Patient Testimonials

When my active lifestyle was compromised by osteoarthritis of the hip, I was referred to Dr. Owen O’Neill by a relative who had an outstanding experience with him. His expertise with anterior hip replacement, his demeanor, and his exceptional staff made choosing him an easy decision.

TCO’s EXCEL Surgery & Recovery Program streamlines the entire process. From the overnight stay at a nearby care suite to the ease of the bundled invoice to my insurance plan, this program is top-notch. My surgery was on September 3rd and was a real success for me. I moved well after surgery, easily managed my pain, and there were few restrictions other than following Dr. O’Neill’s protocols. I even attended an event 2.5 weeks after surgery and walked easily without a need for any apparatus. I’m convinced the anterior approach is the way to go to get back to life quickly.

I’ve had two follow-up appointments and X-rays and as of November 5th, I am cleared without restrictions (except long-distance running). I will have a standard follow-up appointment in one year. If you’re searching for excellence in a surgeon and team, I wholeheartedly recommend you schedule an appointment with Dr. O’Neill.

In 2018, I was told I needed a hip replacement by another orthopedic practice and I said, I’m not getting one, how long do I have? I was told 3 years. In the Spring of 2024, I had enough ibuprofen and decided to schedule an appointment.  I was also motivated by an upcoming project completion in July. I knew I was going with TCO as I was aware of their reputation. Researching hip doctors, I found Dr. Bircher  and I’m so glad I did, and when I met with him he was professional and to the point. He stated I was good candidate for a successful hip surgery. I enjoyed his friendly confidence. He explained things and as a result, I went in July with no worries. I followed the recommended home therapy and was able to return to work with some caution and restrictions in about 60 days. Follow up appointments were great. Dr Bircher and his staff always gave me all of the time I needed to describe where I was at. I should also add that on the day of the surgery the staff was remarkable. One by one they each came in to meet me to explain their role and to wish me luck; A+ on it all. Do this thing. The pain I had endured was gone immediately after surgery. I used a walker for a two weeks to ensure no falls, then went to a cane and could do pretty much what I wanted to do. By the way great job on the closure too. My scar is as thin as a kite string.

Wonderful experience! I was back walking my two miles after five and a half weeks. Dr. Joseph Nessler is a gifted surgeon!

I am seven weeks post-op after having a total hip replacement done by Dr. Owen O’Neill. I just got home from a high-intensity Zumba class and experienced absolutely no pain! I couldn’t say that before my surgery. I had my procedure done at the Orthopedic Institute. I felt like I was at the Ritz Carlston! Just a beautiful facility with wonderful and caring personnel. Plus, the food was delicious! I stayed one night and had maybe two to three days of pain, nothing severe. I walked without assistive devices by day four, even up and down stairs. I started out by walking maybe two or three blocks and can now walk around the lakes with no issues. I also take many classes at the Eden Prairie Community Center. I had very limited range of motion before surgery and that improves daily. My only question to myself is why did I wait so long? Dr. O’Neill and staff are wonderful and caring. I could not recommend them more highly. Kayla is just a sweetheart. I had the anterior approach, no PT afterwards, and a swift and quite painless recovery.

Dr. Owen O’Neill performed a total hip replacement. I had a degenerative hip which was causing a great deal of pain. I was more than pleased with my pre-operative care, very informative and accessible. I had my surgery in a surgery center instead of in a hospital which decreased the possibility of infection, which was very comforting for me. Dr. O’Neill and his staff were very approachable and always ready to answer any questions. After having some difficulties, I was able to get an appointment to be seen in one day. In other healthcare situations, this is not an option. Dr. O’Neill’s team was very accommodating. My post-op difficulty turned out to be not a medical problem, but my visit certainly eased my mind,  which I greatly appreciated.

I could not have been more pleased with Dr. Owen O’Neill and his care team. From the initial appointment through aftercare, the procedure left me pain-free and able to resume swimming and travel. Never did I expect such results or exceptional care. Thank you once again!

Dr. Owen O’Neill and his team helped me get my life back! I had a hip replacement about 10 months ago. Although I’m still working on rebuilding muscles, my procedure was a success. It’s a treat getting in and out of the car without pain. I can also spend Saturdays doing my usual household tasks. I no longer have to take multiple breaks.

I’ve recommended and will continue to recommend Dr. O’Neill and his team to others. They’re pros. Thank you for all you do!

My surgery with Dr. Bircher was a well-planned and trouble-free experience. The staff was thoroughly professional as well and always kept me in the loop about the details.

I thought I was “too young” for a hip replacement. I tried physical therapy and injections but nothing worked.

I have always been a very active person and run quite a bit. It got to the point I could barely walk around the block.

I met with Dr. Owen O’Neill at the end of June 2024. After reviewing X-rays and my MRI, he determined my hip was bone on bone. My son was getting married at the end of September 2024. I said I wanted to dance at his wedding.

Dr. O’Neill looked me in the eye and said you will. Well, my son got married on Saturday, and I danced the whole night. It was awesome. A big thank you to Dr. O’Neill and his whole team.

After visiting with two other orthopedic surgeons, a friend suggested I meet with Dr. Owen O’Neill at TCO. This friend had both hips replaced by Dr. O’Neill about 10 years ago. Her goal was to be back riding her horse within eight weeks of the surgery and in both cases, she was. While most hip surgeons use the posterior incision method, Dr. O’Neill uses the minimally invasive anterior technique. I knew as soon as I met Dr. O’Neill that I was willing to put my hip health in his hands, and he was able to schedule surgery for five weeks out. Every step of the process was shared with me in advance. After the morning surgery, I was moved to the overnight facility where I stayed until the next morning with round-the-clock care including physical therapy. Dr. O’Neill visited me the morning after surgery, and I was released to go home. Within three weeks, I was driving again and by six weeks, I had resumed most normal activities. My hip pain was gone immediately after surgery, and I have had no pain since then. I was able to climb stairs the day after surgery and as part of the EXCEL Surgery & Recovery program, I walked three times a day until I was walking over an hour a day. This was a life-changing surgery for me. I have resumed regular exercise and travel and am pain-free. In hindsight, I would not have waited so long to have the surgery, but I did so out of fear. Dr. O’Neill is an excellent surgeon, and he and his team at Twin Cities Orthopedics took very good care of me.