Osteoarthritis Treatment in Bangkok

[BusEng]

I suspect I have osteoarthritis in both knees, but worse in the right one.  I'm looking for suggestions of where to go for evaluation and treatment in Bangkok.

I would prefer a place that doesn't grossly inflate rates for foreigner, won't try to 'sell' treatments that aren't needed, and can provide a decent level of care (do these places exist?)

I am looking for a long term solution, but am currently planning a trip in 3 weeks that is supposed to include lots of hiking.  Are there short term band-aids that will get me through the trip, and then I can focus on long term solutions after?

Thanks

[Mahseer]

Be careful mate. I have a dodgy right knee and have so far seen 4 doctors and all have given different diagnosis.

 

Doc 1.  3 months back.  X ray taken. Knee replacement required, 360,000 baht please. Passed.

 

Doc 2.  1 month back. Tendon inflammation. Prescribed anti inflammatory pills which 'cured' the problem. Course finished problem reappeared.

 

Doc 3.  2 weeks back. X ray taken. Osteoarthritis. Advised PRP injection which would give 6 months relief. Passed due exorbitant cost.

 

Doc 4.  Last week. X ray taken. No sign of osteoarthritis / No reason for knee replacement. MRI recommended which I am waiting to do.

 

This is up north so hopefully your fare better in Bangkok. 

 

Sheryl recently recommended Dr Panya at Bumrungrad as best knee Doc in town.

 

Good luck.

[BusEng]

10 minutes ago, Mahseer said:

Be careful mate. I have a dodgy right knee and have so far seen 4 doctors and all have given different diagnosis.

 

Doc 1.  3 months back.  X ray taken. Knee replacement required, 360,000 baht please. Passed.

 

Doc 2.  1 month back. Tendon inflammation. Prescribed anti inflammatory pills which 'cured' the problem. Course finished problem reappeared.

 

Doc 3.  2 weeks back. X ray taken. Osteoarthritis. Advised PRP injection which would give 6 months relief. Passed due exorbitant cost.

 

Doc 4.  Last week. X ray taken. No sign of osteoarthritis / No reason for knee replacement. MRI recommended which I am waiting to do.

 

This is up north so hopefully your fare better in Bangkok. 

 

Sheryl recently recommended Dr Panya at Bumrungrad as best knee Doc in town.

 

Good luck.

Wow, thanks for info Mahseer.  Doesn't sound good.  If you don't mind, what fee were you quoted for PRP injections?

[Mahseer]

33 minutes ago, BusEng said:

Wow, thanks for info Mahseer.  Doesn't sound good.  If you don't mind, what fee were you quoted for PRP injections?

I didn't want to list it as it was simply outrageous. 50,000baht yup 50,000 for what was quoted as '6-9 months relief'. This was at one of the two top hospitals in Chiang Mai. MRI quoted at 12-15,000.

[SantiSuk]

Go to Vejthani Hospital. Hugely impressive orthopaedic centre there and I have had good experience on two occasions with them not taking the pi$$. First time I took my dodgy hip and to them together with an MRI scan and an expensive quote for micro surgery, both from Bumrungrad (reprinted and redacted so they did not know it was Bum'). 'Not necessary - manage it for another few years and then get a standard hip replacement" they said. They could have just made money by undercutting the Bum' price. Their advice was later confirmed by a UK hip specialist who was more scathing about the Bum' diagnosis - "waste of money - it's too late for that approach - manage it out for a few more years" 

 

Second time I thought my hip had gone - had over-excercised it and had great pain from my hip/bum area. 'Not your hip' said Vejthani - 'go talk to our spine specialist'. The spine guy diagnosed a prolapsed/slipped disc. I eventually had that done at Bumrungrad (Vejthani's Spine Centre is much less impressive than their orthopaedics side). The Bum' sine surgeon, having heard my story about what happened at Vej' commented that I had been lucky to find a specialist with 'the kind of ethics you should expect from a major hospital' (I then told him about his own hip surgeon colleague's approach which caused him a bit of embarrassment!).

 

A consultation fee with a good specialist at Vejthani is likely to be around 1,500 to 2,000 baht including an X-Ray. More though if they need to see an MRI. You can select your chosen specialist form a good doctor profile section on their website. Good English there too.

[Sheryl]

The best knee specialist in Thailand is Dr. Panya at Bumrungrad. It is an expensive hospital but he is excellent and will not recommend anything not needed. Even if you ultimately go elsewhere for say surgery it is worth having a consultation with him first.

 

In terms if temporary fixes options are (1) anti-inflammatory drugs if you tolerate them and (2) Synvisc injection (hyalrunic acid). Dr. Panya can tell you if Synvisc is likely to help you and also if your hiking plans are realistic.

 

 

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

[BusEng]

Thanks to all for great information.  This forum is always so helpful.

[dddave]

I've been consulting with and getting cortisone injections in both knees from Dr. Somchai Kuptniratsaikul at Bangkok Christian Hospital in Silom.  BCH is an older but excellent facility with a terrific staff and very reasonable rates.  Appointments are not necessary, just walk in with your passport in hand.

 Cortisone gives me 4 to 5 months of pretty effective pain relief.   I did investigate Hyaloric Acid (Synvisc) but it requires 3 separate injections per knee, each a week apart; total cost B25K per knee.  I have a friend who got the same series of shots in his knees in a hospital in Samut Sakorn for about half that cost but it would be a long trek. Maybe next time.