Patient Reviews: Dr. Jason Cohen

“I want to express my appreciation and say thank you for allowing me to walk like I am 40ish once again instead of like a 90 year old woman. Dr. Cohen has given me my life back inside of 6 weeks. I am an active 49 year old and love to play golf. In August 2015 on a golf vacation down in Myrtle Beach, I began to fall out of nowhere. I fell four times in three days. I thought it was an old ankle injury causing my foot to feel weak. Then I noticed I could not keep up with my husband walking through the store. Normally I have to stop and wait for him because I walk very fast but my legs felt sluggish and tired. I had my usual pains in my back and took two Aleve before going to the course like I do everyday. I continued to play golf not thinking it was much of anything. The pain in my back progressively got worse over the next three days to the point that I was shuffling my feet, tripping, and could not walk. My legs now felt like they were 100 pounds each. I could not bend down to pick up my clubs or mark my ball on the green. I was in a big tournament and due to the pain that I was experiencing, I had to withdraw. When I returned home to NJ I was in Dr. Cohen's office within three days, and underwent surgery 5 days later. My back and neck are loaded with many issues, but the culprit to this problem were three herniated discs from T-11 down to L-2. They were like spears protruding into my spinal cord pinching off the nerves that allow me to move my legs. As the days went on the nerves were dying. Once the nerves die, you can't revive them. The longer you wait, the less chance of walking normal again, or at all, diminishes. Most people do not know this and wait due to the fear of surgery. They prolong the inevitable by getting injections, physical therapy, and pain medications. By the time they do have the surgery it is less effective for being 100% back to normal. I wanted to be 100% normal and have the ability to play golf again. I wanted to walk without pain and have complete mobility of my legs. So I elected to have spinal fusion on four vertebrae immediately. The way I see it; I do not want to be like my family that has a huge history of back problems. They suffer every day with pain and believe that surgery is the worst thing you can do. This stems from my uncle having back surgery in 1975 and it did not go well. He has put the fear in all of them and this type of surgery is taboo. With today's technology, along with Dr. Cohen's ability to perform such intricacies, there is no need to be afraid. I was more afraid of never walking again and being attached to a wheelchair like my mom because she waited too long, than having the surgery. Thank you Dr. Cohen for taking the time to educate me and for being sensitive to my fears. You gave me my life back and I am so grateful to have met you. You made me feel comfortable in making my decision and I had absolutely no fear before surgery. Immediately after surgery I had complete mobility in my legs and I was walking without pain just as you said I would be. I have no doubt that golf is in my future come April next year. Hope to see you out on the links!!”

“My family sees other physicians within Professional Orthopaedic Associates, and we argue over who had the better experience. Whether for knees, necks, backs, or ankles - we know where to go - Professional Orthopaedic Associates! I have been a patient of Dr. Gabisan's for a little under a year, but I must say that I wish he was not just an orthopaedic. His bedside manner is amazing. He sits, listens, and asks questions to better understand your issue. When you are a patient of his, you are a person not a number or a set of symptoms. I have been having issues with the same ankle over the better course of 7 years. He listened to the each issue, and then went further, and helped me come up with strategies to alleviate the tension and stress on my joint. Not to mention he warned against future injuries in my other ankle because of loosening ligaments. While the physicians are attentive and caring, it is not just Dr. Gabisan who makes the experience comforting, his office staff, Roz and RoseAnne worked with my crazy schedule to help get the scans I needed, and a chance to see Dr. Gabisan where I would not feel rushed. Even though in my future is probably a surgical procedure I think I can say I look forward to knowing that I will have all of the answers to my questions, and someone supporting me through it all.  ”

“I just wanted to let you know that the visit with Dr. Gabison went well. My husband and I were both amazed at how warm and professional he was. Great decision to come in and see him for my knee fracture! Thank you.”

“I've got my life back. It's the best way to describe my experience. Dr. Bade and all the team have been wonderful. Thank you for everything!”

