What's it like to live in Thailand with Chronic Pain?

[ericdk]

Hello everyone,

 

I'm an almost 40 year old male who suffers from chronic pain and chronic fatigue following an accident 5 years ago.

 

I have some diagnosed issues, such as a disc prolapse in my neck, but also "unexplained" but serious pain problems with my shoulders and torso. I also suffer from various neurological problems such as dizzyness and worst, chronic fatigue.

 

I've spent a lot of time in Thailand in the past, but was healthy.

 

I am considering moving part time to Thailand, because the cold months here in Scandinavia are really tough to get through with a chronic pain condition. My pain doctor even recommended me to spend the winter in warm climate.

 

I get a mild opioid for my pain.

 

I am interested to hear from other chronic pain sufferers and how you like living in Thailand.

[AussieBob18]

Mate - if your OP is fully correct you need to stay in EU where you are able to avail yourself of the medical services.  I assume you have been seeing a 'pain control' specialist, and if so I recommend you ask him/her where there excists in EU a country that has hot/warm climate and also has a medical services agreement with your country.  If you are receiving welfare payments, that needs to be covered as well. And of course family friends etc.

 

'Illegal' strong drugs are not as available in Thailand as some people think (if that is what you are thinking), and the punishments for being caught are severe. And you would not be the first to be sold drugs for profit and then reported to police for another profit.  And it sounds like the last place on earth you should be is in a Thai jail.  Do not go there if that is what you are thinking.

 

IMO you should try a warmer climate in EU that provides you the services and support you need going forward.  Then visiting Thailand is always an option - but it is a very long flight/s - sounds like you would suffer - maybe business class is an option - but still not good for one in chronic pain.  I have a relative with that also after an accident - not good.  Best wishes.

 

 

 

 

 

[ericdk]

Thanks mate, I agree the long flight is a real problem.

 

Drugs is not an issue, since I have a prescription and I assume I would be able to get it filled in Thailand as well.

 

I'm actually off social benefits now and self employed. Was on course to get permanent disability pension, but I managed to "break free" and support myself so far. Just not a lot of fun here in cold Scandinavia, when life is mostly work and TV and I don't have the energy to participate in typical scandinavian "planned social activities".

 

I would like to relocate part of the year to a country which is more suited for my less active life. Somewhere you can casually join activities and enjoy various activities more spontaneously.

 

I've considered Spain, but it's not really hot in winter time. The Canaries are too expensive. Any suggestions? My pain doctor suggested Morocco, but that doesn't entice me.

[Skallywag]

My opinion is you need to deal with the cause of the pain, not mask the pain with drugs (though CBD oil may help and available in Thailand)

Have you tried chiropractors?  Chiropractic treatments?

At 40yo it seems you should have options for a cure unless your neck vertebrae were fused after the accident

[RotBenz8888]

Mild opioid you say, is that Tramadol? Other opioids are really hard to get here, if not impossible.

 

Why not try to stay in Thailand for 3-6 months and see how you feel? Perhaps your pain will be reduced to such extent that you'll be able to reduce or even quit your medication. It's not only the climate that'll make you feel better in Thailand, it's the atmosphere and the people, can't find that in Europe.

 

The long flight is a problem but you could find an airline doing a stopover halfway, like Qatar airways.

[rumak]

13 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Mild opioid you say, is that Tramadol? Other opioids are really hard to get here, if not impossible.

this is true !   OP should not "assume"  that he can get

[simon43]

Drugs is not an issue, since I have a prescription and I assume I would be able to get it filled in Thailand as well.

 

As others have commented, don't assume that!

[soalbundy]

25 minutes ago, rumak said:

this is true !   OP should not "assume"  that he can get

This surprises me, I have no experience with medication here so I can't speak from personal experience but a Thai man in my village who passed away yesterday lived with throat cancer for 4 years and was on pain medication. He was offered an operation but was told that he wouldn't be able to speak afterwards so he opted to die as long as he didn't suffer pain. As far as I am aware he lived pain free all this time and seemed to have a fairly normal life up until the last couple of months where he was bedridden but was visited by the local village clinic doctor until he died. 

