Dr. Stella Lai, MD

I have a 52-year history of dystonia, a 45-year history of spasmodic torticollis, and generalized dystonia for 33 years. I have Behcet's disease, Lupus, Prothrombin Factor Mutation, and Chronic DVT since age 16. I have had so many strokes since I was 17 that I can't count them. But they did leave some residuals (Loss of photography memory, ambidexterity, left 8th cranial nerve damage, agraphia). Dr. Lai had my eyes track her finger and tested my arm and leg strength and my reflexes. She did not check on ANY of the functions of my brain that were affected by the strokes or the dystonia that had started to become apparent in her office. She said that she didn't know anything about movement and stroke-related brain injury. So she wants to send me to UCSF and then back to her for treatment for a condition she knows nothing about! The dystonia got so bad that day that I ended up in the ER with it and spasmodic torticollis. I've checked with other neurologists and they are just amazed asI.

I wouldn't recommend Dr. Lai for neurology - she seems competent, but I wouldn't say she was helpful in the least. She runs the tests to rule out causes, but unless you fall into more well know issues in neurology, she isn't knowledgable at all nor up on current research on cause. In addition, she had offered to make a referral to UCSF neurology but never did nor did she follow up with me. I'd describe her demeanor as cold and indifferent, definitely without compassion as I was suffering greatly. I was in so much pain it was hard for me to even talk in the appointment, she offered nothing in terms of pain relief. I had to go to the emergency room twice for my situation to get some pain relief until a diagnosis could be determined. Given the neuropathy I suffer from is out of the the "norm" but it's definitely mentioned in highly regarded well known medical journals, I was really amazed at her lack of knowledge around it. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND.