Patient Testimonials

I blew out my ACL and it took my meniscus out with it. When recovering, the biggest thing I worked on was range of motion. 9 months after I was okayed to go skiing.

My worn-out right hip was making my back and neck ache from overcompensating when shifting my weight and force to my left leg. 3 months prior to surgery I was not able to run or climb stairs. Now, 6 weeks after knee replacement surgery with Dr. O’Keefe, I am walking with ease and stairs are no longer a challenge. I’m ready to get into strength training and swimming. I really look forward to riding my horses in another 2 months.

In August of 2018 I shredded my patellar tendon jumping trying to win a $2 t-shirt for hitting a volleyball. 10 days later, Dr. Lewis was performing the first surgery to repair the damage. After surgery, I was in an immobilizer for around 12 weeks. During this time, I met with Tegan and Hannah to start physical therapy. During this time therapy went fine. I was able to do straight leg raises fairly quickly and progressed as expected.

The next phase is to start to bend the knee. I equate it as the tendon is like a frozen bungee cord, has to stretch it out. Along the way there were many hurdles, swelling in the knee, tightness in the hamstrings and t band slowed progress as well as the knee already being arthritic . At 1 point I was measured at 80 degrees and was stuck there. After a follow-up with Dr. Lewis he said he believed that scar tissue had built up on the repaired tendon and was keeping me from progressing any farther, so back under the knife I went to clean up the scar tissue and knee manipulation. After that we continued PT 3 times a week and made some progress but again because stuck but now at 90 degrees.

Back to Dr. Lewis for another follow-up. Dr. Lewis was not unsure what was keeping me from bending past 90 degrees and proceeded to give me the bad news. He was unsure if I would be able to walk normal again let alone play sports. This was difficult for me to hear as sports and being active have been my life. If I’m not playing a game I’m coaching a game. At this time this is where Tegan shined! Not only did she continue to push me during my therapy, she helped me with my mental and emotional state! And to be honest that was probably the most important therapy she provided. We continued to work hard, bending and pushing until I couldn’t do more. In my next follow-up I’m proud to say Dr. Lewis said in a couple of months you should be able to run and jump again!!!

Tegan stayed with me the whole time, assisting me to trust my knee as I ran, made cuts and jumped! Last week I played volleyball for the first time since August 27th and it was great! Being able to compete again is such a huge accomplishment for me!!! And without Tegan I strongly believe that I would not have been able to accomplish this!

Thank you Tegan, Hannah and of course Dr. Lewis for helping me get right!!!

With this knee surgery by Dr. Knowlan; I have been able to work out again without my knee going numb/giving out.

Four years ago, I had a knee that kept randomly popping out of the socket. I visited many doctors and had many x-rays. I finally had a referal to Dr. Sanders, who ordered an MRI and found the issue very quick. I was only 25 and normally a total knee replacement would’ve been done. But with me being so young, he wanted to avoid a replacement. Instead, he did a total knee reconstruction. The surgery went perfect and my life has improved so much! I never have to worry about standing and having my knee pop out or going up stairs or anything. I no longer have pain in my knee and I can do normal every day activities that I had to be cautious of before my knee reconstruction!

I am a sophomore at St. Catherine’s University and I play basketball there. This past year, on Oct. 30th, we were having a practice. It was the last stretch of practices before games finally started and we had a scrimmage 4 days later. During practice, I cut and I stepped on my teammates foot and ending up perfectly tearing my ACL, MCL, and partial tears in my medial and lateral meniscus. I had surgery one week later and now I am 20 weeks post-op. I plan to be ready for basketball this next coming season.

I loved having Braidy as my PT, he continues to push me everyday no matter on what my mood is. He has put up with a lot! Going through this experience has been eye opening and I have learned so much about myself and the game of basketball. I got to learn the game of basketball so differently this year. I also got to help lead my teammates from the sideline this year and teach them more about basketball. I still have a couple months to go but I am determined as ever to get back. This would not be possible without all the support that the staff at the Training Haus has provided me. This experience has made me grow as a person and I would not trade it for anything.