“I would like to thank Professional Orthopaedic Associates for their kind, compassionate, and understanding during my life changing injuries. Especially Dr. David Gentile, Maryann Krug, and Sherry Cumberbatch. They helped me seek and receive treatment when no one else would. I see them as great people with big hearts and a patient comes first attitude. My well-being and recovery I owe to them. Thank you.”

“Our son, Austin, was very blessed to meet the qualifications to compete with members of the U.S. ski team upon their return from races in Norway. He is currently ranked third in the U.S. and 21st in the world in Super G for his age!  Thank you to Dr. Torpey for the wonderful care he has given Austin.”

“I am a 49 year old ex-professional hockey player who had MAKO knee surgery with Dr. Bade and Dr. Gesell.  Prior to the surgery, I could barely walk. The pain in my knee was overwhelming to the point that I was having a hard time performing the more physical aspects of my job (I am a hockey director and coach) and I was unable to participate in my favorite past-time activity, golf. I had a partial knee replacement via MAKO surgery the morning of January 30, 2015, and by the same afternoon, I was up and taking steps with a walker. I had very little discomfort even directly after the procedure; I never even filled the pain medication prescription I was given, I just used over-the-counter ibuprofren, which controlled any discomfort. I followed the recommended course of physical therapy and quickly progressed to normal function. In early March (five weeks post-surgery), I was back on the ice, skating. Two months post surgery, I was back on the golf course. Today, I am three months post surgery and I feel great. I have no limitations and I am functioning at full capacity. I would highly recommend these doctors and this procedure to anyone who is a candidate for it. Dr. Bade and Dr. Gesell are outstanding surgeons and I am grateful for their meticulous care.”

“Dear Dr. Johnson, Clorinda, & All the Office Staff at Professional Orthopaedic Associates, I just want to say again thank you for your incredible kindness and generosity towards me and my family. You are truly the most sincere, caring, and unselfish human beings that I have ever had the pleasure to meet. I have been a patient of Professional Orthopaedic Associates for many years. Dr. Johnson, you have treated our family for at least 30 years now. From my in-laws to my children and now to me. From the moment we met, you always made me feel at peace. I will admit, I have been thrown a couple of curve balls in my time and am very fearful when it comes to doctors, but knowing that I am in your hands, has always left me so comforted. Clorinda, where do I begin. You are the best for always fitting us in for immediate appointments and helping us with paper work and insurance. Your calming presence and efficient organization has pulled this family through many procedures, from fractured bones in my son’s ankle’s, knees, and hand, to my irregular EKGs and then being sent instantly to your own cardiologist. Thank you. Having this tremendous disc pain has been torture. I had been in severe pain for approx. 7 months. My neck, back, and left arm all hurt. My pain got to the point that I could only stand. Sitting was unbearable. Dr. Johnson, you examined me and knew right away that something funny was going on. That same day, I was introduced to your associate Dr. Cohen, who confirmed I needed an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Surgery was scheduled two weeks later after all pre-testing was approved. You have gone above and beyond to help me get to where I am today. Checking on me weekly to make sure all pre-testing was on scheduled and that I was not in pain. I was very afraid as my insurance was not taken at the office and I received a call that night to say not to worry. I am a widow with three children and one still in college, so I was very scared of the finances. Insurance companies denying most everything as they do. And also worrying that the worst would happen in surgery. It is such a foreign concept to be told by your office that  “Professional Orthopedic puts their patients 1st  and not the finances." They explained they would work with my insurance company and they stood by what they said! I am so happy to say that surgery took place April 24th - one week ago. I was home the next day 100% pain free and feeling better that I have in years. I had my follow up visit with Dr. Cohen six days later and was so excited to be told all was successful. Even your front desk staff hugged and welcomed me back. YOUR KINDNESS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTON!!!! You are truly an angel. God bless you for your talent, kindness, and compassion.”