[ericdk]

Tramadol would be ok, but I would prefer my own prescription. Not too worried about that.  

[Sheryl]

4 hours ago, ericdk said:

Thanks mate, I agree the long flight is a real problem.

 

Drugs is not an issue, since I have a prescription and I assume I would be able to get it filled in Thailand as well.

 

 

 

Do not assume this. A prescription from your home country is not valid here. You would have to get a new prescription from a Thai doctor at a hospital and fill it at a hospital pharmacy since only hospitals are allowed to dispense opioids.  And Thai doctors are very, very reluctant to prescribe opioids for chronic pain.

 

In addition Thai doctors have little expertise/experience with chronic fatigue and the like.

 

 

[NancyL]

Thailand could be an interesting place for visit for 2-3 months during the worst of the winter in your home country, if the long flight doesn't put you off.  Then you could bring your own supply of meds.  Otherwise, you're going to have the problems outlined in the thread in living here with chronic pain.  

 

I know people with chronic pain who have come to Chiang Mai with a view to permanent retirement, but end up returning to the home country after a few months due to the difficulty in getting appropriate treatment for their conditions.  

[soalbundy]

1 hour ago, NancyL said:

Thailand could be an interesting place for visit for 2-3 months during the worst of the winter in your home country, if the long flight doesn't put you off.  Then you could bring your own supply of meds.  Otherwise, you're going to have the problems outlined in the thread in living here with chronic pain.  

 

I know people with chronic pain who have come to Chiang Mai with a view to permanent retirement, but end up returning to the home country after a few months due to the difficulty in getting appropriate treatment for their conditions.  

Depends on your status, tourist or long stay expat embedded in a community. Depends also on where you live, surprisingly big cities would be worse than small towns or rural communities where you know the puu yai and the doctor at the local clinic.

[clarky cat]

you can buy tramadol here with no issues whatsoever via a pharmacy, each city/town usually has one, you just need to find it

 

at home it would be a ****ing nightmare to get both an appointment and prescription, so that's one benefit of living here in pain...

[ericdk]

Guys, I know you mean well, but I'm not worried about the medication. I want to start with just spending a few months at a time, not move permanently. If that is the case, then I could talk to my doctor to get a larger prescription. I'm also quite sure I could get my particular opioid since people here, including Sheryl, have written about it before. It's not a drug that people usually abuse.

 

I'm interested in everything else about living in Thailand with pain and health conditions. Does the warm weather help ease your pain? Do you find it easier to get out of the apartment? All those kind of things to do with quality of life.

[rumak]

1 minute ago, ericdk said:

Guys, I know you mean well, but I'm not worried about the medication. I want to start with just spending a few months at a time, not move permanently. If that is the case, then I could talk to my doctor to get a larger prescription. I'm also quite sure I could get my particular opioid since people here, including Sheryl, have written about it before. It's not a drug that people usually abuse.

 

I'm interested in everything else about living in Thailand with pain and health conditions. Does the warm weather help ease your pain? Do you find it easier to get out of the apartment? All those kind of things to do with quality of life.

Do you have any pain in your buttocks?   Living here without knowing how things and people

operate here could have a serious affect in that area.   

Everything you ask really depends on ONE thing :  What type of person are you and how do

you integrate to different conditions.   This is the obvious reason why many members on TV

enjoy living here........ and others think it is hell.   

I guess the warm weather question has some merit.  I can tell you one thing:  it is always warm !

[sunnyboy2018]

12 hours ago, ericdk said:

Thanks mate, I agree the long flight is a real problem.

 

Drugs is not an issue, since I have a prescription and I assume I would be able to get it filled in Thailand as well.

