James Schlichting

James likes the convenience of his Lakeville town home, where he doesn’t have to cut grass or shovel snow. 

He likes that it’s only 10 minutes to NH+C’s Lakeville Clinic, too. While seeing his primary care provider there, Dr. Jack Felland, James mentioned that his left elbow and right shoulder both hurt. “It’s nice when he says, ‘Is there anything else?’ I just said, ‘Well there’s this pain, it’s not much, but maybe it’s something.’” 

That prompted a referral to orthopedic surgeon Greg Erickson, MD and an MRI. 

It turns out James’ bicep tendon was torn. So was his rotator cuff.  

Both needed surgery to repair them. 

“Dr.  Erickson had to repair the tendon first, because if it tears away from the bone then it’s really serious,” James says. “I could have really screwed up the tendon if I had just continued, if I worked through the pain.” Dr. Erickson repaired the tendon at Northfield Hospital with same-day surgery. 

James plays trumpet; holding his instrument at an angle stressed his bicep. He wore a compression sleeve that made it easier to play music, and pickleball, and do chores. But it didn’t solve the tear. 

Dr. Erickson repaired the tendon with same-day surgery at Northfield Hospital, followed by physical therapy with Corey Tynan, DPT and Kevin Johnson, PT at Rehabilitation Services’ Lakeville clinic.  

Then five months later, James had surgery to repair his rotator cuff.  

Rotator cuff tears often are caused by acute injury. James didn’t have that. “I didn’t have a sudden snap that made it clear something was messed up,” he says. Instead, it built up gradually over six months or so, sharpening and fading off and on.  

Dr. Erickson repaired the shoulder at Northfield Hospital, again with same-day surgery. It was followed by physical therapy to rebuild strength and range of motion, with Kevin Johnson, PT again at NH+C’s Lakeville clinic. 

“Kevin is a great judge of how you’re progressing,” James says. “We started out with 1-pound weights, then two pounds,” building up over four months to modified pushups that build strength in the shoulder and bicep. “Kevin knows what exercises you need and works them into your routine. He helps you push and progress at the right pace with the right level of activity, based on how you’re healing.” 

A rotator cuff takes 6-12 months to fully recover. All of James’ care team emphasized not to overdo it. That was a bummer for pickleball season: “I kept wanting to get back to playing, but I needed to wait,” James sighs. “I didn’t want to go back too early and blow it out again.” 

Taking his time is key to James’ ongoing care, too. “I like that Dr. Felland and Dr. Erickson both have plenty of time to talk to me,” James says. “Dr. Erickson listens, and we have a discussion. He takes his time, and is very thorough.”  

Take James’ thumb: During an appointment for his shoulder, James mentioned that his thumb was clicking and catching – classic trigger finger. Dr. Erickson started with a cortisone shot that very day. After several weeks with no result, Dr. Erickson performed same-day surgery (without putting James under general anesthesia) to release the tendon in James’ thumb to allow it full flexibility.  

That third surgery “made it a trifecta,” James laughs. 

“They’ve all been really good experiences,” he adds. “For being unpleasant procedures, they were all a pleasant experience." 

“At every step of the way Dr. Felland, Dr. Erickson, Kevin and Corey all took time to listen, made me comfortable, and made sure I was taking an appropriate amount of time to fully recover in a safe way.” 

James’ advice for folks feeling tweaks? “Get in when you have a pain before you really damage the tendon or the joint. Listen to your doctor and therapist when they tell you not to overdo it. It’s surprising how long it can take for a joint to fully recover and repair.”  

And trust your home team. “I like that I can get my primary care, surgical appointments, and physical therapy all just 10 minutes from home, in Lakeville,” James says. “I like that surgery takes place in Northfield. For people in south metro suburbs, this is a great option for excellent care that’s close and convenient.” 

Pain-free.