Patient Testimonials

I dislocated my left knee cap twice, my right knee cap once, and broke my wrist and collarbone in the span of 3.5 years, injuries which have threatened my hockey career. My second knee cap dislocation happened shortly after my first so I was referred to Dr. TJ Ridley at TCO. Dr. Ridley laid out my options in a way that I could easily understand. He didn’t pressure me and gave me time to make a decision that would work best for me.

I chose to have a medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction. Dr. Ridley performed the surgery, and it went very well. His care team made sure that I was taken care of throughout the process. I knew what to expect and what I needed to do to recover as soon as possible.

During my recovery, Dr. Ridley referred me to Justin Nicol, a Sports Physical Therapist at TCO Vadnais Heights Therapy & Performance, who helps hockey players return to the ice. Justin had me on the ice for physical therapy and was instrumental in getting me back to playing games sooner than I expected. I loved the ACE – Hockey program and would recommend it to anyone. Big thanks to Dr. Ridley and Justin!

Dr. Duncan thoroughly explained the procedure for surgery. He answered any questions and concerns. Surgery went well and I am back to normal. I received excellent care.

I just had my 2 month post-surgery appointment with Dr. O’Neill, and am thrilled to report that everything about the preparation, actual surgery, and post-surgery follow-up has been nothing less than spectacular! Every single interaction that I had with the good Doctor and his amazing team exceeded my highest expectations. Prior to the surgery, his team provided helpful information and prepared me on what to expect throughout the entire process. Every single member of the team was incredibly professional and welcoming. It always felt like they had all of the time in the world for me. They wanted to make sure that my concerns were answered and my experience with them was top notch. Dr. O’Neill has an amazing reputation based upon his surgical skill and dedication. My experience is another testament to his proficiency and expertise. I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. O’Neill and his team for anyone considering a hip replacement. I am so excited going forward to enjoy life with my new hip.

Dr. Coetzee is a great surgeon and more importantly, he was a very positive influence during my healing journey.  Every time we came for an appointment, I left more convinced that I could play in my final senior college season.  Because of that confidence, I overcame the physical and mental challenges from my injury.  Although our team fell just short of the playoffs this year, I was able to finish my UND college career as the #2 all-time for solo tackles, #2 all-time for tackles, 3^rd in interceptions, and 5^th in a number of other categories (i.e., pass break-ups, single season records)….and I walked off the field using my own two feet!! Next up?  Training for the NFL Combine. I’m forever grateful.

Late in August I had debilitating pain in my legs making it impossible to walk. I saw Dr. Deal and he had me get an MRI. He saw the problem at T12/L1 of my spine. There was pressure being put on my spinal cord. He did numerous procedures to correct the problem ending with a spine fusion. The result was great and the pain was totally gone. I would recommend Dr. Deal and TCO to anybody and I do.

I would like to endorse Dr. Tanner to everyone who has foot issues. He is extremely talented very attentive to my issues. As an international level athlete back in the 70s, we had very few physicians that had a clue about musculoskeletal injuries, and fewer that knew how to treat them. So many of us baby boomers are wearing out, old injuries are becoming a very real quality of life issue. So dealing with multiple injuries is not foreign to me. Dr. Tanner is only one of two physicians who listened to me and fixed foot issue (the first time). In my experience that’s a bit of a rarity, since I am still waiting (because of COVID) to have both of my shoulders repaired/replaced for the third time. Super thanks again Dr. Tanner!

5 years ago I had bi-lateral knee replacement surgery done by Dr. Kruse, and the surgeries were 3 months apart. The surgeries went well and my recuperation went well too. I’m using those repaired knees pain-free now, as I recuperate from recent heart bypass surgery. As I do rehab for my heart, I am once again realizing that my knees are able to do the necessary walking and biking motion without any stiffness or pain thanks to Dr. Kruse and my knee surgeries. He is a great surgeon, patient focused and motivated me to use my new knees. I would highly recommend him to care for others.

My 10 year old had his finger tip cut off by a door hinge. It was a traumatic experience thinking about how the process of surgery and healing would go. Dr. Olmsted did a fantastic job. When I was sitting with my son pre-surgery, I asked Dr. Olmsted how long it will take. His response was exactly what I wanted to hear. He said usually 30-45 minutes but I’m going to take my time to make sure it’s done just right. And he certainly did! It looks amazing and you can hardly tell the difference. I highly recommend Dr. Olmsted. We are so pleased with the end results.

Dr. Ridley performed surgery on in November 2021. I am 12 weeks out and I feel almost 100%. I am very thankful for his expertise and the way he took his time with me and answered all of my questions. I never felt rushed or that I was just another person with an injury. I highly, highly, recommend Dr. Ridley. You will be in great hands.

I have had lower back pain for years. I learned to live with my pain, using treatments that helped me cope. I have had several epidurals which gave me some relief from the pain, along with a variety of medications. In 2021, my back pain was the worst it has ever been. I love to garden, but found myself avoiding tasks I enjoyed to prevent flare-ups. Simple tasks like cutting the grass would be followed by two or three days of intense pain. I was miserable.

I made an appointment with Dr. Wanderman last fall. When I met him, he said that he was going to fix my back problems with surgery. Last April, my urologist informed me that the prostate cancer I had managed to fight off in 2018 had returned. Dr. Wanderman assured me that after the surgery I would live out my remaining years pain-free. I had my surgery in November 2021. It’s only been a couple months and I am happy to share that I no longer feel that miserable back pain which limited my life activities for so long. I am still on the road to recovery, but I am looking forward to getting back into my garden and yard this spring – pain free.