Patient Testimonials

In November 1999, after several years of trying more conservative treatments, Dr. Holte performed L4-5 spinal fusion surgery to relieve stenosis. This was affecting my mobility and causing chronic lower-back pain from normal activities. Some 21 years later, at the age of 70, I remain extremely grateful for the good work and skill of Dr. Holte. While I’m sure medical advances have altered the approach to this surgery, I don’t believe current outcomes could be any better than what I’ve enjoyed these many years and still relish today.

I’ve maintained a highly active life, still participating regularly in cycling, hiking, cross country and downhill skiing, golfing, swimming and several miles of daily walking with our dogs! I’ve also completed several major home improvement projects and volunteer regularly on a building crew with Habitat for Humanity. While “over use” sometimes results in temporary and minor lower back pain, the surgery in 1999 has allowed me to live the life that I was born to live, and I’ll be forever indebted to Dr. Holte for making that possible.

After two failed attempts to fix my thumb, I feel that Dr. Bakker actually listened to me. I truthfully didn’t care what he did because I had researched his qualifications and I felt so comfortable with his decisions, I just wanted to be out of pain and not deal with this left thumb pain anymore! He did exactly what needed to be done. I knew right out of surgery what he did worked because that pain in the pad of my thumb was gone! I’m happy, excited to move forward in my activities (as therapy allows) and stay out of pain!

Also, the staff is so friendly! They call out ‘hello’ when I walk in or ‘thanks, bye now’ when I leave! I love it! I am somebody at TCO!

I highly recommend Dr. Hess. He was my physician for rotator cuff repair. Dr. Hess was professional, as well as very personable. Prior to surgery he explained the procedure in detail and told me expected out comes. His staff offered great follow up support. Thanks to his wonderful work, I am back enjoying golf with no pain.

Dr. O’Keefe did such a great job on my operation. I am very satisfied with his work. I appreciate that he did such great work since it makes my life a lot easier now. I’m so glad I had him as my doctor. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I am a very active person who had been living for several years with a bad shoulder after a fly-fishing accident. I was hoping the shoulder could heal on its own, but finally realized that it wouldn’t, and got an MRI. I was frustrated at how my shoulder joint would give out, cause pain, and I was becoming increasingly worried about how it would become an even bigger problem as I aged.  The MRI showed a near complete tear of my subscapularis tendon and partial tear of my supraspinatus tendon. I took the MRI to Dr. Wulf at TCO and two other highly regarded and experienced Twin Cities shoulder surgeons at prominent clinics.

The two other surgeons looked at the MRI and told me there was nothing they could do for me. They said the subscapularis muscle had atrophied too much to be surgically reattached. They both suggested PT and that at some point I may need either a complete shoulder replacement or surgery to graft some of my pectoral muscle in place of the subscapularis. Dr Wulf, on the other hand, was able to look at my MRI and see that while there was atrophy, there was still enough viable muscle to allow reattachment.  He told me that even if only half of the muscle remained, reattaching the tendons and getting the tissues back in place around the joint would provide the stability I needed to regain performance and keep the shoulder from failing.

Dr. Wulf’s prognosis was what I wanted to hear, but I was still apprehensive given the two other opinions.  I scheduled two additional appointments with Dr. Wulf where I inundated him with questions.  He patiently answered them all, never wavered, and this encouraged me to put my faith in his knowledge, experience and surgical skill.

And he was 100% correct. I could tell early on in my recovery that this was an excellent repair, and that belief has only grown.  After seven months, I am back playing tennis again.  I can serve and stretch for a volley without hurting my shoulder. When I go to the gym, I can do flies without my shoulder giving out.  I can throw a ball and a Frisbee normally. I can put a bike up on ceiling hooks in the garage. I can scoop hard ice cream with my right hand.

Dr. Wulf restored my shoulder. He was the only surgeon who had the insight and experience to see that reattachment surgery was a real possibility, rather than seeing only options of last resort. His surgical skill was evident in my quick, largely pain free recovery and my joint strength. I am grateful that because of his insight, experience, and skill, I am able to regain strength and performance and can continue doing the things I love.

