Blog Archive

Nearly 100,000 New Jersey residents participate in the state’s medical marijuana program, finding relief from chronic pain and other symptoms for a wide range of chronic health issues.  You might think that because recreational marijuana use is legal in the state, that it's easier to get a prescription, too. But...

Shoulder pain is a common problem for many people, especially as they age. In fact, as many as two-thirds of people suffer from sore shoulders at some point during their lifetimes, and many of those symptoms are due to problems with the rotator cuff. With offices in West Orange and...

Roughly 60 million Americans have doctor-diagnosed arthritis, along with the aches, pains, and stiffness the disease can cause. The knees are a common site for arthritis, thanks to all the years of wear-and-tear exerted on these major weight-bearing joints. As a leading orthopaedics specialist in West Orange and Bayonne, New...

Hip replacement surgery has become a relatively common procedure in the United States, and one that stands to become more common as the population ages.  Direct anterior hip replacement is a surgical approach and technique that is less invasive than the traditional posterior approach, making it the preferred alternative for many of our patients...

As its name implies, sports medicine plays a big role in helping athletes stay healthy and get the most from their sport. But don’t be fooled: Sports medicine offers plenty of benefits for other people, too, including nonathletes who want to tap into all the benefits of an active lifestyle....

Cartilage is a durable, resilient substance that makes up the bulk of your body’s connective tissue. While cartilage performs various functions, one of its primary roles is to protect the ends of your joints from repetitive wear-and-tear, jolts, and other damaging impacts.  Even though cartilage is tough, it’s not indestructible....

Nearly three-quarters of Americans have shoulder pain at some point during their lives, with symptoms that can quickly interfere with even the simplest daily activities. That’s partly due to the joint’s complexity: With lots of components, your shoulders are susceptible to many types of injuries. Fortunately, James M. Lee Jr., MD, and...

Hip pain affects people of all ages, and it’s not uncommon. In fact, research shows that as many as 40% of active athletes have hip pain, as well as about 15% of people over age 60. You rely on your hips for lots of activities, which is one reason why...

In New Jersey, medical marijuana has been used legally for more than a decade. But the use of prescription cannabis is still surrounded by a lot of confusion, especially among patients who aren’t sure how their treatment might affect specific aspects of their lives. For medical use, cannabis can only be...

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) plays a crucial role in supporting your knee joint, keeping it stable, and helping it function. When the ACL tears, it can have significant consequences for your health, your mobility, and your quality of life. Physical therapy plays a major role in healing ACL tears...

First legalized more than a decade ago, medical marijuana use in New Jersey helps many state residents cope with illnesses and conditions that would otherwise cause devastating symptoms.  Although New Jersey was one of the first states to adopt such legislation, the law isn’t as broad as many people think. As...

Every year, about 2 million Americans seek medical treatment for rotator cuff tears, shoulder injuries that cause pain and shoulder stiffness.  Conservative treatment, like rest or physical therapy, works for some mild tears, but other injuries require surgery to repair the joint and restore normal function. At Orange Orthopaedic Associates,...

Sciatica is a common cause of lower back pain and hip pain. In fact, as many as 40% of Americans suffer from sciatica at some point during their lives.    The good news: Sciatica frequently improves with conservative management. But sometimes, sciatica can be so severe, it can make it...

School sports season is here, and with it comes an increase in sports-related injuries, including injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), one of the major ligaments that supports normal knee function.  ACL injuries are fairly common sports injuries, but they can be the result of falls, car accidents, and...

More people are using knee braces than ever before, due in part to an increase in knee arthritis, as well as improvements in knee brace design.  You might think bracing is only used for sports injuries or after surgery, but knee braces offer plenty of other benefits, too — especially...

You know exercise is good for you. But most people don’t know how good. As it turns out, today many doctors prescribe exercise in much the same way as they prescribe medicine — with specific purposes and goals focused on your individual health needs. At Orange Orthopaedic Associates, board-certified and fellowship-trained...

About 10% of Americans suffer from chronic hip pain, a joint problem that, like a lot of other joint problems, becomes more common with age.  While some women and men are able to manage their symptoms conservatively with medication and physical therapy, others need more aggressive treatment to relieve symptoms and restore...

Knee pain is a common symptom for American women and men, and data show it’s actually on the rise. While some knee symptoms can be treated conservatively, there are some problems that require a surgical solution to restore normal, pain-free joint function. At Orange Orthopaedic Associates, board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic...

Every year, millions of American athletes sustain sports injuries, ranging from mild bumps and bruises to more serious conditions.  Sports medicine specialists are trained to handle all sorts of injuries, using state-of-the-art techniques and technology to help athletes and other active people heal and get back to the activities they...

You might think of arthritis as affecting only older people, but kids can have arthritis, too. In fact, in the United States, it’s estimated that nearly 300,000 kids have a type of arthritis known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which causes pain and swelling in the hips, knees, or other joints. ...

