Patient Testimonials

I had carpal tunnel surgery on February 20, 2024. From the very minute I arrived at the Blaine Orthopedic Surgery Center, the staff was so kind and respectful! Once I was admitted, the nurses were patient, funny, and so positive! Dr. Wetter treated me with great respect and answered all of my questions. The anesthesiologist was also very nice. The surgery went very smoothly and recovery was quick! I was given detailed instructions about what to do once I got home, and the nurse followed up with a phone call the next day answering my additional questions. The post-op appointment on March 11th went very well, too. Dr. Wetter took his time, telling me that the healing process was going very well. He’s very knowledgeable about this condition and the surgery required for it. Overall, I appreciated everything about the people involved throughout the surgical process. I would highly recommend Dr. Wetter to anyone going through carpal tunnel surgery!

I had the privilege of being under the care of Dr. Owen O’Neill during my hip replacement journey, and I cannot express my gratitude enough. Dr. O’Neill embodies the perfect blend of professionalism, compassion, and expertise. Dr. O’Neill’s warm and friendly demeanor immediately put me at ease. He took the time to listen to my concerns, patiently answering all of my questions. It felt like I was discussing my health with a trusted friend rather than a surgeon.

Dr. O’Neill’s meticulous approach impressed me. He explained every step of the procedure, ensuring I understood what to expect. His attention to detail instilled confidence in me, knowing that I was in capable hands. The entire team, led by Dr. O’Neill, contributed to my positive experience. Isabel, Ann and Casey were exceptional. Their kindness, empathy, and professionalism made a significant impact on my journey.

Dr. Owen O’Neill is an amazing orthopedic surgeon. My hip replacement was a success, and I owe it to his expertise and the wonderful team he leads. Thank you, Dr. O’Neill, for giving me a new lease on life! If you’re considering hip replacement surgery, I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. O’Neill and his team at Twin Cities Orthopedics. They truly go above and beyond to ensure their patients’ well-being.

Prior to getting my hips replaced, I was quite restricted as to what I could do. I have always been very active and I’ve run 120 marathons, having completed the last one in 2019. I went in for some PT, for what we thought was piriformis syndrome, but the stretches/exercises were not helping me with the pain I was experiencing in the piriformis muscle area. I stopped riding a regular bike since I couldn’t get on and off easily, due to an extremely limited range of motion. Running wasn’t working for me and even walking became difficult to do without experiencing pain. I finally told my primary doctor things weren’t better even after I had really worked on my PT exercises. My doctor gave me a referral to go to Twin Cities Orthopedics to see if a doctor there could help further.

I had my first appointment with Dr. Bircher and the first thing they did was send me down the hall for X-rays. Dr. Bircher came in and asked me to describe the issues I was having. After listening to me, he shared the X-rays that had been taken of my hips. Prior to this, worn out hips were not even on my radar. I had just assumed it was tight muscles. Dr. Bircher showed me the X-rays and explained what was going on. He explained that my left hip was a little worse than the right, but I was bone on bone in both hips. He talked about various options (total hip replacement, resurfacing, delaying replacement) available to me. While it was a bit overwhelming, he talked me through my options and his recommendations. I went home and came back a week later with my wife and after we talked through options again. We decided to go ahead with a total hip replacement on the left side and then reassess the right side after that.

Dr. Bircher instilled me a great feeling of confidence in the upcoming surgery. The left hip replacement went very smoothly and within one week, I was out walking 2-3 miles in the neighborhood with a cane. After just a few more days I didn’t even need the cane. After 6 weeks I went in and we looked at X-rays of the new hip. We also discussed whether to move forward with the right hip. X-rays again showed bone on bone on the right side. I wasn’t experiencing the pain on the right like I had on the left, so Dr. Bircher said I could wait 3-9 months to see how things develop. He also pointed out the right hip isn’t going to get better, so it’s just a matter of how long to wait. He didn’t pressure me at all to go forward with replacing the right hip, but I was convinced it was the right thing for me to do.

