A Good Doctor in Chiang Mai? Anyone know one?

[Formaleins]

Had a few issues lately, sadly none of them seem to have been treated properly, almost seemed like money came before cure. Unfortunately I seem to have developed a problem in one of my legs and it is driving me crazy. I have always been pretty fit and was a cross country runner earlier in my life, I always walked everywhere, could walk miles in a day no problem.

In about 2010 on a visit back to the UK I noticed I was not walking up hills as well as I used to and was getting a sort of muscle cramp in one of my legs. It would cramp at my foot, then it would be in the calf and then in the thigh and buttock. I put it down to old age, but it is only one leg.

Over the last few years the affected leg has got worse and worse, I get severe pains in my calf and thigh as well as behind my knee when walking - I can cycle 30 KM no problem, it is only walking that causes the pain, to the point that it is almost crippling and I have to stop for ten minutes until the pain subsides.

It is so bad at the moment that even just standing on an uneven surface will set the bad leg off into severe muscle pain. It feels like muscle rather than bone. it begins in the calf and travels down to my foot and up to my buttock. it isn't a cramp, but s terrible ache. I did read that it looks like symptoms of blocked veins or not enough blood getting to the muscle, which makes sense as I have high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries through years of being a Non Vegan..

Problem is when I asked for help from my local hospital, they told me I probably banged my leg and prescribed some 500 mg paracetamol.  - I know when I bang my leg, this is not a banged leg, there is something wrong inside.

As I said, I used to walk everywhere and loved walking and running, but this thing is killing me, I cannot even walk 100 metres without terrible pain, it gets even worse if I have to raise the leg during a walk rather than dragging it, does anyone know any doctors or clinics / hospitals that can seriously look at this problem as it really is ruining whatever time I have left. Thanks! appreciated.

 

If Eastenders is still on the TV, I might try and go to see Doctor Legg!

[Sparktrader]

Take Magnesium

[Sparktrader]

42 minutes ago, Formaleins said:

high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries through years of being a Non Vegan..

That makes no sense. Meat is good for you. Meat extends your life.

[Sparktrader]

Try accupuncture

[1FinickyOne]

11 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Try accupuncture

There is a very good acupuncture clinic - Mungkala... Very reasonably priced too... but you might also check for vitamin or blood deficiencies... magnesium as noted above, potassium, electrolytes - - vitamin B - 

 

In addition to looking for a good doctor... 

[Lorry]

Your suspected diagnosis (blood vessels clogged) may be correct. 

You should visit a hospital. 

 

Get your history  (all what you have written in your post) properly translated into Thai, written down, and show it to a doctor, not a nurse. That helps avoid misunderstandings about "banged your leg".

 

The best ones in CM are Bangkok Hospital (expensive), Synphaet (private arm of the university hospital Maharat) and Ram.

If money is a problem just go to Maharat hospital early morning (6am), be prepared for a lot of waiting.  Need to speak Thai.

 

I cannot recommend a specific doctor, but any hospital doctor should be able to do an initial examination from where to proceed. The problem is most probably related to either blood vessels or nerves. Those are treatable conditions. 

[TheFishman1]

I had the same problem and I went to a pharmacy and ordered CO Q10 And the problem was solved you can Google it and explains all about it it’s kind of like a vitamin TIT

[blazes]

Lots of good suggestions above.  Ram Hospital is ok, and you could try the Suan  Dok hospital (is that the correct name?).  I once had excellent and cheap treatment there (special section at entrance for falang).

 

Could it be anything to do with your sciatic nerve?

 

It's possible that a masseur who really knows what he or she is doing could  give some treatment that might help.

Also look on YouTube asking a question like "extreme leg  pain treatment".

Also, look up the Mayo Clinic, the most trustworthy purveyor of medical information on line.

[2baht]

Sorry, I've had some Dude doctors and some Good doctors but never come across a Dood doctor?

[Lacessit]

I understand Dr. Morgan in Hang Dong is highly recommended by CM expats.

[SiamAndy]

I think he is looking for this Hospital Dood:

 

 

 

[roo860]

11 minutes ago, SiamAndy said:

I think he is looking for this Hospital Dood:

 

 

 

Why?

[nigelforbes]

If you can cycle but not work I suspect its's not claudication and more likely to be spinal stenosis perhaps, I don't know, I'm not a doctor. But I do have similar problems and mine is 100% stenosis. You might want to try ruling out some things, an Ankle Brachia Test should point towards claudication or stenosis but it's not conclusive. A nerve conduction study is also a useful test to help pinpoint the cause, the former test is inexpensive, the latter is a bit more expensive. 