“Dear Dr. Cohen & All the Staff at Professional Orthopaedic Associates, I have to write this thank you letter as it is the least that I can do to show my appreciation for all that you have done for me. My family and I have been patients of Dr. Chris Johnson from the beginning of time and would never dream of going anywhere else. I was suffering with tremendous pain in my neck, back, and left arm for months. I went to the chiropractor thinking it was work-related as I sit on the computer for work all day and boiled it down to poor posture and getting old. Dr. Johnson instantly sent me for an MRI and scheduled an appointment with his associate, Dr. Cohen, the following week. I was unable to sit, drive, or sleep. I was rolling on the floor in pain and the only relief I had was to stand. His exact words were, "no one will touch your spine except Dr.Cohen. He is the best and I would have him do mine." I was very nervous as a widow and sole provider for my three children that my Insurance would be an issue and I would suffer permanent injury to my spine during surgery. Dr. Cohen met with me that following week in the Tinton Falls office as he knew I had a problem driving. He reviewed my MRI films with me and explained that surgery was my only option. He confirmed that I had three herniated discs. He assured me that the insurance needs would be taken care of and all I needed to do was rest and get clearance from the hospital. Wonderful Marilyn (the Surgical Coordinator and Administrative Assistant) scheduled and organized everything for me, even down to a care package that included all expectations of the before and after surgery. She called me on a daily basis to make sure I was ok and that I had all I needed. I have lost many loved ones and am a little fearful of hospitals. Dr. Cohen explained everything in detail to me and treated me like I was one of his family members. He met with me before surgery, after surgery, and visited me that Saturday morning at 7am to see how I was doing. Needless to say, the surgery was a huge success. I was waving my left arm five hours after surgery and I was pain free. I had not done that for months. My scar is so tiny that I can hardly see it. I was also surprised to find out that he had gifted me with a bone growth stimulator that costs over $2,000 that my insurance company would not pay for. Dr. Cohen...thank you a million times over. I will never forget your kindness and being the master surgeon you are. Wishing you continued success in your career. Keep up the great work. YOU ARE THE GREATEST!!!....Bless you.”

“Thank you very much for all that you have done on my behalf.  I really appreciate the time and accommodations made by your wonderful staff.  Thanks again and hopefully, I won't be seeing you soon!”

“I have had two total shoulder replacements and a shattered elbow surgery done by Dr. Bade. There is no one I would trust more than him. He is extremely professional and I now have all the movement in my arms that I had before with no restrictions.”

“When your child breaks a bone, it is a terrifying experience. Unfortunately, my son, Matthew, age 12, broke both bones in his right forearm and experienced a great deal of pain. After being treated at the hospital emergency room, Matthew needed follow-up care from a caring and experienced orthopedist. I asked many friends and family members and they recommended Professional Orthopedists and gave them great reviews. My son and I met with Dr. Johnson and his staff and he was treated with such care, it immediately put us at ease. The technician and nurse who x-rayed Matthew were knowledgeable and gentle, and helped him deal with the pain that he was in. Dr. Johnson then met with us and reassured us that Matthew would have a full recovery. He explained the x-rays in terms that we could understand and showed us how the bones could heal without having to go through surgery. Dr. Johnson used a hard cast to ensure that the bones were set in a corrective position- something that we couldn't imagine when we first saw the x-rays. His sense of humor and great bedside manner kept my 12-year-old son in good spirits, while he kept a nervous mom informed and at ease. At the one week follow-up visit, we met with Dr. Gesell, Dr Johnson's partner. He was also equally caring and professional. Dr. Gesell showed us the follow-up x-rays and showed us how the bones were repairing themselves and were back in a healthy and stable position to fuse back together. Words cannot describe how grateful we are to be in the care of such skilled and professional doctors. Matthew is expected to have a full recovery, which is just amazing after all that he went through. To see him smile and laugh means the world to us. We know that the care he received at Professional Orthopedists made all the difference to him and our family.”