I cannot fully express my gratitude to Dr. Kelly and his staff for their care of my shoulder injury. I sustained a proximal humerus fracture in a ski accident about one year ago. Dr. Kelly’s diligent approach to my surgery and recovery ensured a return to my pre-accident range. The staff, especially Kaici, treated me with the utmost care and concern at each and every appointment. The communication at every step was clear and concise. I would strongly recommend Dr. Kelly as a surgeon.

I was referred to Dr. Szalapski in November 2017 from a friend. I had total knee replacement in 2019 with very happy results. Dr. Szalapski’s assistant, Jessica, was a huge help. Love her! His team was great and very caring. I’m so happy I could walk again with no pain. I went back again to see him in September 2020 to get my right knee replaced. Tracy, on his team, was awesome and I’m glad that they did not do staples on the incision but glue instead. That healed much faster and looks much better than it would have with staples. Thank you Tracy! I am on my way to a great recovery. Once again, thanks to Dr Szalapski and his team. I also loved the Excel Program! That was the best place ever instead of being in a hospital! There was excellent care and awesome nurses with great, private rooms too!

Dr. Szalapski was brought to my attention by my regular physician. After an unfortunate encounter with an icy freeway in January 2020, I found myself in the ditch at 4:50am, on my way to work. My car was messed up, but I figured out later that my body was also. It started off as a nagging pain in my right hip after I hit black ice, drove into the ditch, and hit my hip on the center console at freeway speed. I had a clinic visit a few days later and after that, tried a cortisone shot, all to no avail. I continued working through the pain, which progressively got worse. Then came the Covid-19 lockdown. Clinics were closed for months for general visits. The pain got to the point where I could barely walk, let alone function at work.

Finally, I was able to see my regular doctor who referred me to Dr. Szalapski at Twin Cities Orthopedics. I was familiar with TCO, as I had a very successful right rotator cuff repair on my shoulder, which has held up GREAT since 2011 (thank you Dr. David Anderson). Now I’ve had a total right hip replacement done by Dr. Szalapski, and so far, I have to say, the quality of his surgical expertise, is remarkable! His bedside manner is impeccable, and he has a great sense of humor on top of it. I couldn’t be happier! Thank you Dr. Szalapski!

I was about 31 when I began having hip issues. Eventually I was referred to Dr. Anseth for full hip replacement. After having twins, then losing 100lbs, the ‘fat’ was what was practically holding my hips together. I was born with hip dysplasia so they basically were not working anymore, surprising they ever did. I was experiencing excruciating bone on bone and arthritis pain. I was 33 or so by the time surgery came around and could barely walk and keep up with my 3 year old twin girls. Both hips on scans did not look good, so I had one hip replacement done. Then about 2 years later, the other hip started doing same as first one.

Dr. Anseth was AMAZING. I have seen where a lot of surgeons have no ‘bed side manner’ and he was what all patients hope for. He was kind, made a point of getting to know me… I actually was being wheeled in at Abbott to have surgery on a broken finger with a different doctor a couple years later and I saw him. As he was getting ready for another patient surgery and he stopped to say hello. Was so nice he remembered me. I am now 42 and have had several surgeries, and Dr. Anseth by far is the very best! Thanks Dr. Anseth.

When I first met Dr. David Anderson, my right shoulder had two surgeries in 6 months. Dr. Anderson looked at my shoulder and said, “First, you have to fix what is bad in the basics, in the foundation of the joint. And then you can fix what’s above.” He explained, “It’s kind of like trying to turn a double play when your 2nd baseman is looking and watching the sunset. You can’t do anything until everyone works on the basics, together.” That was in 2003.

Since that time, Dr. Anderson has worked on a couple of broken things, a few dislocated things, and just been a very good friend. And we’ve talked a LOT of baseball! He even helped with a puzzle in my pain research, because he knew about more sports related toys than anyone else — all for his patients, of course! Dr. Anderson is among the top sports physicians in the United States. We are lucky to have him among the surgeons at TCO. And, he’s a really good guy!