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has been around for quite some time. But over the past decade or so, its use in treating orthopedic issues has soared. That’s because PRP works so well in promoting natural healing, repairing damaged tissues, and reducing inflammation. As a top orthopedic specialist in North Jersey,...

Almost 9 million sports injuries happen each year in the United States, leaving patients of all ages bumped, bruised, and sore. Fortunately, today there are plenty of medical treatment options to help athletes of all levels get back to the activities they love and even prevent future injuries. At Orange...

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely used in orthopedics and other areas of medicine to help jump-start the natural healing process.  One reason it’s so popular among both doctors and patients is because PRP is made from your own blood — specifically, components that spur tissue repair and restoration. PRP is...

More than 54 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease caused by wear-and-tear inside your joints. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, including your hips. In fact, it’s a relatively common cause of hip pain in many older men and women. Research shows the lifetime risk of hip arthritis...

People experience shoulder pain for a variety of reasons. Most often, it’s related to some form of arthritis. Other causes include rotator cuff issues or a traumatic injury.  While shoulder replacement surgery is less common than hip and knee replacements, it’s equally as successful. About 53,000 people have a shoulder...

Whether you call them tennis shoes, running shoes, or sneakers, it’s important to get the right athletic shoes for you and for the sport you play. Of course, you may not need sneakers. You may need cleats, running shoes, or high-top basketball shoes.  Whatever you call them or whatever type...

Hip pain is not unusual. It’s often a complaint of older adults, although it can affect anyone at any age. Athletes are particularly at risk of hip pain and injuries. About 30-40% of adults who play sports go on to experience chronic hip pain.  Among adults over age 60, about...

You put a lot of pressure on your knees. The knee joint connects two large bones and transfers your entire body weight to your feet. It’s also less stable when it bends. For these reasons, knee injuries are common.  Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are one of the most common...

With all its moving parts and responsibilities, the rotator cuff often gets injured. In fact, about 3 million Americans experience a rotator cuff injury each year.  Your rotator cuff is composed of tendons and muscles that surround your shoulder joint. These tendons and muscles connect your shoulder bone, or scapula,...

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is an innovative and increasingly popular treatment for osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting over 32.5 million Americans. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease or simply wear-and-wear, can affect any joint in your body but most commonly occurs in your hands,...

Arthritis is a common chronic condition. Although there are hundreds of types of arthritis, the most common is osteoarthritis. More than 50 million American adults have some form of arthritis. The term arthritis means "inflammation of the joint." Different types of arthritis lead to inflammation of the joint by different...

Knee arthroscopy is both a diagnostic and treatment tool. These days, it's widely used to treat a variety of knee injuries because it's a minimally invasive procedure. Minimally invasive means less blood, pain, and scarring for most injuries. The term arthroscopy comes from two Greek words: “arthro" (joint) and "skopein"...

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is an innovative treatment for a variety of musculoskeletal issues. One of the reasons we’re seeing PRP therapy grow in popularity is that it harnesses your body’s own natural healing powers. During PRP therapy, we draw your blood and place it in a centrifuge, which spins...

Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a key ligament that helps stabilize your knee. A ligament is a tough fibrous band that connects one bone to the other. The ACL connects your thigh bone to your shin bone. ACL tears are common injuries among athletes. About 100,000 to 200,000 ACL...

Does your shoulder hurt when you’re reaching for something overhead? Does the pain interfere with your sleep? If so, you may be one of the 2 million people with a rotator cuff injury in the United States.  Your rotator cuff is made up of a group of tendons and muscles...

Sports medicine can help weekend warriors, hardcore athletes, professional athletes, and people wanting to start playing a sport. In short, sports medicine can help any athlete or athlete wannabe get stronger, prevent injuries, play better, or recover from an injury.  Dr. James M. Lee Jr. of Orange Orthopaedics is a...

Legal in 44 states, medical marijuana helps people with a variety of medical conditions. New Jersey legalized medical cannabis in 2010 to treat a number of qualifying conditions, but marijuana has been used for medicinal purposes by some groups of people for over 3,000 years.  Large-scale scientific studies are limited,...

Two important truths about ACL injuries are that they are one of the most common knee injuries and they don’t always require surgery. But if you’re an active adult who plans to continue participating in sports, we usually recommend surgery. ACL stands for anterior cruciate ligament, which is one of...

What hurts? If you’re in pain, you’re not alone. More than a quarter of Americans reported that they had had a problem with pain that persisted for more than 24 hours. In fact, pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined.  Pain is a general term that...

Legal in 33 states, including New Jersey, medical marijuana is becoming more widely used to treat a variety of conditions, including epilepsy, chronic pain, and anxiety. In New Jersey, medical marijuana use has tripled in the last three years.  The most common use of medical marijuana is for chronic pain....

If your hip hurts and the pain prevents you from doing the things you enjoy, like walking and sleeping, and other treatments have failed to reduce your pain, you may be a candidate for hip replacement surgery.  If you’re reluctant to get surgery, it may help to know that nearly...

