Patient Testimonials

I first came to TCO for a cortisone shot in my right shoulder, due to a bicycle accident which happened years before. I was treated for this at another facility and the shots provided no relief. I have now had two shots at TCO and both gave me relief for almost two years, each time. I started having wrist pain in my left wrist and was diagnosed with inflammed tendons. I was given a shot and told that if it doesn’t work well, I will need surgery. Ultimately surgery had to be done with Dr. O’Keefe. I am one week post-op now. I have no pain and my range of motion is returning.

I would recommend Dr. Butterfield to anyone and everyone. I saw him after being recommended to TCO by a competitor that new I needed the best in the field. Dr. Butterfield respectfully and compassionately listened to me, then proposed a plan. I had been in horrific pain for a year and had some old injuries that were acting up due to the new issue. He fixed everything! Twenty years of pain gone after one, albeit major, surgery. He is a terrific surgeon. I cannot praise Dr. Butterfield enough.

I knew right away after meeting with Dr. Hoel that I trusted him and wanted him to do my surgery. I could no longer walk a short distance or stand for 5 minutes. We discussed my options together and decided surgery would be the best option. He explained the surgery so that I understood exactly what was going to happen and took the time to call my husband and explain it to him. The minimally invasive procedure had many advantages over the way the way this surgery use to be performed. Following surgery, he visited me every day I was hospitalized and he was so kind and concerned about how I was doing, sharing my x-rays with me and reassuring me. I am now 6 weeks out of surgery and have no pain. My surgery was 100% successful! I can now walk and stand as far and long as I want. I have my life back and cannot thank Dr. Hoel enough.

On February 16, 2020 I tore my ACL. I was devastated. I was supposed to finish school last summer but I couldn’t do the required physical portions. Thankfully, I was lead to Dr. Heikes and her team, Megan, PA-C and Calli. With their help I had two successful surgeries and completed 9 months of physical therapy. Throughout my recovery I felt defeated more times than not, but with trusting and listening to my team, I gained a lot of confidence. They were never wrong and they always knew exactly what to do. Today, I have graduated college and am so grateful to have had such an amazing team from TCO! I have been able to return to my normal, active self and do the things I love to do! Thank you all.

I tore my right ACL during summer basketball in 2019 and had surgery with Dr. Mair. Recovery was long and hard, especially in the first months when I couldn’t do much of anything, but I had no issues with my graft or scars. I was able to play some fall league basketball and the first half of my junior volleyball season before I tore my left ACL jumping in warmups. It was devastating but I chose to have surgery again. The first months of recovery were again very slow and I had some issues with stiffness and pain in my joint. Despite that, I’ve been making progress with my physical therapy and I’m happy to say that I’m about 6.5 months post-op. I’m hoping to be cleared in a couple months to enjoy my senior year of sports. Thanks to Dr. Mair for his help!

I broke my ankle while out walking and required surgery to repair it. I now have a plate and a bunch of screws in my ankle, but I really don’t notice them to be honest. Though thinking about the surgery was scary, the folks at Twin Cities Orthopedics were spectacular at guiding me through the process with confidence. Dr. Edward Kelly was my surgeon and he not only did excellent work in my operation, but also has been very helpful as I recover by being very encouraging and straightforward abut what to expect along the way. All-in-all, though breaking my ankle was a tough pill to swallow, the staff at TCO has made the entire experience one that was handled with class and great care. My advice to any “ankle-breakers” out there is simply this: you can fully trust the medical processionals at TCO. Five years ago they successfully fixed a neck issue I had via surgery and now more recently have fixed my ankle. In both cases, they were top-notch. I would highly recommend them to anyone!

When I first sought out a consult for knee replacements, I asked for a physician with a good bedside manner. I was immediately directed to Dr. Heikes and I have never been disappointed. Not only is she one of the kindest, most caring doctors I’ve had, she also takes her time to listen and get to know you as a person. She makes sure you are not just a patient to her – you are an individual with a story.

Before I met Dr. Heikes, I was told by several surgeons that I was too young for knee replacements. I was given very few options to try and none of those worked. Dr. Heikes always thinks outside the box. She found solutions when others found dead ends. When those solutions were used up, she gladly and expertly replaced my knees. First it was a set of partial replacements and then, when the rest of my knees were in need, she completed bilateral total replacements.

The deep concern and precise care that she shows is not unique to herself, but to her physician assistant Megan Armstrong as well. Together they form an incredible team to give the best care I could have asked for. I am walking and playing with my kids today because of them. They gave me back my life and my mobility and for that I am so very grateful. If you’re searching for the right medical team for you, I cannot recommend Dr. Heikes and Megan Armstrong PA-C enough.

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.

I had my right shoulder done in 2019 and my left done in 2020. My surgeries went very well. Recovery with physical therapy was intense but very successful. For 20 years I struggled with not being able to dress properly, reach above my head, lift grocery bags, golf, and many other things needed in daily life. No one offered help until I saw Dr. Dieterle and he suggested a reverse total shoulder surgery because both rotator cuffs were not good. I am very pleased with the outcome and that I am able to do most everything like normal. If anyone needs to have this procedure done do not wait years, it’s not worth the misery of pain and inconveniences.

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!