Locations
Golden State MD Health & Wellness
San Francisco, CA
About
Bio
Ahimsa Porter Sumchai MD, NSCA-CPT is celebrating 11 years in practice offering medical, fitness, nutrition and Telehealth services in San Francisco and California 7 days a week.
UCSF and Stanford Fellowship trained in surgery and emergency medicine, Dr. Sumchai became a diplomate of the American Board of Emergency Medicine in 1992, and established a sports medicine practice in San Francisco at Back To Sports on West Portal Avenue in 2006 after serving for ten seasons as an emergency physician for the San Francisco Giants MLB at Candlestick Park Stadium. Published in international peer review journals in the topic areas of spine trauma and helicopter transport, environmental health and the exercise prescription, Dr. Sumchai is author of The 21st Century Upright Woman.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Sports Medicine
Emergency Medicine
Environmental Health
Holistic Medicine
Integrative Medicine
Licenses
United States: California
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
83 Answers
9 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 32-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Dyspepsia: You may simply be experiencing dyspeptic symptoms from substances in spicy food that you may be intolerant of or hypersensitive to. Food intolerances ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
896 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Cyst versus Lipoma: It can be difficult to tell the difference between a fluid filled cyst and a soft benign fatty lipoma if you are not a doctor. Both lesions present as... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
890 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Fasciitis vs node: The insertions of the muscles that extend the neck - trapezius, splenius and semispinalis capitus insert on the occiput and when you evaluate 10 peopl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
895 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
GERD: GERD symptoms are worsened by late night eating, eating in excess and consumption of high fat processed foods that are poorly digested. The first appr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
856 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Stern also pain: Possibly...but you may be feeling pain in the sternum that is musculoskeletal and myofascial triggered by stretch of the pectoralis muscle by overhead... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
860 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Exercise Asthma: I was surprised to learn that up to 80% of children with asthma have exercise induced asthma caused by reversible airway constriction triggered by exe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
888 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 72-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Pilates and Yoga: As the author of a book on the upright spine, spinal malalignments and degenerative disc disease, I assure you ample evidence supports the role of Pi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
849 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
1 comment
A 23-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Posterior lymph node: Major cervical lymph node groups are located in "chains' along the anterior and posterior aspects of the neck. Posterior lymph nodes are located at th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
804 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Rule out fracture: The bruising you describe may be the result of soft tissue damage caused by the crush injury to your toe from the blunt trauma of the heavy can. It is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
856 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Large Local Reaction: You probably are experiencing what is called a large local reaction to an insect sting. It can last for several days, especially if you did not remove... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
890 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Tib/Fib Instability: Pain in the lateral knee and tenderness of the fibula may be due to Tib/Fib instability, a rare condition seen in runners and cyclists, associated wit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
849 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Atypical Migraines: Atypical migraines lack features of classic migraines including aura, prodrome, maternal lineage history of migraines and clear triggers but still pre... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
890 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Spinal cord disorder: I trained in neurosurgery and am an author/researcher in spinal trauma. My experience with myelopathy and neuropathic pain is both personal and profes... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
849 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Quadriceps Strain: Quadriceps femoris muscle group is Latin for "four headed muscle of the femur". It is one of the most important muscle groups contributing to upright ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
814 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Seek Urgent Care!: Peritoneal signs suggest an infection that may be serious from appendicitis to urinary tract. I urge you to seek urgent care evaluation.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
884 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Ankle Reinjury: It is not wise to resume an explosive kicking pivoting sport like soccer with an ankle sprain and return to sport recommendations depend upon the seve... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
890 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Hyperhydrosis: I have treated patients with profuse sweating triggered by sympathetic nervous system hyperarousal of stress and panic. Most complain of visible persp... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
860 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
By age 60 100%!: I had the opportunity to respond to a similar question you posted in which you indicate you have premature lumbar degeneration. a disc bulge and facet... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
861 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Sprain/rotator cuff: The most common cause of shoulder pain and impingement of abduction and overhead reach in the setting of weight lifting is a rotator cuff tendinitis o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
895 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Normal BMI 6': You are very tall and your ideal weight is an important question for you because there are compressive impacts on your spine and joints from your heig... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
890 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Phase I Wrist Rehab: It would be helpful to know your age and mechanism of injury. Osteomyelitis is hard to diagnose in an UC. Do you mean osteoarthritis? Wrist dislocati... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
804 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
No!: Skiing is an activity that worsens the injurious mechanical load on a mallet thumb - an uncommon injury compared with mallet finger. Din and Meggitt d... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
804 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Chamomile is calming: Many people benefit from the calming effects of chamomile tea and it should not harm you taken on a regular basis. Chamomile tea is non caffeinated an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
896 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
CBD per rectum: Yes, I have an alternative therapy to propose that is receiving rave reviews. The cannabinoid CBD-patented as a neuroprotectant by the US government i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
890 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Calf cramps: You seem to be very concerned about having a compartment syndrome in your lower legs. As a sports medicine MD, I personally suffer from Achilles tendi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