3 months after total replacement of the left hip, Dr. Bircher replaced the right hip. Recovery went smoothly and I’m now 3 months post-surgery on the second hip. I’m walking 3-6 miles almost every day pain free! My range of motion is vastly improved. I’m looking forward to being able to zip around more with the grandkids this next summer instead of watching from the sidelines. I look forward to walking and fishing the shores of the river for hours at a time, instead of fishing until I’m too sore to continue.

I can’t begin to express my complete satisfaction with the results of my two hip replacements. I was so very impressed not only with Dr. Bircher’s skill as a surgeon, but just as importantly the trust I had in him throughout the process. From the very beginning he took the time to explain everything and never was in a hurry to get to the next patient when I was meeting with him. He gained my trust with his demeanor, openness, and interest in my situation. That eliminated any apprehension I might have with the upcoming procedures. I would highly recommend Dr. James Bircher for anyone considering joint replacement surgery. He is the BEST!

During the month of July 2015, I had a full knee replacement on my right knee. My recovery time was 90 days before I could walk without a wooden pole. However, in order to remodel the first level of our single-family home in November 2015, I still had to maintain a daily intake of pain medication to perform manual work seven days per week. This intake continued until December 2015.

I was introduced to Dr. Bircher at your new TCO Plymouth location and I had a full left knee replacement in February 2024. Physical therapy was performed at TCO Maple Grove. Something was very different this time and the healing process was entirely different. That same month, I ceased taking pain medication and Tylenol. There was obviously a much faster recovery time than my 2015 procedure.

The question is, “what changed to cause such a difference in recovery?” I don’t think the actual replacement procedure, nor the replacement devises have changed much in eight years. There is only one major factor that could alter the healing time as much as it did, and that would be the knowledge and skill of Dr. Bircher. In addition, Dr. Bircher has great bedside manner.

In summary, I would like to mention and give credit to the two PT’s that pushed me and guided me through the post-op recovery process. Elsie Olsen and Therese Owen have great personalities and skills. They worked hard and encouraged me to complete the recovery process properly and in a short time frame. Both of them are very pleasant to be around!

I am just 3-months out from my second Total Knee Replacement (TKR) surgery with Dr. Owen O’Neill and his team. This surgery was as successful as my first TKR two years ago with Dr. O’Neill and his team. I again can attest that everything about Dr. Owen O’Neill, his team, TCO and the EXCEL Program were top notch. From pre-surgical prep, through surgery, post-op, PT-rehab, and personal training sessions I remain extremely impressed with TCO.

After my surgery it was critical to go through 6-weeks of great TCO physical therapy sessions and then four TCO personal training sessions over the next month to focus on sports specific training for agility, strength and speed in my racquetball sport. Within 2+ months after surgery I started getting back to a competitive level on the r-ball court as an “A-level” player. And I am getting stronger each week due to the proper surgery skills and technology, coupled with the effective post-op rehab and training. I am very grateful for an excellent surgical experience, outcome and results in getting back to the quality of physical life I desired.

I will continue strongly recommending Dr. O’Neill to my friends and fellow athletes. If you want peace of mind for your orthopedic medical matters then Dr. O’Neill and TCO are your clear choice.

Everyone’s journey to total hip replacement surgery is unique but has a common element, which is the pain. For my left hip, the deciding moment was when an easy family hike in late fall 2020 became almost impossible for me to finish. I was astonished that the occasional twinge of pain was suddenly so intense, I had to come to a complete stop and call out to family for help. That’s when I knew. The choice of surgeons was easy. My RN husband has a positive medical relationship with Dr. Owen O’Neill, since he operated on my husband’s knee many years ago. I liked Dr. O’Neill immediately. He vibrates with warm confidence. He is direct into honest. He lets you know what he expects from you and what you can expect from him.

I was worried about recovery. I thought it would be long and painful, although Dr. O’Neill said I would be back to work in 10 days and driving in 7 days. His prediction was entirely accurate. Dr. O’Neill was honest about the future of my right hip. He told me I would “know” when it was time, but that future surgery was inevitable. He was right. A Halloween event in October of 2023 was the moment of truth. I was looking forward to my second surgery, which happened on December 1, 2023. I was home on December 2nd.