“When your child breaks a bone, it is a terrifying experience. Unfortunately, my son, Matthew, age 12, broke both bones in his right forearm and experienced a great deal of pain. After being treated at the hospital emergency room, Matthew needed follow-up care from a caring and experienced orthopedist. I asked many friends and family members and they recommended Professional Orthopedists and gave them great reviews. My son and I met with Dr. Johnson and his staff and he was treated with such care, it immediately put us at ease. The technician and nurse who x-rayed Matthew were knowledgeable and gentle, and helped him deal with the pain that he was in. Dr. Johnson then met with us and reassured us that Matthew would have a full recovery. He explained the x-rays in terms that we could understand and showed us how the bones could heal without having to go through surgery. Dr. Johnson used a hard cast to ensure that the bones were set in a corrective position- something that we couldn't imagine when we first saw the x-rays. His sense of humor and great bedside manner kept my 12-year-old son in good spirits, while he kept a nervous mom informed and at ease. At the one week follow-up visit, we met with Dr. Gesell, Dr Johnson's partner. He was also equally caring and professional. Dr. Gesell showed us the follow-up x-rays and showed us how the bones were repairing themselves and were back in a healthy and stable position to fuse back together. Words cannot describe how grateful we are to be in the care of such skilled and professional doctors. Matthew is expected to have a full recovery, which is just amazing after all that he went through. To see him smile and laugh means the world to us. We know that the care he received at Professional Orthopedists made all the difference to him and our family.”

“My first visit to Professional Orthopaedic Associates was a pleasant one.  Prompt and professional.  I did not expect such quick service, but glad I chose this practice over others in network.  Thank you.”

“Since 2011, my son had severe pain in his knee for 3 years. I had been to numerous doctors and had MRI's done and was told everything from growing pains to wear different shoes to we cant't see anything wrong. Thank God Dr. Gentile "thought outside the box" and recommended a bone scan on my son's leg. Sure enough, a tumor was found inside his femur and Dr. Gentile recommended a surgeon in Newark who specializes in that type of surgery and it was done last July. My son has been free of pain since. By the way, Dr. Gentile also performed surgery on my hand which feels great. Thank you, Dr. Gentile! You truly are a great doctor!”

“I had my left knee replaced by Dr. Bade, while still working as a police officer when I was 48 years old. I retired from my job two years later and was able to maintain a good lifestyle. I was playing golf, enjoying vacations, and walking normal. Most of all pain free. Several years later, Dr. Bade replaced my right knee. Recovery was much quicker and I was able to lead, what I consider, a normal life for a man in his late 50's. Two years ago, at age 63, I had my left knee redone by Dr. Bade. A knee revision. Within four months of my revision, I drove a motorcyle from New Jersey to Sturgis, South Dakota for bike week. I am able to enjoy my lifestyle, thanks to Dr. Bade. When I go to his office, we laugh at the thickness of my folder. Due to Dr. Bade, I am able to do things not only possible for a man of my age, but better than some my age that have never had my type of injuries. If I would lose the weight that Dr. Bade has asked me to, I would be even better off than I am today. I believe that thanks to Dr. Bade, the last 17 years of my life have been made better because of his procedures.”

“My back was so bad I could not even pick up my 4 yr old for almost a year. One wrong move shut me down for days. I tried everything. I was referred to Dr. Cohen from my pain management doctor. He has made me a new person. Everyone is amazed at how I am pain free and back in the gym. Every time I pick up my son now he always says, "Mommy, I am so glad you can pick me up again," and I get a big hug. Priceless. Dr. Cohen is the most amazing man. I refer everyone to him.”

