Patient Testimonials

I had been seeing Dr. Brian O’Neill for several years for arthritis in my knee. I finally reached the point where it made sense to schedule my TKA surgery, and I was so pleased when Dr. O’Neill suggested the EXCEL Program. Knowing that infection is a serious risk with the surgery, and also knowing that the risk of contracting an infection in the hospital was even higher, I was ecstatic to find out that I could avoid hospitalization altogether. I was also thrilled to be given the opportunity to recuperate in a non-hospital setting that wasn’t a transitional care facility.

The entire experience was positive. The staff was amazing. My primary care nurse, Ashley Swenson, was fantastic. She was supportive and gave me all the information I needed in a way that was respectful and informational. Her care during my stay at the EXCEL suites couldn’t have been better, as well as the PT. I so much appreciated the comfortable environment that didn’t feel like a clinical setting. It was so helpful to have the physical therapy room right across the hall, and to be able to work with the PT during my stay in an environment that was so inviting. Ashley’s discharge instructions were thorough and easy to understand. She was even willing to talk with me and respond to emails following my surgery, which was so appreciated and helpful.

Marni Gorowsky, my EXCEL RN contact, was an absolute angel throughout my recuperation after I left the EXCEL facility. I cannot overly express how incredibly comforting, helpful and essential it was to be able to email Marni throughout my recovery. I had the added hassle and discomfort of coming down with severe bronchitis at the same time, and Marni’s coaching and advice helped me and my husband through some pretty dark hours. She allayed my fears and gave me fantastic direction on how to manage my pain, swelling, anemia and general recovery.

I honestly cannot imagine going through the TKA experience any other way. And, finally, the PT experience at the TCO PT office with Seth Engberg was equally positive. Seth personalized my PT so that I always felt my unique physical abilities were taken into account. I was adamant about increasing my strength and range of motion, and Seth worked with me to find the best exercises that fit my personal goals.

It has been six months since my surgery. While I have to say it was by far the physically most difficult and painful thing I have ever experienced, I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. I have my full range of motion back, far beyond what I had hoped. My knee is less swollen than it has been in many years. I am virtually pain-free and drug-free. I rarely, if at all, even take an ibuprofen, where it previously was part of my regular “diet” along with much stronger drugs.

I am golfing, biking, walking, and back to work at a much higher level of physical stamina than before. And I do believe that Dr O’Neill’s elegant work and the outstanding care model of the EXCEL Program are largely responsible. I’ve spoken to other TKA patients who did not have any where near the positive recovery experience that I have had.

Thank you Dr. Brian O’Neill, TCO, Ashley, Marni, and Seth! Keep doing what you are doing.

No hidden agenda in this post. I am a 52-year-old, white, obese female with borderline diabetes and osteoarthritis who was seeking a full knee replacement. Let the story begin!

I am writing this for patients who delay, for those who are afraid, for those who cannot decide, and for those who think, “I can’t do this.” Take a moment and listen to my story. It will not only get you to change medical doctors/clinics, but also let you know, “If I can do this, you can do this!” 

Five and a half years ago, I began seeing Dr. Thomas Comfort. I was bone-on-bone and had a destroyed meniscus.  On April 19, 2016, Dr. Comfort and his team completed a full knee replacement on my right knee (yes, the leg I drive with). Today, I have not one regret. My life is forever changed. This opinion is based upon the guidance I received; the support I received from medical staff; the precision of the knee replacement procedure; and the support I received overall from Dr. Comfort and his staff. They are amazing!

In October 2015, I watched and cared for my older sister when she had her knee replacement. It was at this point I realized preparation was not just important, but pertinent. I began the exercises outlined to build all of my leg muscles. I used an elliptical we had at home. On January 31, 2016, I quit smoking after nearly 30 years of smoking. I enrolled in the Quit Plan Program. On March 3, I joined Weight Watchers. I began eating healthier and exercising passionately. On April 19, 2016, the day of my surgery, I weighed in at 28.7 pounds less than my pre operative assessment with Dr. Comfort.

I was discharged from the hospital on April 21 and admitted to a transitional care unit. I was discharged from this facility after 10 days. Shortly after discharge, I was informed that my replacement post operative care was denied by insurance. This was a huge setback for me. I was scheduled for my second knee replacement on May 23. Emotionally and intellectually I was devastated. How could I afford to repay this debt when I did everything I was supposed to? The denial was because I “walked 200 steps before being discharged from the hospital.” I began working on my appeal and, AGAIN, Dr. Comfort and his staff supported me in this endeavor without hesitation. I was notified on May 2 that my insurance reversed their decision and agreed to pay for the entire replacement. My appeal documentation was over 19 pages. Hard work paid off!

