Patient Testimonials

Dr. O’Neill is clearly skilled and devoted to the best care he can deliver to his clients. I have suffered for many years with hip pain. I used anti-inflammatories and excellent physical therapy to get me through many decades of pain and mild disability. I was very, very devoted and determined to avoid surgery but alas, it was the answer. Dr. O’Neill was the first provider to identify that I have congenital hip dysplasia! He was very conscientious and attentive to my concerns and questions. In addition, his staff was excellent, responding quickly to all concerns. I was well prepared for surgery by them and well cared for post-op. I am a nurse myself and I recommend him highly! In addition, the nursing care I received at Fairview Southdale was top notch, even as they were very short staffed. Kudos!

Dr. Erik Wetter performed emergency surgery for me in early August 2022. Surgery included; open treatment left femoral neck fracture with prosthetic replacement, a left anterior THA, closed treatment of left sacrum and pubic rami fractures without manipulation, and an ORIF left humerus proximal shaft.

On September 7th I had the first post-surgical appointment. Dr. Wetter was very encouraging in directing me in stretching my left humerus and shoulder to prevent a frozen shoulder. These exercises continued with OT and PT inpatient and outpatient care. The second follow up appointment with Dr. Wetter was in October. It showed additional healing, 75% with the humerus, and 80% with the pelvic area. I have been discharged from Dr. Wetter’s care after excellent, inspirational and encouraging care of my injuries and Surgeries. I truly appreciate Dr. Erik Wetter’s skillful care!

The medical community is very blessed to have Dr. Knowlan & Peter Larson, PA-C  serving this area with their expertise and professional care. Dr. Knowlan has done all of my orthopedic care. To attest to his knowledge and care, I’m able to play golf again! My age is 90 years old. I am very grateful.

I was dealing with a hip injury for two years and it got to the point where it became debilitating. I came across Dr. Ridley at TCO and I’m sure glad I did. He found a labral tear and Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and determined that surgery was an option because I tried everything else (hip injections and therapy). He did the surgery and repaired my labrum and shaved down some bone. Recovery went better than I could’ve ever imagined! Dr. Ridley was the best surgeon I could’ve had. His bedside manner was great, he was so passionate in what he does, and explained everything about pre-surgery with such detail. He did such an incredible job! I feel like I have a brand new hip and I was back on my feet after a month (with physical therapy). THANK YOU DR. RIDLEY FOR GIVING ME MY LIFE BACK!!!!

My experience with TCO and the EXCEL Program was very positive. I was somewhat apprehensive and had some anxiety prior to surgery. However, Dr. Arntson helped relieve those feelings by explaining everything to me. He is a wonderful doctor and made me feel so comfortable. It was obvious to me from the moment I walked into the surgical center that all of the staff, nurses, therapists, and my doctor want to be here. They gave me the best medical care I have ever received in any medical setting.

The PT staff were a tremendous help and provided me with exercises to do at home. As a result, my recovery has gone very well so far. The nursing staff was outstanding and answered any questions that I or my coach asked. I am looking forward to a more active life and thank everyone at TCO and the EXCEL program for their exemplary care.

This past spring, I developed some general hip pain. Within one week, I was able to schedule an appointment at a convenient time and location with Dr. Ridley. During my first appointment, Dr. Ridley took the time to get to know me, not only as a patient but as a person. He listened to my hip concerns and I felt understood and acknowledged. During that same appointment, they did an X-ray and Dr. Ridley carefully explained what the x-ray showed. He presented me with a few options, and we decided to follow up and move forward with an MRI to have a more concrete and concise diagnosis. Within one week, I was able to get my MRI and follow-up scheduled.

Similar to my first appointment, Dr. Ridley’s kindness and professionalism were clear and apparent. He explained in detail what the imaging displayed and that the MRI showed a labral tear in my left hip. He presented both surgical and non-surgical choices and explained the pros and cons of each decision in a very non-judgmental way. I did not feel rushed to make a decision and was given information and knowledge to make the best decision. Eventually, I did decide to go through with surgery.

Again, Dr. Ridley carefully and compassionately explained what surgery and recovery would look like. He was very accommodating and found a surgery date that worked for me. The day before my surgery, Dr. Ridley took time out of his day to call me and check in. I’ve had a few surgeries in the past, and he has been the first and only doctor to call me prior to surgery. That small gesture meant a lot to me and again, exemplifies his professional and caring demeanor. The day of surgery, he took time to answer any final questions from me and my parents. The surgery went as perfectly as one could hope and I’ve had minimal to zero pain during recovery and beyond.

I would immediately recommend Dr. Ridley to anyone who is working through hip, shoulder, or knee pain/issues. In the short amount of time that I have known Dr. Ridley, his deep care for his patients is abundantly clear. I am forever grateful for the amazing care I received from Dr. Ridley, his staff, and TCO.

I had both hips replaced at a different location by a different surgeon. My right hip was done in 2016 and the left in 2017. The left hip stared bothering me within 1 year and I tried to walk it off but the pain kept getting worse. I went to see the same surgeon and his exam took less than 5 minutes. It included a brief 10 pace walk in his exam room and a diagnosis by saying “you just have bursitis so keep on walking.” I asked my family physician and he referred me to Dr. Szalapski for another opinion.

Dr. Szalapski told me I did not have bursitis and ran me through a complete series of tests that showed the hip parts were deteriorating and it was putting high metal counts in my system. Both hips need to be revised with different parts. Due to COVID, I had to put surgery off for over 1 year but I had a revision on June 28, 2021. It was the easiest and least painful surgery of all 3 previous ones. In about 10 days, I was walking without and walker or cane. Dr. Szalapski did what he said and I give him the highest marks!

I have been seeing Dr. O’Keefe for several years. In 2012 he fixed my broken femur, which is doing great. I have always had great confidence in him and when he did my knee, he did not disappoint. Before my surgery, I felt well informed and well prepared. The pre-surgery class at Mercy Hospital was so helpful. After my surgery, I had severe muscle cramps and nausea. Dalton, his PA-C, and the nurses worked very hard at figuring out a combination of meds that finally kept both things at bay. Courtney and Marie in PT have been fantastic. They led me and gently pushed me to keep gaining strength and mobility. I feel very much “back to normal” and I couldn’t be happier.

Dr. Kruse was recommended to my by a friend, when a previous physician recommended more physical therapy. Dr. Kruse had a very quick diagnosis, surgery was scheduled, and I was up and walking without pain an hour after surgery. It was a fantastic experience working with him and his team. The Blaine Orthopedic Surgery Center and TCO Blaine facility are beautiful. I will never manage with that type of pain again and I will never hesitate to go back if I need to. I pass along Dr. Kruse’s contact information on a weekly basis. They work wonders!

I have no pain after surgery with Dr. O’Keefe. All is well!