Originally Posted by dshue

Hey --

In LA, there are quality options available to you.

I've a good deal of experience with Dr. Prager.

The best way to describe Prager is that he's, as the expression is used in the movie business (where I toil), the classic star ****er.

He's very much is into patients who have wealth (he doesn't take insurance, and he's pricey - the initial consultation is about $700) or prestige. If you didn't know that he is a very prominent doctor, and especially renowned in his field, a major guy in RSD/CRPS practice, plugged in to the handful of other experts in this area, the press clippings that hit you when you walk into his office will let you know you are in the presence of 'greatness'. Indeed, Dr. Prager is very much the great man of medicine. If you didn't know that, he'll tell you.

That said, he really does know his stuff. He's written textbooks on RSD, and if you go to him you'll get top notch treatment. His staff is very good too, as is a neurologist from Mass General, who is out here working for him now. I wanted to be very agressive, and he was great, doing everything I asked and more. In a lot of ways, nobody in LA is better with RSD than Dr. Prager.

I had nerve blocks done, a ketamine infusion (about $2500 a pop, with the surgical center fees). Everything is cash. But what I did find was that, consistent with the great man theory, he quickly loses interest if he doesn't have success. He isn't a long term sort of guy. The time I was with him though, he was good.

To clarify an earlier post, Dr. Prager is not actually a UCLA doctor. His offices are there in the medical plaza, but he is an independent guy. The actual UCLA Pain Center is a place to stay far, far away from, which I have elaborated further about on another post.

I subsequently have moved on to Dr. Steven Richeimer at the USC Pain Center, who, at least from my treatment so far, is to be highly reccomended. Knowledgable, thorough, and very much the caring kind of doc (who takes insurance, a big plus).

The info on Dr. Richeimer originally came to me through Mike. I concur with everything he's posted.

I've found it's always a good idea to follow Mike's erudition in all things.

-- Dennis