 

I'm actually off social benefits now and self employed. Was on course to get permanent disability pension, but I managed to "break free" and support myself so far. Just not a lot of fun here in cold Scandinavia, when life is mostly work and TV and I don't have the energy to participate in typical scandinavian "planned social activities".

 

I would like to relocate part of the year to a country which is more suited for my less active life. Somewhere you can casually join activities and enjoy various activities more spontaneously.

 

I've considered Spain, but it's not really hot in winter time. The Canaries are too expensive. Any suggestions? My pain doctor suggested Morocco, but that doesn't entice me.

Thailand is a good option. FORGET Morocco. Thailand: Swimming in a warm pool, good doctors,  advanced medical techniques and treatments not available in the west,  interesting approaches to pain control,  sympathetic medical staff. Give it a try. Get a condo in Pratumnak.  Make sure it has a gym and pool and a calm vibe. Have a walk on the beach. Find a good masseuse. Register with The BPI and get a check up there. Your life will change for the better.

[Lacessit]

 I suggest the OP consults the following:

http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/Content/attach-file/guidance-for-travelers-version-2-1-carry-out-nov-2015.pdf

 

He should not assume he will get effective pain relief in Thailand, or be able to import it.

[ericdk]

2 hours ago, rumak said:

Do you have any pain in your buttocks?   Living here without knowing how things and people

operate here could have a serious affect in that area.   

Everything you ask really depends on ONE thing :  What type of person are you and how do

you integrate to different conditions.   This is the obvious reason why many members on TV

enjoy living here........ and others think it is hell.   

I guess the warm weather question has some merit.  I can tell you one thing:  it is always warm !

As I wrote in the OP, I have spent considerable time in Thailand.

I've learned since my accident, that past experience is not the same with a chronic condition. Things change.

[rumak]

1 hour ago, ericdk said:

As I wrote in the OP, I have spent considerable time in Thailand.

I've learned since my accident, that past experience is not the same with a chronic condition. Things change.

ok, fair enough.   but if you have spent a lot of time here I don't understand what you are asking.

The weather is warm, people friendly , especially in non tourist areas.   Wish you the best.

 

[Sheryl]

Might help if you could specify the type and location of the pain and degree of functional impairment.

[NancyL]

19 hours ago, rumak said:

Do you have any pain in your buttocks?   Living here without knowing how things and people

operate here could have a serious affect in that area.   

Everything you ask really depends on ONE thing :  What type of person are you and how do

you integrate to different conditions.   This is the obvious reason why many members on TV

enjoy living here........ and others think it is hell.   

I guess the warm weather question has some merit.  I can tell you one thing:  it is always warm !

No, not always, at least in Chiang Mai.  We usually have two weeks in late December or early January where it dips down to 16 - 18 at night, even in the middle of the city and I'm miserable.  The arthritis in my neck and hands comes back.  The homes here aren't built for it and we belong to some groups that have their holiday parties in open-air establishments.  Some years, I'm absolutely miserable during those events.  Not every year, but some.  

 

Finally, we bought some space heaters and a big, fluffy comforter and I just stay at home in bed with the cats during the "cold snaps" with my OTC meds.  

[Bonobojt]

I don’t have chronic pain like you but I have prostatitis which causes pelvic discomfort and sometimes pain, and every time I go to Thailand for my holiday I feel much better there than back in England, I don’t know why, whether it’s diet, weather, not working or just feeling happier in general but definitely noticed my symptoms are not too bad when I’m in Thailand. 

[Sheryl]

23 hours ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

Register with The BPI and get a check up there. Your life will change for the better.

 

Do you mean BPH? Never heard of BPI.

[ericdk]

13 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Might help if you could specify the type and location of the pain and degree of functional impairment.

I thought I stated that in the OP, but I have a slipped disc in my neck, which I plan on getting surgery for, but it's unfortunately already given nerve damage in my shoulder. I'm also diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and I have "undiagnosed" pain in my entire shoulder and upper back region, maybe what's commonly known as "whiplash". I also have chronic fatigue and dizzyness, most likely because of the concussion, where I had already had several concussions in the years before.