895 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Cervical Lymph Nodes: Enlargement of the lymph nodes in the anterior chain of the neck can be a sign of active infection or occult disease. Non tender but enlarged lump nod... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
890 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Reactive Lymph Nodes: Yes. The posterior auricular nodes drain the ear and posterior scalp. I would expect them to react if you underwent an ear piercing complicated by inf... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
888 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Caloric Restriction: You will lose weight and live longer if you practice caloric restriction not only for weight loss but as a healthy lifestyle practice. You do not need... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
848 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Actinic Keratosis: Many circumscribed skin lesions are benign and non pruritic with a scaling, dry or desquamating character like the one you describe on your leg. Most ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
814 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Premature DDD: I authored a book about degenerative disc disease offering interventions proven to protect your height and posture. Premature degenerative disc disea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
888 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Hemoptysis: Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes that carry air to and from the lungs. Acute bronchitis is the most common cause of hemoptysis - c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
804 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Carbs as energy: Let me begin by congratulating you! A postprandial blood sugar of 100 mg/dl range is something to brag about. Obviously you are doing something right ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
793 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Anxiety : Anxiety and fluid retention are not related entities. Many women report fluid retention as a PMS symptom along with mood disturbances and anxiety. OTC... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
888 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Neurapraxia: This question should be directed to your operating surgeon if symptoms emerged immediately postop. It would be helpful to know the pathology of the tu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
884 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Zoloft & Vertigo: The SSRI Zoloft is most certainly linked to side effects including dizziness and vertigo according to on line patient reviews and adverse effects note... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
860 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
VitB12 Neuropathy: Peripheral neuropathy associated with Vitamin B12 deficiency was first described in 1958. The distribution of the nerves involved in your symptoms cor... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
855 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Patella Dislocation: The patella dislocates laterally towards the outside of the knee in people with malalignments of the patella and patella tendon. Kicking, explosive an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
884 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Gallbladder/Pancreas: This may be atypical pain from your gallbladder or pancreas? Are you overweight or obese. You are very young for these symptoms. Alternately they may ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
804 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Lumbar Disc Disease: Common things occur commonly and low back pain with neuropathic symptoms in a 24 year old female are statistically more likely to be the result of L5 ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
855 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Paternal history key: I have evaluated hundreds of patients with deficits in focus and attention. Anxiety is the most common cause of distractibility. Do your father or br... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
863 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Increased Metabolism: Yes! Your resting metabolic rate is higher when you have a greater percentage of your weight contributed to by increased lean body mass. That includes... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
844 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Hiatal hernia?: These are very unusual symptoms for a 25 year old female and I urge you to undergo a medical evaluation. If you are morbidly obese, increased pressure... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
890 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Pelvic Compression: When you understand the neuroanatomy of the pelvis and the role compressive loads play in triggering low back, pelvic and sciatic pain, it becomes cle... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
793 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Eye Rinse: Rinse your eyes with a balanced salt solution or warm tap water.The eyelids, conjunctiva and cornea form protective layers and a first line defense to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
844 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Resolving URI: Probably not if your symptoms are resolving and due to an uncomplicated URI or a bronchitis triggered by environmental allergen exposures or air pollu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
844 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Prehypertension: A single blood pressure reading above 120/70 mmHg may not be significant in an active teen depending on the circumstances in which it was tested. Elev... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
855 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Internal Derangement: I urge you to seek UC evaluation as this may be a patella fracture or an internal derangement inside the knee joint mechanically restricting the norma... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
803 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 17-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Myofascial pain: Myofascial pain syndromes arise from chronic inflammation of the fibrous sheaths that attach broad muscle groups to other muscles and bone. They inclu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
895 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Epicondylitis: Occupational repetitive strain induced inflammation of the lateral and medial epicondyles of the humerus at the site of wrist extensor and flexor inse... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
889 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 63-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ahimsa porter Sumchai mdanswered
Specializes in Sports Medicine
Common Complaint!: A 2004 study in Manual Therapy reveals up to 61% of chiropractic patients report mild side effects including dizziness or vertigo for up to 24 hours f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
863 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
1
Recommendations
55
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Nov 15, 2021
Dr.Sumchai saved my life after I sustained a head injury and identity theft during the COVID 19 shutdown in 2020.
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! I am sure that there are more up-to-date clinical type info out there than one study 12 years ago. Thanks for the research on this anyway.
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you, I will certainly take your advise. I greatly appreciate it. Very helpful.
HealthTap member
Your answer was very helpful, thanks! Loved your view on fasting-induced stress. 12-hr fasts are best.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
UC San Francisco School of Medicine, CA
Graduated 1981MD
Residency
university of California San Francisco
Completed 1984
Awards
UCSF Medical Alumni Association Alumni of the Year Award
2021
Presidential Who's Who Among Business and Professional Achievers as a VIP for 2008-2009.
San Francisco Public High Schools Reunion Medical Achievement Award
2019
Publications
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
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