tests in flying colors. I’m walking the golf course, skiing double black diamond runs and participating in fitness classes with no pain and incredibly few limitations (no running, box jumps or jumping rope, but otherwise all is good).

I particularly appreciated both Dr. Anseth and Heidi’s attitudes of flexibility in my permitted activities, which allowed resumption of sports at levels even better than pre-surgery (since there’s no pain). I’m fortunate to have experienced a lot of excellent medical providers (and some not so good) and am delighted to report that Dr. Anseth and his whole team reside in the top category. Fortunately, I don’t need my other knee repaired and don’t plan on any revisions to this one. But if I ever needed another surgery, I would choose Dr. Anseth and his team – hands down without reservation – to assure they were on it.

On June 26th of 2017, I checked in to The Ridges in Burnsville and Dr. Lewis performed a total knee replacement on my right knee.  My recovery from this surgery has been easier than I expected. The care I received at The Ridges was wonderful. All of the TCO providers, including the Physical Therapists at the Eden Prairie location have been awesome. I couldn’t be happier with my recovery and my follow up visits with Dr. Lewis. I have recommended him to many people.

Having a partial right knee replacement in September, 2017 done by Dr. Comfort and going through the EXCEL Program was a wonderful experience. A previous physician would not even consider a partial replacement. Dr. Comfort assured me this was the right decision and I have no regrets! Using the EXCEL Program, upon discharge from surgery center, you go to a health care facility in a private suite where you have a RN that takes care of you until discharged the next day. During that time you have several sessions of PT and are up walking with a walker. Dr. Comfort checks in on you that morning. When you leave you are feeling confident to go home and work on your recovery. Dr. Comfort, David, and Molly are all so reassuring, kind, and patient. I can now lift up my grandchildren without fear my knee will buckle under me. This was definitely the best medical experience I have ever had.  I highly recommend them!

Dr. Hunt, this may seem too corny to endure, but I’ll risk it.  I find myself struggling to express the depth of my gratitude to you and the team of caring professionals you have gathered around you for the fifteen years or more you have added to my life. When I decided to go to you to replace my knees late in 2008, I was seriously facing the loss of most of my outdoor activities. In January, 2009, you and your team replaced both of my knees, and in two surgeries during 2011 you also replaced both of my shoulders. Now you have given me a new right hip.  Because of your work, I have continued to backpack with three generations of family members for days on end on Isle Royale every fall (sometimes twice in a season). Early last spring I backpacked about forty miles of the Superior Hiking trail with a friend. Libby and I have been able to tour the Peruvian Amazon and the Peruvian sacred valley, and then spend a week on the Galápagos Islands. As a pastor I made multiple trips to partner congregations in El Salvador and in Nigeria. Twice I’ve made it to Alaska, most recently with Libby for a stay with friends in Halibut Cove on Kachemak Bay. Two years ago Libby and I toured Iceland, reunited with her relatives in Sweden and with my relatives and friends in Norway. And for the last three years I’ve led delegations to explore how migratory birds connect Minnesota and Nicaragua.  All this scattered among countless forays across Minnesota and Wisconsin to go birding in remote wild corners of our region.

I only hope this little album of memories gives you some sense of my gratitude to you for your work and for my privilege of having access to this health care (when so many across the world do not).

Blessings, Keith O.

My knee replacement with Dr. Kelly and the EXCEL program is one of the best medical experiences I’ve ever had. From the check- in at the surgery center to the discharge at York Gardens, everything was just wonderful. The staff is excellent. Every single doctor, nurse, therapist, and aide was a highly skilled professional who delivered such great care. I never sat around waiting for help – there was always someone right there when I needed them. There was also really good communication between all the team members so they were always up to speed on what was happening with me. There were so many small details that added up to big differences. Like no hospital gowns (!) I was given comfortable athletic wear instead. And I had the same two nurses the whole time at the rehab facility – one of them even came along in the van to pick me up from the surgery center. I felt so well cared for every step of the way. I would recommend this program to anybody who is considering surgery. It was truly outstanding.