Brief Answer:
The diagnosis is CPRS.

Detailed Answer:
Dear Hxxxxxxx,

Thanks for writing to us. I am Dr. Neel Kudchadkar and I'll help you make up the minds of your orthopedic doctors. I have read your question very carefully. I have analyzed it from every angle. I certainly would go with the CRPS diagnosis. This is a fact as what you have, cannot possibly be sciatica, regardless of the fancy investigations asked for by the last pain specialist.


1) You've obviously had a lousy accident.
2) That you had to seek specialist treatment for the same.
3) All this, in a nutshell indicates trauma as opposed to a quick diagnosis of sciatica.
4) Sciatica could possibly warrant a different sort of thinking and treatment.
5) It's my gut instinct and intuition that makes me say this, as I have been treating such patients with a similar clinical profile as yours. Today, fortunately, all of my patients have recovered almost fully, and are not held back by any deficit in functioning.
6) Thus there is a silver lining as regards the suffering you have undergone.

I appreciate your eye for detail in the query. Thanks.

I stand by my diagnosis of CPRS.

And, I personally value your opinion, so I would please ask you to write back as regards what you feel and think, other significant people's views, about this issue.

Being a sports man myself, I have experienced such injuries and I personally know for a fact what you are going through. I would keep away from opiate pain killers like Tramadol, as Heroin is the king of opiates, and all these super pain killers are created from morphine and heroin analogues.

I would kindly suggest that (in order to rid you of the pain)::

1) Take an SNRI drug.
You have 2 choices::
1) Effexor, which is Venlafaxine, it's great for pain and non addictive.
2) Ventab, which is the "sister" of Effexor -- called as Desvenlafaxine.
2) Purchase a TENS device online. You have to use it exactly like a wand to ward off the pain.
Relief is obtained due to the special square wave currents that stimulate the production of
natural pain killers in the body.

I have used these methods on many of my patients for the last 11 years of my experience in my hospital.

So, dear, please supply me with arguably any information that can help me ease your pain, because that's the reason I am here, to help you squash and vaporize the tormenting pain.

Do write back, You are indeed welcome to Health Care Magic anytime.

Have a wonderful day,
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar

---

Brief Answer:
Alpha Stim - Old is gold.

Detailed Answer:
Dear Hesketh,

I most profoundly apologize for replying so late.
Of course, you need your information.
And I enquired about TENS devices, not the marketing and advertising propaganda supplanted on countless web pages on the net, but wanting the best for you I had to call up people who *actually* use these devices to enhance their enjoyment of life without the shackles of illness.

This is important.

In shopping for your TENS device,
1. Buy any one of your choice and please read the details - we want something that emits "square" wave currents. Alpha Stim is well known in this part of the world, however since the online world is at your disposal at the click of a mouse, you can buy one with bells and whistles - kindly do remember pure "square wave" current emitting devices.

2. Please do not buy a Chinese "Qigong" infra emitting machine instead. Let's first become masters of TENS devices. I respect Chinese traditional medicine, no doubt, and I also respect the advances in medical devices made by the Russians in the Soviet era... we're talking about clones of the "LIDA" Russian machine which has a totally different method of helping you, (By altering your brain electrical patterns).

3. Note well that many enterprising Americans have a DIY (Do it yourself) attitude and have build their own devices in their homes because all the plans for building such devices are legally available to anyone in the world on the US patent office website. I advise you against attempting this for now at least.

4. After buying a TENS device, kindly ask a doctor or an RN how to correctly use it and more importantly what not to do. This cannot be learnt by internet video tutorials nor can it be learn by trial and error. I know at least one patient personally who visited me as regards overuse of his TENS device.

As regards the other part of your question - my serious advice to you right now is to --

1. Learn the Jacobson's Muscular Relaxation Method.
2. Learn the XXXXXXX technique. Both can be learnt online free of charge, no catches.
3. Emotions help a lot in healing. I strongly suggest that you learn the emotional intelligence toolkit by the famous XXXXXXX Scientist Dr. XXXXXXX Segal
The URL is www.helpguide.com Note well that the EQ enhancing techniques are to be used for physical healing in your case and is also used for mental healing, so this is not to take anything from your perfect mental and emotional health, we doctors happen to have "bounced" upon the astonishing fact that techniques designed by this XXXXXXX scientist work to heal people's bodies too.

I have a kind request to make:

Before spending dollars on a device, why not try these above mentioned 3 techniques that are supported and touted by the US FDA. The best things in
life still seem to be free without catches.

I also support your way of seeing this, your flexibility to use high technology instead of traditional medical wisdom (...take all these pills.. and get better...).

I am open to your further input on this. Forward thinking patients always get better quicker.

It must obviously have taken a while to give you unbiased information that is the obvious truth, sifting the wheat from the chaff of manufacturer claims.

I sincerely hope this is useful and practical information for you.
Something that you can use right now to get better.

Thanks for your patience.
I remain at your service as always.

Obliged,
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar

---

Brief Answer:
A simple guide to "RF" medical electronics for net savvy consumers.

Detailed Answer:
Dear Hasketh,

It's good to be seeing you again.

You were speaking of "Pulsed RF blocks".
RF means "Radio Frequency".
Pulses mean that there is a modulation (inteligent self adjustment) of either the amplitude (strength), frequency (the number of pulses per second) or phase (this means at what angle the different streams of RF waves are with respect to each other).
Now, equipped with this understanding, you can make smart choices.
I would politely remind you that you need to meet a doctor or a physiotherapist or a registered nurse for a demonstration on how the device is to be used.
It's like taking a needle prick, obviously there are certain spots where the needle is inserted and places on the body where the needle is not applied.

I know of people who overused (any extremes are bad for the health) or misused the device, and the side effects were overstimulation of the nerves
leading to friskiness of the applied areas (medical term sub clinical fasciculations) These people got better later when they began using this device the way it would have been meant to be used.

I am positive that this therapy will bring a new XXXXXXX to your life.

Regards,
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar

---