With Dr. O’Neill’s minimally invasive direct anterior technique I had just modest discomfort and I appreciated the great care I received at the Two Twelve Surgery Center in Chaska. The new facility is amazing. It’s spacious, safe, and there are plenty of hallways for walking. Also, the BLT I ordered for my first meal was delicious. You are so well treated that you want to stay longer but Dr. O’Neill believes that the quicker you are home, the quicker you can recover.

You need to start doing things for yourself ASAP. That is the mantra from TCO. Walking is your physical therapy. Believe it and believe in TCO.

I had been having pain in my left thumb joint for a number of years. Dr. McCarthy gave me several treatments of cortisone, but they never seemed to help for very long. So, I decided to have surgery.  She was extremely professional and very predictive throughout the process. She said that the surgery was quite straight forward. It would take about one hour (out-patient) and would require about 3 months of recovery and rehab. Everything went very well and I was playing golf exactly 3 months after the surgery. I can’t say enough about how confident I felt under her care. It was also very convenient to have the rehab therapists right next door. I highly recommend Dr. McCarthy – 5 stars!

I am a 73 year-old, active female who loves to snow ski, hike, wake surf, dance, and walk. Two years ago, I had a skiing accident out west that resulted in a horrific ankle sprain, but much to the surprise of my orthopedic care givers, there was no blown out knee and no broken leg. Thank god for my strong bones. I wore a boot during healing, but the docs didn’t prescribe physical therapy (PT), explaining that “most people don’t do it anyhow.” Then last year I had another skiing accident, where I was bucked off a ski lift at a local Minnesota hill, resulting in a severe hip contusion, but again, no broken bones. This time, I was prescribed PT, and I asked that they include my ankle in the RX for my hip. The first thing that saved me was meeting Beth Pesta, DPT. She and her team helped me recover from my hip injury and helped strengthen my ankle. The workouts were great at the clinic, and they gave me a detailed program for at home. As I completed PT, Beth recommended trainer Laurey Heinrich, CPT. I signed up and began training with Laurey last June. I was afraid that when she saw me, all that she would see was an overweight grey-haired old grandma, but it wasn’t long before she realized the activities I wanted to continue to do for years to come, and she started pushing me to gain strength. I have seen Laurey twice a week since June, and the results are showing! She has worked my entire body including flexibility and balance, and has made me stronger all over. In early August, I finally attempted to wake surf. I was unsure that I’d be able to get up, but I POPPED out of the water and enjoyed several great rides before the season was over. I continued to train to hike, starting with a mile, but eventually going for longer and longer hikes. And then ski season loomed. I had no interest in skiing until the ground was at least covered, and man made snow isn’t the best, but when I did start, I skied with more strength and vigor than I had even before my injuries. I was strong. I was more flexible than I had been, and my joints didn’t hurt. This PT and particularly the strength training has given me more years of being active, just how I’d always planned and hoped to age.

I was unable to walk without pain for many years due to the pain in my foot. Dr. Scallon performed the fusion surgery, eliminating pain and allowing me to resume hiking, a favorite past time of mine. Three weeks after surgery, I was able to hike various trails over in Zion National Park (wearing a boot), each hike being over two miles in length and 200+ feet in elevation change. It was night and day from the previous five years where I was extremely limited in my mobility. Dr. Scallon was very attentive to all of my concerns both pre- and post-surgery. I would highly recommend Dr. Scallon for any issue involving your feet or ankles!

I’ve had lumbar pain, stenosis, and herniation that I’ve been dealing with for over thirty years from the hazards of life as a paratrooper when I was a young man. Dr. Davis provided succinct, experienced advice that was informative and helpful. He also did not recommend surgery, which was more helpful in my case. As the adage says for the physician, “first, do no harm.” Dr. Davis places the patient’s well-being above everything else. Thank you!