I started outpatient therapy, and within four weeks my therapist indicated she had never discharged someone after five sessions. At this point my range was 135; average for a knee recipient, at best, is 120. We took two weeks off. I returned for three more sessions to support things such as getting off the floor, building my muscles in my hips, and gaining a stable gait. June 14 I graduated from outpatient therapy.

As of today, I have lost a total of 42 pounds, nine inches in my hips, and four inches in my chest. My healing is not over, but I continue to work to be healthy and mobile for future grandchildren. It was not easy. It was so painful—the worst I ever felt. However, my physician and professionals working with me did an astonishing job reinforcing the need to exercise and pushed me thru the pain. I am planning on a second knee replacement in April 2017.

What are your plans for your knee? If I can do it, seriously, anyone can!

Thank you so much!

My daughter, Alison, tore her ACL 13 months ago in an AAU basketball game. It was a violent collision that left Alison wondering if she would ever play basketball again. This was very traumatic for her because she was a highly rated player with a number of potential scholarship opportunities. Her initial diagnosis was incorrect and, with the urging of college coaches that were recruiting her for basketball, we decided to get a second opinion and MRI which revealed a complete ACL tear, bone bruising, sprained MCL and some cartilage damage (did not know the extent at the time). The first surgeon said she had two choices: no surgery and attempt to play her senior season and not play in college, or have the surgery and miss most, if not all of the season, but be ready for college. On top of that, it would be almost a month before he could operate. This was heart breaking news and left Alison in very poor spirits. Her White Bear Lake High School team was returning most of the players from the previous year and was the favorite to return to the state tournament the following spring. She was determined to have the surgery and still play her senior year. We decided to look at other options and fellow athletes recommended Dr. Saterbak.

We met with Dr. Saterbak on a Friday and she had surgery the following Wednesday! Alison smiled for the first time in weeks after that meeting. Dr. Saterbak could see no reason she couldn’t return to play that season and would do everything she could to help her. We targeted January as a return date. The surgical care at High Pointe Surgery Center was top notch and the surgery was successful with no further cartilage damage found. Alison then started the long road to recovery. The summer was tough as she followed her AAU basketball team around, including going to Cincinnati, over July 4th. Her quad still was not firing so she still struggled getting around, however, in Cincinnati it finally fired and Alison was now able to walk and begin the next step of rehab. At this time, January seemed a long way off. With that in mind, Dr. Saterbak and her physical therapists still thought that was an attainable target. With their help, Alison dove head first into her recovery and began making extreme strides. Amazingly, she passed all her physical tests in October and set her sights on returning for the very first game in late November! After consulting with her doctors, she was cleared to start practicing in early November and did start the first game of the season. She made the all-tournament team. Alison’s minutes were managed by her coach during the regular season to save her for the end. While she had some pain in the knee, it never really swelled and was very stable. Late in the season, she was undercut and landed directly on the repaired knee, causing her to miss some games at the end of the season. We met with Dr. Saterbak and it was determined that the ACL knee was tighter and stronger than the good knee and we were hopeful she could play in the playoffs.
Alison returned to help her team to the State Tournament where they beat the number two ranked team in the state and finished fourth! She topped it off by making the All-Tournament team and was selected to play in the State All-Star Game. She also accepted a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Minnesota – Duluth.

We have no doubt that none of this would have been possible without the care and direction of Dr. Saterbak. Her willingness to help Alison recover this season played a huge role in her return.

We are now a year out since the initial surgery. Alison is pain free and no longer wears a knee brace and has complete confidence in her knee and the work of Dr. Saterbak.

Today I am 5 weeks post-surgery for my knee replacement. Dr. Lewis did a fantastic job on my knee and of course, we can’t forget about his PA, Libby. The two of them always give me excellent care. Since my progress has been superb, today is my last day of physical therapy. What a team. They have taken care of me for years. Thank you.

