Patient Testimonials

I am so glad that I had my full knee replacement surgery done as the experience exceeded my expectations. The surgery was easy and pain free. Afterwards, I was driven to the EXCEL Program that was a few miles down the road from the TCO Edina location at the Crosstown Surgery Center. I ordered restaurant food from the Taverns menu and was educated on physical therapy. They put an ice compression pack on my leg which I ended up renting for four weeks so I could use it at home. On the same day as the procedure, I was already starting physical therapy. There was no pain which surprised me. I had some good pain medication after surgery and the nerve blocks really helped. I didn’t have pain until I got home and the pain medication and nerve block started wearing off.

You want to try and stay ahead of the pain as much as you can. I did physical therapy twice a day, walked as much as I was comfortable with, and didn’t work for two and a half weeks. I went to my scheduled physical therapy sessions and when those ended, I did them independently at home. It has now been two months and I am pain free.

This new knee is already better and more painless than my original knee. I can finally work out after not being able to for about 12 years. Previously, I could work out my upper body, but since I couldn’t use one leg very well, it was more likely that I wouldn’t work out at all. I climb stairs, do leg squats, snowshoe thru deep snow for miles. It is wonderful!

I had a lot of swelling and bruising but it is still reducing every week. The EXCEL Program really is a miracle, and I would do it again if I need my other knee replaced. I am impressed with TCO and everyone I met. They make it so you are on your way to better health and with confidence. Super great!

Dr. Carlson did a great job working with me both during pre-op and post-op. The procedure was easier and the recovery was faster than I thought they would be. I had physical therapy with Mike Stay and Catherine Slaymaker at TCO Plymouth. Just under six weeks out, I am done with PT and getting back to my normal routine. The services I have gotten from Twin Cities Orthopedics have always been outstanding. Besides my recent knee replacement, they have done two shoulder replacements and an ankle replacement for me. I highly recommend Dr. Carlson and the entire care staff at TCO. They will be doing my future joint replacements.

Dr. Carlson and Melissa Thompson were outstanding in their determination to fix an inappropriate denial of a partial knee replacement by my insurance company. The surgery needed to be rescheduled and Dr. Carlson called to personally apologize despite the situation not being his fault. Both Dr. Carlson and Melissa gave it their full effort to help resolve my problem. I am very pleased with the way the TCO team responded to the situation. Thank you to everyone involved!

If you need a knee replacement, Dr. Bircher is the doctor for you! I wish I knew about him earlier otherwise I would have gotten my procedure done a lot sooner. I am five months into my recovery and better than ever. I don’t know how he did it, but my pain was minimal, my scar is small, and I only had a bit of bruising. His care, along with his team, is very personal. I knew just what to expect. The physical therapy team at TCO was phenomenal too! I know who to call with any future knee issues. Thank you to Dr. Bircher and his team!

I couldn’t be happier with the results of my two knee replacements. I would highly recommend Dr. Nessler and has team. They did a fantastic job!

I had my one-year follow-up visit after total knee replacement surgeries on both knees. My knees are great with no more stiffness, pain, or arthritis. I can enjoy a normal quality of life again. If you are experiencing knee pain and considering surgery, I highly recommend Dr. Jason Barry and Rebecca Munson, PA-C. They are great!

Dr. Barry and Rebecca did a great job on my knee replacement. The recovery time at Twin Cities Orthopedics was fantastic.

Dr. Bircher did my left knee replacement in April 2025, and my right knee replacement in September 2025. He is a fabulous doctor! I would recommend him and his team to anyone. I am extremely happy with my new knees, and I can participate in regular activities again. What a blessing for sure!

Dr. James Bircher replaced my left knee on September 9th, 2025. It feels amazing and I am super happy with him and his team! They have been very professional and courteous toward me. Thank you again to Dr. Bircher and his team. I am looking forward to having my right knee replaced on January 6th.

For years I suffered with knee pain attributed to arthritis. After suffering a few falls, which unfortunately had me landing on my knees, I began going to physical therapy in hopes of strengthening the knee and reducing the pain. The therapist at TCO highly recommended me to Dr. Bircher.

He has been wonderful with his calm and patient personality! He gently guided me through alternative procedures to surgery, since I felt I was not ready to go through with an operation yet. The cortisone injection sadly had no effect on my pain. A few months later, we tried a gel injection. It worked for two months and significantly relieved my pain, but not the full six months like we had hoped. We tried the gel injection one more time after a six-month break and there it had no effect that time. He never made me feel rushed during our appointments and he let me take my time voicing my fears and concerns. Thanks to Dr. Bircher’s patience and dedication in trying to find alternative solutions before surgery, I finally agreed to the knee replacement.

On the day of my procedure, I was reassured, impressed, and comforted during visits from his team as they each explaining their “role” in the process. The Rom-tech device and the ice compression machine were both vital in my first month of recovery. Regular physical therapy following the procedure was another requirement to help strengthen the knee and start regaining mobility. I cannot say enough good things about Dr Bircher, his team, and the TCO Excelsior therapy staff!