Patient Testimonials

I have one word – AMAZING! I have never met a more caring, professional care team all the way around. I had both knees replaced 8 weeks apart this summer. Dr. Arntson walked me through everything and made sure I was comfortable with the plan. The process of scheduling and the EXCEL program is hands down the BEST experience I have ever had. I felt very prepared going into surgery. By 6 weeks on both knees, I was walking without assistance and exceeded my flexion and extension goals. It is not as scary as people make it out to be. For the first time in 25+ years I have no pain. He has changed my life and I will forever be grateful to him and all the care team members!

Dr. Bircher is the best! I’d been fighting a knee replacement for years. When I met him in November, I knew my knee was pretty bad. We talked about knee replacement but he could tell I wasn’t ready. He told me I would know when I was ready. That reality hit me in February of this year. I couldn’t have asked for better results after the surgery. I was accepted into the TCO EXCEL Program, which I strongly suggest you try if you are able to. The nursing staff was exceptional at the hospital right after surgery as were the nurses at the Recovery Suites. The EXCEL nurse coordinator kept in contact with me to make sure all was well. Everyone involved was great.

Before I had my surgery, I told Dr. Bircher all I wanted was to be able to come back and tell him that I wish I had done the surgery sooner. I was happy to oblige! I am now scheduled for a total knee replacement on my other knee. I know not all surgeries have the same results but I am counting on Dr. Birchers skill to pull it out! Dr. Bircher always made sure he answered all my questions and spent as much time with me as I needed to feel comfortable. He is concerned, compassionate and very skilled. That is not something you find in too many doctors/surgeons these days. I look forward to a normal life again!

I am one month out from a total hip replacement through the TCO EXCEL program. From the start of my visit at TCO Stillwater Orthopedic Urgent Care, to check-in at the High Pointe Surgical Center, and finally on to my ride down from the EXCEL Care Suites at the Omni Hotel at Viking Lakes, I found each step of the process nothing short of an incredible display of excellence. Every person I encountered from start to finish exhibited such passion for their work. At each stop, my physical and emotional needs were attended to with great care.

From the time Dr. Meisterling recommended surgery and told me my journey in the EXCEL program would be a successful one, I felt I was in the right place. Of course he was spot on! I felt more at ease undergoing this major surgery then I have with some dental work. I like to think that if you saw me now, you would not believe I am a hip replacement patient. Am I pleased? I AM. I feel blessed to have come upon TCO, Dr. Meisterling and the EXCEL program. Consider me delighted with the program, the people, the process and the success!

I had a fast recovery and only took over the counter pain meds after I went home following my anterior approach hip replacement with Dr. Arntson. After surgery, I was able to walk the same day and only needed a cane after one week. At five weeks, I could walk on my own.

15 years ago, I had a posterior hip replacement and recovery was much longer. Anterior approach is the way to go.

The EXCEL program rocks!

Last year, I had a hip replacement with Dr. Chris Meyer, and it was one of the best things I ever did. I had such a great experience with Dr. Meyer, his staff, and the EXCEL Program, so I decided to bite the bullet and have my left knee replaced since it was bothering me for some time.

One of my passions is golf so I needed to time the surgery and recovery before summer and a golf trip that was planned. The surgery went well, and I followed the doctor’s orders to a ‘T’.  I was ready to hit the links!  I cannot thank Dr. Meyer for the care I received. I highly recommend TCO. They are the best!

I had been dealing with knee pain for years. It finally got to the point where cortisone was not bringing any relief and I needed to walk with a cane. Before my surgery, I could not walk very far. My knee was so unstable and walking in my yard was impossible. Dr. Bircher was highly recommended to me by another TCO surgeon (Dr. Cammack, a foot and ankle specialist). Even though I was nervous about having surgery, Dr. Bircher’s kindness and attention to detail made me feel it was time to do it. Surgery went great, and I could tell right away that my knee was better. I had not felt that stable on my knee with no stabbing pain in so long.

I went through the EXCEL program and I would highly recommend going that route if you can. The staff at EXCEL Care Suites were so great! If you are looking for a knee replacement surgeon, I would highly recommend Dr. James Bircher. I cannot say enough great things about my experience. Why did I wait so long? It just took me finding the right surgeon and his team.

Last year I had a hip replacement with Dr. Chris Meyer and it was one of the best things I ever did. To add to that, my left knee had actually been bothering me for longer than my hip. Because I had such a great experience with Dr. Meyer, his staff, the staff at Two Twelve Surgery Center and the EXCEL Program, I decided to bite the bullet and have my left knee replaced.

One of my passions is golf, so I needed to time the surgery and recovery to take place before summer and a spring break golf trip. I had the surgery on January 18, which went really well. I followed the doctor’s orders to a “T” and by the time our Spring Break trip rolled around, I was ready to hit the links! As a matter of fact, I golfed 144 holes in one week and got my FIRST HOLE IN ONE only 9 1/2 short weeks after my surgery! The smile in the pic attached says it all. I cannot thank Dr. Meyer and all involved for the care I received. I highly recommend them. They are the BEST!

I had was thrilled that my anterior hip replacement went so well! I had a posterior hip replacement in 2020 and needed to have the other hip done in 2023. I opted to have an anterior procedure this time and was extremely happy with the results. I had very little pain, which Tylenol handled well. Everyone was surprised how well I was moving around shortly after the surgery. Recovery has been much easier than with the posterior approach. Dr. Owen O’Neill is amazing. He explains everything ahead of time and what to expect. His team of nurses and staff are the very best and the EXCEL Program was definitely the way to go!

It was a great experience from the first visit until the last. It’s been six weeks since surgery and I’m walking an average of six miles per day. Dr. Schmiesing did a great job with the surgery and the follow up care. The EXCEL Program was a lot of help too, along with my physical therapist, Jacob. I would have this surgery all over again, if needed!

Dr. Wetter made the whole process easy. Any questions I had were always explained. I would highly recommend. The EXCEL Program at TCO was great!