I had two knee replacements with Dr. Michael Meisterling and his PA, Shaun O’Keefe. I had my left knee done about 4 months ago and my right knee 4 weeks ago. I had a wonderful experience with the surgery. The surgery center at Lakeview in Stillwater was great and the nurses and staff, as well as Dr. Meisterling, made me very comfortable. Even the food was great! I would definitely recommend Dr. Meisterling to anyone considering a knee replacement.

After struggling for several years with increasing knee pain due to arthritis-driven meniscus wear (exacerbated by my avid pursuit of adult league alpine ski racing), I decided to have my right knee joint replaced. Dr. Andrea Saterbak was repeatedly recommended to me by local ski team coaches and other racers, and when I learned that she did a fellowship at the Steadman clinic in Vail, that she was affiliated with the US Ski Team and that she was a ski racer herself, I knew she was the surgeon for me. Andrea listened carefully to my goals for the surgery and without sugar-coating the level of effort that would be involved in the recovery, provided the confidence I needed to move ahead. I selected the outpatient option at the High Pointe Surgery Center, and was home by 3 p.m. the day of surgery. As predicted, the recovery is a much slower, longer process, but the post-operative support and physical therapy included in Dr. Saterbak’s practice were instrumental in getting me back on the snow. At 6 months post-op, I was waterskiing and wake surfing. At 9 months post-op, I resumed ski racing (at about 80% speed). Make no mistake – full healing is taking a long time for me. It’s been 14 months since my surgery, and the new knee still is not pain-free, but the discomfort has gone down steadily since the surgery. I’m sure that by the time my second post-op ski season starts this fall, I’ll be back at full speed. Based on my experience surrounding the procedure and my return to the sports I enjoy, it’s easy for me to recommend Dr. Saterbak and her practice colleagues to others. Thank you, Andrea!

Dr. Randall Lewis is great person and terrific surgeon. He listens carefully, answers all your questions, and then delivers the exact surgical results he promises. We have 4 new knee replacements between my wife and myself over approximately 2 years. He restored our ability to walk again without any pain and in reality gave us back our quality of life, as well as a healthy body, positive mind-set, and the ability to participate in all activities we enjoy. He is compassionate, caring, confident in his abilities, and has a fun personality and sense of humor. We recommend him very highly. His PA Libby is also outstanding helping in surgery, recovery, with medication direction , and other post-surgical answers and direction. Her follow-up is flawless with a caring and fun personality and a finely-honed skill set. The two together are a winning combination at the top of their game. Calling them to help you would be one of the best calls you make this year.

Dr. Lewis and Libby Witchger replaced one of my knees in 2008 and the other in 2015. Dr. Lewis is extremely adept at what he does. He is accurate, skilled, caring, and compassionate. He is a patient’s partner in the process of identifying the problem and solving the problem. Both of my surgeries were very successful and I am pain free! Libby and Dr. Lewis are a great team. Libby always returns calls and stays with the patient through the entire recovery process. I highly recommend both of them!

I am writing to express my appreciation for the outstanding care I received from Dr. Randall Lewis, Orthopedic Surgeon and my entire TCO care team including Libby Witchger, PA. For several years I suffered with serious knee issues from sports injuries and arthritis. Initially Dr. Lewis cared for me using non-surgical options.  Ultimately I decided the optimal option was to replace both knees and Dr. Lewis performed the surgeries. Throughout my care experience both Dr. Lewis and Libby impressed me with the personal and genuine care I received. I always received all the information I needed to make informed and clinically sound care decisions based on all options. My surgeries went so well I am now back to walking the golf course, road biking and hiking the national parks. I simply could not recommend a physician and care team more highly.

As an employee of Twin cities Orthopedics I brought my 8 year old daughter to be seen on 05/25/16 for left knee pain & swelling at the Coon Rapids location. I am extremely pleased with the care that she received from Dr. Kruse and all the assisting staff members. You could not get any better service and care before, during, and after than what you get from Dr. Kruse and his staff. He had to drain some fluid out of her left knee and like any 8 year old she was scared of the needle. She kept pulling her left knee away from him so that he could not do the procedure. Finally after 2 attempts the 3rd time was the charm and Dr. Kruse and his team talked her through it and he was able to get the fluid that he needed for testing. As a parent I had questions that he answered & explained everything in detail to me. Dr. Kruse was kind, caring and a very genuine doctor. When we left her appointment yesterday my daughter turned to me and said, “Mom I really liked him and it didn’t even hurt when he put the needle in my knee.” I would recommend Dr. Kruse to anyone.