I began regular running in the fall of 2012 after retiring at the age of 56. I became a volunteer coach for Moms on the Run. In the fall of 2016 I was going to turn 60, so I vowed to make it my best spring/summer/fall of running ever. I ran 3-4 days every week from May through October, finished four 10-mile road races, a half-marathon, a half-marathon relay, a 5k, a 5-mile trail race, Ragnar Great River, and Ragnar Northwoods Trail. It was a great year of running and I was pretty much pain free. I was a year-round outside runner. But then something happened in March 2017 while running with a friend who was rehabbing after a broken ankle. We took off too fast and something popped in my knee, but I kept running until I physically could not. During that year and into 2018, I ran in pain and tried different physical therapies, along with a meniscus procedure. It seemed to work for a bit. I continued with therapy, received cortisone injections, and eventually synvisc injections in both knees, but no relief. I was forced to stop running and simple walking became very difficult. On April 11, 2018, I had my left knee replaced and seven weeks later, on May 30, my right knee was replaced. It’s been a long, long (almost) year of very hard work, patience and determination, but I vowed that I would attempt to run again. After walking and biking a lot, I just recently made that attempt and it felt “good.” I still experience stiffness and I know that I’ll always “feel” my replaced knees, but I am pretty much pain free. I don’t think that any distance above a 5k is in my future, but just to be able to put on my shoes and go out for a short run is heaven to me. My goal is to participate in the Women Run the Cities 5k on May 19. I can’t say enough about the excellent care that I received from everyone involved in my surgeries and recovery. I will be forever grateful.

I started seeing Seth right away after my total knee replacement. In the first couple of weeks, Seth’s understanding of the procedure and symptoms was very comforting. It was determined that a manipulation was necessary. The positive and reassuring attitudes and feedback I received from Seth and Ashley and the whole staff at the Blaine TCO PT facility was a game changer for me. Even on my tough days, Seth, Ashley, Sam, Kristina, Kasi, and Jared were professional and compassionate while sharing their knowledge of my situation with me. They made a “not-so-fun” situation very tolerable and they did help me reach my goals. I already have recommended this staff to friends who are in need of orthopedic PT services and will continue to do so. Thanks Seth, Ashley and all of the Blaine PT staff. Appreciate your professionalism, knowledge, humor :), and caring ways!!!

I had to use a cane, wheelchair and walker before I had my knee replacement. I had taken shots as long as I could to get relief from the pain. I asked for the surgery and I am so glad I did! It wasn’t long after the surgery that I could enjoy taking steps without pain. My knee works fine! Looking forward to summer as it will be 1 year in July that I had my knee replaced. I am also looking forward to resuming garding and walking without pain and now with a stronger knee. Dr. Arntson explained everything to me. He always had time for my questions and concerns. His gentle spirit always calmed me.

As a sophomore in college, my life is extremely busy. Balancing sports, class and extracurricular’s is a lot to handle, and now I have to work in time for an injury. I tore my ACL and partially tore my medial meniscus while playing soccer at my university. I have never had a serious injury before that prohibited me from playing the sport I love, so the whole injury recovery process is very new to me. I was completely lost on what the procedure was, where to find a surgeon, what physical therapy entailed and recovery time. Thankfully, Dr. Corey Wulf works closely with my university and he was able to explain the procedure to me and make me feel comfortable with the unfortunate situation I was in. After surgery, I felt even more worrisome on when I would be able to return to playing my sport. An injury as serious as an ACL put me at a recovery time for 9 months. I still have about 5 months until I am able to play again. However, my physical therapist at TCO, Karie Nash, has been extremely helpful. She has made the recovery process so much easier. Her insights and exercises have made a noticeable difference. Thanks to Karie, I am more confident in my knee and I look forward to continuing to work with her to guide me along with my recovery. With the help of these two TCO employees, I am continuing to get better and now I am a little closer to returning to the sport I love.