 

As for the doctor: spinal doctors are much easier to find than vascular surgeons so I'd go that route and let the spinal doctor rule stenosis in or out, either one can easily order the two tests I mentioned. Since you're not planning to have an operation you probably don't need to be overly choosy about the spinal doctor, any private hospital should be able to make a referral, you just want some diagnosis and tests ordered. That outcome should help determine next steps.

[Ralf001]

I too suffer severe calf pain when walking, Peripheral Artery Disease is my issue.

 

Currently being managed by a variety of meds but ultimately I need a bypass done on both legs.

Edited October 22, 2022 by Ralf001

[thailand49]

Lots of great suggestion your views money versus cure is what bothers me the most living here. 

Anything not clear requires critical thinking as in your case can be s nightmare? 

I hope the doctors recommendedcsn help you but if possible get home.

By any chance you taking Statin?

[KannikaP]

10 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

Lots of great suggestion your views money versus cure is what bothers me the most living here. 

Anything not clear requires critical thinking as in your case can be s nightmare? 

I hope the doctors recommendedcsn help you but if possible get home.

By any chance you taking Statin?

Why do you ask? Are statins good or bad in this case please?

[nigelforbes]

20 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

Lots of great suggestion your views money versus cure is what bothers me the most living here. 

Anything not clear requires critical thinking as in your case can be s nightmare? 

I hope the doctors recommendedcsn help you but if possible get home.

By any chance you taking Statin?

"Statin therapies are not the cause of muscle pain in over 90% of those who experience symptoms, according to a new study led by researchers from Oxford Population Health. The results were published today in The Lancet and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress".

 

https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2022-08-30-new-study-shows-muscle-pain-not-due-statins-over-90-those-taking-treatment#:~:text=Statin therapies are not the,European Society of Cardiology Congress.

[Formaleins]

Thanks so much for all of the comments and suggestions - I will try some of the medication suggestions and see if it improves, if not, guess it will be a trip to the RAM or Maharaj

 

Thanks again for all your help, greatly appreciated.

[thaibeachlovers]

8 hours ago, Lorry said:

Your suspected diagnosis (blood vessels clogged) may be correct. 

You should visit a hospital. 

 

Get your history  (all what you have written in your post) properly translated into Thai, written down, and show it to a doctor, not a nurse. That helps avoid misunderstandings about "banged your leg".

 

The best ones in CM are Bangkok Hospital (expensive), Synphaet (private arm of the university hospital Maharat) and Ram.

If money is a problem just go to Maharat hospital early morning (6am), be prepared for a lot of waiting.  Need to speak Thai.

 

I cannot recommend a specific doctor, but any hospital doctor should be able to do an initial examination from where to proceed. The problem is most probably related to either blood vessels or nerves. Those are treatable conditions. 

I went to Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital where the doctors spoke excellent English, and the nurses were not involved in diagnosis. It was not necessary for me to to get written translations of anything. Nurses spoke good English and I did not need to speak Thai anywhere in the hospital, except cafeteria.

Not expensive, but go early ( take passport as you will need to register ) and be prepared to wait all day to see a consultant. I took a good long book.

I had my gout diagnosed in 5 minutes by consultant, despite it not being diagnosed by many western doctors over many years.

You will probably not be able to see a consultant without seeing a lower doctor first, so two long waits.

They have an acceptable cafeteria where I had lunch and tea breaks.

Parking might be a problem so go there by public transport.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, Formaleins said:

Thanks so much for all of the comments and suggestions - I will try some of the medication suggestions and see if it improves, if not, guess it will be a trip to the RAM or Maharaj

 

Thanks again for all your help, greatly appreciated.

Can't say how much I disagree with trying medication suggested on a forum first. Just go to the hospital- it's not expensive and see someone that can diagnose your problem.

If you can't get satisfactory relief there, then that's the time to try other things.

[CharlieH]

 

 

The source and direction of pain, lower back, buttock, thigh then lower leg all points toward sciatic nerve. Possible spinal stenosis piching a nerve.

That would also explain why it happens weight bearing as opposed to non weight bearing on a bike.

 

I would try some specific exercises to release that first. possible a series of massage,/manipulation (not the happy ending feel good variety) and mild pain relief medication before exploring further.

 

Read this:

 

https://www.healthline.com/health/back-pain/sciatic-stretches

 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, thailand49 said:

I hope the doctors recommendedcsn help you but if possible get home.

By home do you mean a western country?

Many western doctors were all completely useless diagnosing my gout, and Thai consultant diagnosed it in 5 minutes.

