My story is "kind of" long. If too long, know this: for certain types of injuries such as soft tissue and joint pains, Dr. Fareed may be THE doctor you want & need. He has treated professional athletes and auto accident victims. People (me included) travel long distances to receive his care. He is an incredibly nice man. His assistant is also extremely kind.
SHORT STORY
He is a surgeon but prefers to avoid surgery if possible. He developed a treatment for pain caused by inflammation. In my case, and several others, it worked. In short, Hydroplasty involves injecting the inflamed joint with a solution of: (i) saline, (ii) local anesthetic,(iii) steroid. The local relieves pain and allows the tissue to relax. The steroid reduces inflammation. The benefit lasts.
It is expensive and insurance coverage was limited. However, I am as close to pain-free as I can be. I avoided costly and ineffective surgery.
LONG STORY
As a teen and in my 20s I had two injuries. At age 15, I was hit full force in the hip with a golf club. It hurt at the time but it did not affect me until about age 50; at which point it was very painful and limited my ability to do certain sports. It created lower back pain too.
At age 23, I injured my shoulder and neck playing football. This injury produced severe pain and muscle tightness. At times the muscle spasms were so bad, I had to twist my neck in unhealthy ways to get a moment of relief. I went to chiropractors, massage therapists and acupuncturists for more than 30 years. I learned yoga, Pilates other forms of physical self-help. None of them cured me but, collectively, they all helped in some way. A few years ago, a chiropractor told me that my problem was soft tissue and not a spine problem - this confirmed what I had believed for more than three decades (but no one was able or willing to say).
Less than a year ago, visiting a friend in London, he told me about a treatment he received for frozen shoulder. In his case it was successful and he walked away pain-free after 45 minute office visit. A few months later I related the story to my brother-in-law. He told me about the same treatment and remarkably, that the man who had invented the treatment was in Santa Barbara. It was December 24 and I called Dr. Fareed's office. The response was, "The doctor can see you on the 26th, what time would you like to come in?"
Dr. Fareed listened to my history. He prodded and poked my shoulder, neck and hip. He explained that his treatment was worth a try. That morning I received about ten separate injections. Both sides of the neck and various locations of my shoulders and upper back. I was exhilarated by the pain relief (also the steroid made me slightly manic in a good way). I estimate that I was 80% improved on that day.
Over the following week, some but nowhere near all of the relief faded. I had four follow-up appointments over the next few months. Six months later my neck pain is almost gone. My hip pain is almost gone. My shoulder pain is mostly gone.
I carried pain, extreme at times, for nearly 40 years. Today, my pain and tightness are less than they have ever been over those years. read more