PRP, which stands for platelet-rich plasma, is an innovative therapy for treating osteoarthritis, other forms of joint pain, and other musculoskeletal issues. Made from your own blood, PRP uses your body’s natural healing processes to accelerate cell regeneration and growth. This accelerated cell regeneration helps relieve pain and inflammation and...

It may seem like an oxymoron to recommend moving when it hurts to move. But osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative joint disease that results in inflammation and wear-and-tear of joints, can get worse if you don’t exercise.  Osteoarthritis affects over 32 million adults, mostly those over 60, and often impacts your...

Sports medicine specialists help treat a variety of sports and activity-related issues. While sports medicine physicians help professional athletes perform at their maximum capacity, they also help people just getting into a sport or exercise routine.   As medical experts nationwide tout the many health benefits of getting regular exercise,...

Are you in pain? That is the first thing you should consider when thinking about shoulder replacement surgery, also called shoulder arthroplasty. While shoulder replacement is not as common as hip and knee replacement surgery, it’s equally as effective at eliminating pain and helping people return to activities they once...

Our bodies make all kinds of cracking and popping sounds. Some are benign, and some are not. Sometimes we don’t even know we have a problem until we suddenly have pain or trouble moving. This is especially true with our shoulder joints. So, how do we know when the sounds...

You love being active, playing with friends, and pushing your body to its limit. But, in an instant, you can sustain a sports injury that can take weeks or months to recover from. At Orange Orthopaedic Associates, James M. Lee, Jr., MD, can help you overcome sports injuries. Better yet,...

Ask people you know who have dealt with knee pain, and you can expect to hear about varying levels of discomfort and limits on their activities. Maybe you don’t even have to ask; you know by seeing whether they’re able to do the activities they’ve always done, or whether just...

If your hip pain hasn’t improved with conservative treatments, such as medication, physical therapy, and exercise, you may benefit from hip replacement surgery. With more than 95% of patients reporting relief after surgery, the procedure is highly successful in treating pain and improving mobility.  If you decide to have hip...

Living with chronic pain from an injury can have devastating results. You may feel hopeless with the non-stop discomfort and ineffective treatments. The limited mobility and isolation that can result are associated with an increased incidence of anxiety and depression, opioid dependence, and lower quality of life among people with...

Do you know just how important proper shoes are? Your feet are your body’s first point of impact with the ground, and walking with the wrong kind of shoes can place stress on your hips and knees, the largest joints in your body.  Even athletic shoes like sneakers can cause...

Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a primary ligament in your knee joint, connecting your thigh bone (femur) to your shin bone (tibia) and helping to keep your knee strong and stable. Without a healthy ACL, your knee becomes weak and unstable — and you’ll be left sitting on the...

When you think about sports medicine, you might assume that sports medicine experts only help athletes recover from injuries, but that’s just part of what they do. Sports medicine is a comprehensive collection of services and treatments designed for athletes to help them not only recover, but get stronger, faster,...

Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround and protect your shoulder joint. The muscles and tendons in your rotator cuff keep the head of your upper arm bone (humerus) securely in place in your shoulder socket. An injury to these muscles and tendons can cause...

While it’s one thing to wake up with achy knees after an active day, it’s quite another to battle constant, and nagging, knee pain. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14.6 million adults in the United States are plagued by severe joint pain, and knees rank...

People suffering from joint pain now have more treatment options than ever.  Pain medications with unwanted side effects and invasive surgery are no longer the only treatments available when you have pain in your knees, hips, or elbow. Orange Orthopaedic Associates offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to heal damaged soft...

Your hips are instrumental in just about any movement you make. You use them when you sit, stand, walk, and lie down. Many people struggle with hip pain and with figuring out the underlying cause. Dr. James Lee Jr., here at Orange Orthopaedic, has a few things he wants you...

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, around 53,000 people will get a shoulder replacement this year. Once a procedure only done to treat fractures, today the shoulder replacement can provide pain relief and restore range of motion for those suffering from debilitating conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and avascular necrosis....

ACL injuries aren’t uncommon, but in most instances, the only time we hear about them is when a player in a traditionally male-dominated sport like football or basketball gets injured. As a result, many people tend to think of ACL injuries as happening far more often among men. But actually,...

About a half million people have hip replacement surgery every year in the U.S., and researchers say that number is on the rise, probably at least in part due to an increasingly active aging population. But an increase in the number of people having hip replacement isn’t the only change...

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment is an innovative and state-of-the-art procedure often used by athletes to speed the healing of damaged tissues. It can be used to help individuals who have suffered a variety of orthopedic injuries heal and get back on their feet sooner than with other types of treatments....

Your shoulder endures so much motion and stress that an injured rotator cuff often needs surgery to restore optimal strength and stability.After your procedure, it’s vital to give your shoulder enough time to heal, but you may speed up your recovery by following these tips from experienced orthopedic surgeon Dr....

Hip replacement surgery can be stressful for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the prospect of a long recovery. After your surgery, you’ll need help with your chores, cooking and cleaning, and even some of the basic activities you usually don’t think twice about, like showering,...