“Dr. Torpey and the team at Professional Orthopaedic Associates saved my life.  I had a rare dislocation - my right sternoclavicular joint was dislocating, and pressing into my throat and affecting the nerves going into my chest.  Before the surgery, I had lost 1.5 liters of my lung volume and had elevated CO2.  I had to go on a home ventilator to lower the CO2 and help me breathe.  The dislocation was so rare that no one knew who could help - then I was referred to Professional Orthopaedic Associates and Dr. Torpey. Dr. Torpey used a donor tendon to secure my collarbone to my sternum.  Within 3 days my chest wall started to move right, and within 2 weeks the CO2 levels stayed down.  Within 4 weeks, I no longer needed the ventilator.  By August I was back to riding my bike.  I am now able to work full time instead of part time. Thanks to Dr. Torpey, I have a second chance, and a healthier life.”

“Thank you to Dr. Bade and his staff for his continuous and compassionate care throughout the years.  I appreciate everything he has done for me, for over 30 years.  He is truly a first class doctor and his staff is second to none.”

“Thank you to Dr. Bade for all that he and Professional Orthopaedic Associates have done for me.  Your ongoing exceptionally great care has made the most positive impact on not only myself, but my entire family and we could not be more appreciative.”

“I was having pain and experiencing increasing difficulty walking. After a consultation with Dr. Gesell, I was found to have severe arthritis in both hips. I had my right hip replaced on March 12, 2013 and my left hip on April 30. Both surgeries went very well, and I was back to work by June 3. Dr. Gesell is an excellent surgeon, and I would recommend this practice to anyone.”

“I came to Professional Orthopaedic Associates office due to a serious knee issue. After my visits with Dr. Chris Johnson, I was referred to Dr. Mark Gesell for further treatment.  I was unable to walk without a cane and eventually crutches. Dr. Gesell was extremely communicative and understanding with me. We tried the Suparts knee shots first, which I wanted, and after that needed to proceed to knee surgery. I had a partial knee replacement in March 2014 and was standing and walking that same day!  I was in no pain and left the hospital the next afternoon. My experience at the hospital and with Dr. Gesell was 100% positive. Today, in October, I am a new person. I can now exercise, garden all day long, walk without any cane, help or pain, this after over a year on crutches. I will always be grateful to Dr. Gesell for helping me to return to a normal happy life.”

“I had a cyst in the joint of my thumb that interfered with my clinical classes that I needed to take for nursing school. My podiatrist recommended I go to Professional Orthopaedic Associates, specifically the Tinton Falls office to see Dr. Johnson. After consultations with him, we decided a surgical approach would be the best for me based upon the cysts position in between nerves. Shortly after the surgery, I went to occupational therapy, and was quickly able to return to school. Thanks to Dr. Johnson, I didn't have to give up my dream of an education in the medical field.”

“My story has two parts. First, approximately 27 years ago, I was involved in an accident that required knee surgery. Dr. Bade performed surgery to reattach my ACL using two screws. While attending physical therapy, I was informed while the surgery was a huge success; I would be somewhat limited with use and range of motion in the future. I was to be out of work for six months, and I was further disappointed as I am also an avid weight lifter, and this would surely damper my workouts. How wrong the physical therapist was. I returned to work after two months, and to this day, I have full range of motion. I can do any leg exercise from squats to leg press with as much weight as I want, including several hundred pounds, I HAVE NO LIMITATIONS. Now at the age of 46, I have encountered another injury requiring surgery to my left shoulder. I had a bone spur, and tears to my labrum and rotator cuff. Another huge disappointment, as I have finally reached my life goal of bench-pressing 400 pounds.  I live in upstate New York, so traveling to New Jersey for a doctor is a bit of an inconvenience, however, how could I not use the doctor that performed a miracle on my knee 27 years ago. Dr. Bade performed the surgery on my shoulder in April of this year, and once again, I was informed that heavy weight lifting would be out of the question. Once again, they were WRONG. After a lot of hard work, I was able to bench press 400 pounds in September of this same year and feel incredible. Dr. Bade is a miracle worker!”

“I was having sharp pain in my left shoulder. I had a MRI and x-ray done to indicate tendon/muscle damage. Dr. Foos assures that surgery was unnecessary. He answered every question I had BEFORE I ASKED IT!!! Excelled experience.”