 

My fatigue is my biggest issue, the pain is the secondary issue. I have problems sitting, running, lifting stuff and is sensitive to stress, noise(!) and poor sleep. Scandinavian society in particular is not at all suited to people to have to work short bursts or take long breaks. Scandinavian society is an all or nothing society. Either you're very productive, very punctual, very involved socially or you're basically out. There's no casual involvement in anything.

I feel significantly better in the summer. Like much better. I have a good quality of life in the summer, but a poor quality of life in the winter. I hear this is common with almost all chronic diseases. Which is why I think living in warm weather might be the best choice and Thailand also being quite stress free. Noise is an issue. Crowded spaces is an issue, but no one says it has to be Bangkok. It could be Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai.

[Isaanbiker]

On 10/29/2019 at 6:46 AM, ericdk said:

Thanks mate, I agree the long flight is a real problem.

 

Drugs is not an issue, since I have a prescription and I assume I would be able to get it filled in Thailand as well.

 

I'm actually off social benefits now and self employed. Was on course to get permanent disability pension, but I managed to "break free" and support myself so far. Just not a lot of fun here in cold Scandinavia, when life is mostly work and TV and I don't have the energy to participate in typical scandinavian "planned social activities".

 

I would like to relocate part of the year to a country which is more suited for my less active life. Somewhere you can casually join activities and enjoy various activities more spontaneously.

 

I've considered Spain, but it's not really hot in winter time. The Canaries are too expensive. Any suggestions? My pain doctor suggested Morocco, but that doesn't entice me.

Your plan sounds good! Swimming is the best sport because you're using all muscles of your body, plus it could relieve your pain in this climate.

 

    Getting prescription, even for morphine isn't a big deal if you've got a letter from your doc, eventually translated into Thai and authenticated that you need medicine xxx for chronic pain. 

 

It was very easy to receive morphine for severe pain, but don't take what you don't need, it's addictive. 

 

  Just do it, it's easy to fly back and you'll never know if you don't try.

 

A few weeks in the mountains and hiking would also be beneficial for you. 

[madmen]

12 minutes ago, ericdk said:

but no one says it has to be Bangkok. It could be Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai.

All suffer from pollution. Breathing polluted air can have an impact on chronic pain

[Isaanbiker]

1 minute ago, madmen said:

All suffer from pollution. Breathing polluted air can have an impact on chronic pain

No need to stay at these places, Thailand still has wonderful places. 

 

 

[Isaanbiker]

7 hours ago, NancyL said:

No, not always, at least in Chiang Mai.  We usually have two weeks in late December or early January where it dips down to 16 - 18 at night, even in the middle of the city and I'm miserable.  The arthritis in my neck and hands comes back.  The homes here aren't built for it and we belong to some groups that have their holiday parties in open-air establishments.  Some years, I'm absolutely miserable during those events.  Not every year, but some.  

 

Finally, we bought some space heaters and a big, fluffy comforter and I just stay at home in bed with the cats during the "cold snaps" with my OTC meds.  

I can confirm that when we stayed in Mae Hong Son for a few months in winter.

 

It was freezing cold, the thermometer dropped down from 9 degrees Celsius in November, December and January to 4 on some days. Brrr. 

[uhuh]

1 hour ago, Isaanbiker said:

 

 

    Getting prescription, even for morphine isn't a big deal if you've got a letter from your doc, eventually translated into Thai and authenticated that you need medicine xxx for chronic pain. 

 

It was very easy to receive morphine for severe pain, 

You have been very lucky. 

As Sheryl and Nancy stated earlier,  it is usually almost impossible to get decent pain medication in Thailand. Difficult for inpatients,  near to impossible for outpatients.

But not completely impossible.

[Ebumbu]

Beware of Tramadol. Unlike what doctors will tell you, it's highly addictive and can ruin you. Very tough to get off after using for an extended time. It can make your life a hell, just like any other opioid.