Patient Testimonials

Dr. McGarvey – After all these years, Tom thought I could join him on the anniversary of his recovery! We have lost sight of how blessed we are to have found excellent care. You are the center of that and we remain so grateful. I have not forgotten you coming on a weekend to personally wrap Tom’s feet after surgery. We have tried each day to take our blessings and pass it forward. We hope you and your family are blessed with love and support.

Dear Dr. McGarvey,

I know you are anxiously awaiting the annual medical report from your “double calcanesis success story!!” I am happy to report that the feet (heels) are doing great. I have had absolutely no issues. If I am on my feet all day, they are a bit sore and stiff at night. In the morning, after walking around a little – they are like new again! The screws from Menards are not seeming to be loose. You must have used an impact drill and really tightened them down. At age 75, I still downhill ski, but my golf game has not really improved – user error! Cath and I continue to be blessed with good health – neither of us taking any prescription meds. Therefore we are “paying it forward” by kid sitting for young couples and volunteering to help neighbors with projects. When the snow flies, Cath runs the snow blower and cleans out four or five neighbors. She really runs a mean snow blower. We hope this letter finds you, happy, healthy, and enjoying life outside surgery!

Dr. McGarvey – I so appreciate what you have done to fix my feet. Not only do they look and feel better, but I’m pretty sure you saved me from becoming disabled. I never expected such a good outcome. Thank you!

Dr. McGarvey – Almost to our one-year anniversary of my ankle replacement completed in November of 2016. Wanted to thank you for restoring my ankle to a “near” normal state. Am able to do most activities I choose with or no pain. Range of motion good and swelling minimal. Appreciated the great care, professionalism, courtesy and concern for me and family while deciding to do the procedure. Know expectations are not always met with all patients but wanted you to know I am very happy with my decision and the positive results. Please relay to your staff!

Dr. McGarvey – Thank you for my new feet! I never knew how hard I was working at walking around on my deformed feet! I promise to take good care of them! When I saw you last, I mentioned that I had learned to tat some years ago. Tatting is a form of lace making that uses a knot similar to what fishermen use to make nets. It was most popular in the Victorian era (late 1800s). Tatting uses a series of knots and loops to create details. Then, when it is connected and held in tension with itself, it creates the design and form. To me, it is a nice image of how we work together in relationships and as a team. When we are held together, something even greater than the sum of its parts happens. Thanks for what you do!

Dr. McGarvey,

Thank you so much for taking on my second ankle surgery. You are the reason for my successful recovery.

I highly recommend Dr. McGarvey if you are considering foot surgery. I had severe arthritis in my left foot. Today I am pain free for the first time in five years thanks to Dr. McGarvey. Thank you so much!

I broke my ankle about 35 years ago and have had arthritis and pain that limited my participation in sports.

When I went to Twin Cities Orthopedics, Dr. Chris Coetzee told me I was a good candidate for ankle replacement. Within a few months of the surgery, I was given the OK to play again. I played nine holes and had two birdies in my return to the golf course! The next day, I played handball and won both matches. The guys said they thought I moved as well or better than before my ankle angioplasty. It really helps not to have the pain anymore.

I am thankful for Dr. Coetzee and his team who have made it possible for me to play sports and move through life without pain.

I broke my ankle on the playground in fourth grade. Little did I know trajectory at that time. I competed in gymnastics in high school. I learned how to play handball and golf. Some 40 years later, my ankle started to hurt.

Eventually, I visited a noted sport medicine doctor and was told that the early injury brought about an early onset of arthritis. Nothing I could do; maybe wear a brace. Five years later, I visited other specialists, and they all told me I could have my ankle fused and I’ll know when. Another five years, and I was limping so much everyone asked if I hurt myself. I worried I was throwing everything in my body off kilter.

I decided “it’s time” and made an appointment with Dr. Chris Coetzee to get my ankle evaluated for a fusion. After his review, he said I was a candidate for either. I looked at him confused and he explained he could either fuse my ankle or replace the joint. I asked and he explained that everything I had heard about ankle replacements not going well was old news. He said I would be able to run, play handball and golf as much as I liked. I turned to my wife and we decided to go for it. I never looked back!

I used to walk around looking at the ground. We would go on trips and I could describe the sidewalks and streets but not the buildings or landscapes. I was terrified I would stumble and hurt myself. Now, I can walk anywhere without this fear.  Forward, backward, up hills and down hills. My first ankle was more than 10 years ago and my second almost three. I won both the single and doubles Minnesota State Handball Championships in my age division this year. Everyone says I am moving better and better all the time.

Dr. Coetzee and his team at TCO gave all of this back to me. If you are a candidate for an ankle joint replacement, you can’t do better than TCO.

Photo caption:

This summer, at the World Handball Championship held in Minneapolis, four of Dr. Coetzee’s patients gathered for a photo – there are seven replacement ankles on the four handball players (from left), Arnie W., Sheldon S., Scott S. and Larry L.

Handball became my competitive game of choice in the Marine Corps, but by age 60, my body started showing its age. I had both hips replaced in four years, so my handball game started showing its age as well.

When my left ankle started giving me trouble, I went back to TCO and was informed that the arthritis from multiple sprains from various sports had caught up with me and it would have to be fused or replaced.

When Dr. Chris Coetzee said the replacement would take 35 minutes, I asked how an ankle replacement could be done in half the time of a hip. The answer was that no muscles or tendons had to be cut. This convinced me because the gluteus had to be cut in the hip replacements and regaining that muscle memory took some time.

After surgery on the ankle, I asked Dr. Coetzee how long it took and he said 35 minutes, including tightening the outside ligament. As promised, I was back playing handball in three months. It went so well that I did not hesitate to replace my right ankle within 18 months, once it was obvious that it had arthritis as well.

The second replacement took 10 minutes longer because the outside ligament on the right ankle was in worse shape than the left.

I’m now 72 and moving better on the handball court than I have in 10 years. I have even started to run again, a bit slower than before, but there is no pain!