One English GP told me my knee pain was caused by being overweight, and didn't even bother doing a history- complete waste of space.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, CharlieH said:

The source and direction of pain, lower back, buttock, this lower leg all points toward sciatic nerve. Possibloe spinal stenosis pichhing a nerve.

That would also explain why it happens wait bearing as opposed to non wait bearing on a bike.

 

I would try some specific exercises to release that first. possible a series of massage,/manipulation (not the happy ending feel good variety) and mild pain relief medication before eploring further.

 

That could be so. I has sciatica caused by bending to get into a low car. I bought a higher car and pain went away.

[CHAPPIE]

I go to and recommend a lady doctor in private practice in Jet Yod.

DrJittiya Hawkins is competent, professional and compassionate.

CM Mediclinic. You'll find it online.

 

 

[blackshadow]

go to hospital in CM surely must have doc there to treat you!!!!!

[thailand49]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

Why do you ask? Are statins good or bad in this case please?

Based on remarks of his eating habits,  I was on statins for a long time although I had blood tests throughout the years.  A few years back I noticed a change many of the things mentioned by the poster.  One day I had enough I felt it was the Statin I remember my mother's very similar within a week of stopping I felt better.  

When I finally got back to States saw my Doctor for a checkup he said good move it would have killed me if not? 

[thailand49]

1 hour ago, nigelforbes said:

"Statin therapies are not the cause of muscle pain in over 90% of those who experience symptoms, according to a new study led by researchers from Oxford Population Health. The results were published today in The Lancet and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress".

 

https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2022-08-30-new-study-shows-muscle-pain-not-due-statins-over-90-those-taking-treatment#:~:text=Statin therapies are not the,European Society of Cardiology Congress.

True I've seen the study and many more as I noted in a post just now Based on study I and my mother must be that 10%  because I was that 10%  reason I pose the question could the poster if on statin be one of the 10%???? If he is in fact taking it? 

Edited October 22, 2022 by thailand49

[bamboozled]

My first stop for health stuff is Rajavej because I have found them effective, for the most part, both for price and advice. Not all nurses speak English but the doctors do. If I don't get satisfaction there, I broaden my circle. There is an English speaking liason who you can make an inquiry with by email. Here is the address: [email protected]

 

If that gets redacted, just google the hospital and you can find the contact info.

 

Plus, they have two letter "j"s in the name and that has to count for something!

[Sheryl]

What you describe sounds very much like Perioheral Arterial Disease (PAD). You need to see a vascular specialist.

 

I suggest one of these

 

https://sriphat.med.cmu.ac.th/find_doctor?lang=en&doctor_name=&spec_name=15&special_name=48

[thailand49]

40 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

By home do you mean a western country?

Many western doctors were all completely useless diagnosing my gout, and Thai consultant diagnosed it in 5 minutes.

One English GP told me my knee pain was caused by being overweight, and didn't even bother doing a history- complete waste of space.

Just s reverse here,  doctor couldn't diagnose Four for my Thai Wife my cousin a Doctor back home did over a video Line chat. 

Not sure why Doctor back home in Western country couldn't and I'm no Doctor but have close cousins who are Doctors retired nieces and nephew now taken over their practice. 

When I see a overweight individual and done exercise have knee pain or back I would generally conclude the same in your case time to make a change. 

My brother,  Two years went to a specialist for prostate problems gave him every test milk the hell out of him told him it was in his head sent him to a shrink told him to take these pills which he did I looked them up gave him my warning addictive. After two years of being on pills not helping Doctor for Prostate called and said we now have Rezum for 20.,000 I went to Doctor if it was in all in his head why Rezum?  

Speechless response he is now trying to detox from the addiction the doctors who don't have a clue how to get him off the pills in fact they didn't have a clue what they were issuing out. 

Another,  years ago a friend always pay case he was a casket cow,  they claim he needed a pacemaker told him wife can't be moved he will die,  they were waiting for clearance insurance back home after two weeks we contacted his insurance back home told no such conversation has taken place with hospital plus they would never authorize pacemaker over seas.  Hospital wanted Two million. 

As soon as we notified hospital he was healthy to checkout but of course waiting rack up a bill of 300,000 baht. 

Complaining to the foreign staff hospital agree to do pacemaker for 800,000 baht now.  He ended up going home to Stanford diagnoses was completely wrong reporting back to Sheryl here of the situation his problem could have been diagnose by a first year medical student. 

I wish I wasn't so negative bit after near twenty years here I have a million negative story I hope when my time comes my nightmare of TV ed m trying to <deleted> me over doesn't come true!