Where to have spine surgery in Bangkok

[Sheryl]

51 minutes ago, Matt87 said:

Two levels: c4-c5, c5-c6 and there is a mild compression fracture of C5. My girlfriend said we are talking about at least 420K. Do you know if we can walk-in at BNH hospital and talk with Prof. Wicharn?

Best to make an appointment, which can be done by phone or online.  He is in high demand and theere onlt Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings.

 

420k if a private international hospital is quiet possible (depending on exact type of surgery) but would be much less at a government hospital and of course free if obtained through the universal scheme, though that process can be slow.

 

What hospital is your GF covered at under the universal ("30 baht") scheme? It will be where she is listed in a housebook (tabian ban).

 

And from whom/where did she get this 420k+ quote? You said Sriraj advised no surgery needed and also that is not a private hospital so it sounds like she has consulted someone else at a private hospital.

 

 

[Sheryl]

56 minutes ago, Matt87 said:

Two levels: c4-c5, c5-c6 and there is a mild compression fracture of C5. My girlfriend said we are talking about at least 420K. Do you know if we can walk-in at BNH hospital and talk with Prof. Wicharn?

 

According to the MRI report (which does need to be supplemented with a direct MRI reading by a specialist) changes at C4-C5 are mild which if true  would not warrant surgery.

 

Even at C5-C6 the report lists only moderate narrowing which also does not usually equate to surgery in the near term, though it may worsen over time to an extent that requires it.

 

I'm not sure you understand how very common these findings are (even in perfectly asymptomatic people) and what the usual threshold for needing surgery is?

 

However, the symptoms you report are at odds with the MRI report so its accuracy needs a review. 

 

Compression fracture would usually be treated with neck brace and PT (cervical traction), has this been done?

 

Besides the actual MRI film bring Xray film with you if available. A great deal can be seen on XRay including things like bone spurs which sometimes get missed and can account for symptoms  worse than the narrowing would otherwise cause.

[Matt87]

Anybody knows what's the room per night rate at BNH Hospital?

[marin]

Here is a breakdown I believe. All in all just under 11,000 baht a night.

 

https://www.bnhhospital.com/the-bnh-wards/

[Sheryl]

7 hours ago, Matt87 said:

Anybody knows what's the room per night rate at BNH Hospital?

 

Around 10K or so but in any hospital that is the very least of costs. Room rates are just the room, do not include the medical care.

 

Spinal surgery there will run 300 - 600K depending on what is involved.

 

Have you had consultation with Prof. Wicharn yet? As previously mentioned it is nto clear she needs surgery much less, if so, exactly what.

[Matt87]

On 8/18/2024 at 10:29 PM, Sheryl said:

 

Around 10K or so but in any hospital that is the very least of costs. Room rates are just the room, do not include the medical care.

 

Spinal surgery there will run 300 - 600K depending on what is involved.

 

Have you had consultation with Prof. Wicharn yet? As previously mentioned it is nto clear she needs surgery much less, if so, exactly what.

We have an appointment this Saturday but they asked to redo the MRI and X-Ray because they are 1 year old. I was searching around the website to a place where to do this (because at BNH the cost for MRI is 15k + xray + other costs) and I bumped into Prachachuen Mri Center with good reviews and half the price for the MRI. I saw they have different branches in Bangkok and the ones convenient for me are in Chatuchak (HQ) and in Bangna. Do you know which one is better? From the picture in gmaps it looks like an old building and not very recommendable. Thank you

[Sheryl]

On 8/21/2024 at 11:07 PM, Matt87 said:

We have an appointment this Saturday but they asked to redo the MRI and X-Ray because they are 1 year old. I was searching around the website to a place where to do this (because at BNH the cost for MRI is 15k + xray + other costs) and I bumped into Prachachuen Mri Center with good reviews and half the price for the MRI. I saw they have different branches in Bangkok and the ones convenient for me are in Chatuchak (HQ) and in Bangna. Do you know which one is better? From the picture in gmaps it looks like an old building and not very recommendable. Thank you

Any location should be fine. I have in the past done MRIs at both the Chatuchak branch and the smaller Silom branch. Other board members gave used Bang Na.  Either way you'll get what you need and save about 10k over hospitsl MRI price. 

 

The Xray will have to be done at the hospital. Prof. Wicharn has his own protocol for this in any  case. 

 

Consultation plus Xray will run about 5k baht. 

[Matt87]

On 8/22/2024 at 8:56 PM, Sheryl said:

Anh location should be fine. I have in the past done MRIs at both the Chatuchak branch and the smaller Silom branch. Other boardmembers gave used Bzng Na.  Either way you'll get what you need and save about 10k over hospitsl MRI price. 

 

The Xray will have to be done at the hospital. Prof. Wicharn has his own protocol for this in any  case. 

 

Consultation plus Xray will run about 5k baht. 

Went to the doctor today. Suggested surgery on two levels giving us two options. Total cost is 700k baht. We want to ask at Bangkok Hospital how much it would be because we clearly don't have that liquidity available. 

[Sheryl]

8 hours ago, Matt87 said:

Went to the doctor today. Suggested surgery on two levels giving us two options. Total cost is 700k baht. We want to ask at Bangkok Hospital how much it would be because we clearly don't have that liquidity available. 

 

As I previously indicated, the purpose of going to BNH was to get Prof. Wicharn's recommendation, not to necessarily have surgery there. Now that i is confirmed she needs surgery (and from the cost, apparently a 2 level fusion), you can explore other options that cost less.

 

Bangkok Hospital will not be cheaper. A single level cervical spine is about 400K.  https://www.bangkokinternationalhospital.com/packages-promotions/spine-surgery-packages-2

However if you insist in this hospital (should actually never choose the hospital, rather the surgeon -- and make absolutely sure it is a spinal specialist with experience operating on cervical spine) then the doctor you would want is 

https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/doctor/assoc-prof-dr-worawat-limthongkul?srsltid=AfmBOoqzr6BkgVuRt0kCBjK_LnsB5bs4lqn0iFjuVgEinqlwK5JdPWBK

 

My suggested  options:

 

(A) See the same doctor as above at Chulalongkorn Hospital, seeing him through  their after hours clinic:

https://spcweb.kcmh.or.th/users/users/getDoctorClinic/8d51362723f31bd29648a7cd8f317b47-010514-

Above website is in Thai, open in Chrome for English translation. He is there Wednesday and Friday evenings. Have your GF call 02-256-5193 for an appointment  (not much English spoken)  and make note of the appointment confirmation  number given.  Then arrive at the Por Por Ror Building by 3 PM (on Rama IV road, accessible by walkway from BTS), register for a patient number on the ground floor, showing them the confirmation number, proceed to the floor they tell you and wait. They start issuing queue numbers at 4 PM. Expect crowds and long wait.

 

I don't know what cost would be at Chula on private basis but certainly less than either BNH or Bangkok Hospital.

 

(B) Another option is this surgeon at Bangkok Christian Hospital (BCH): https://www.bch.in.th/find-doctor/doctor-profile/?smid=4548

He specifically specializes in cervical spine surgery

 

It will cost less at BCH than at BNH or BH but I can't say how much less or how it will compare to Chula private channel. Waits will be less and overall dealings easier at BCH.

 

(C) Lastly, but not least - she can probably get this done through the government "30 baht" system (though would have to pay out of pocket for all the titanium screws etc, so probably at least still 100K) if you do the following:

 

(1) with all records, scans, Xrays  in hand , including Prof. Wicharn's note recommending surgery, go to the Chulalongkorn orthopedic clinic public channel during normal working hours. She may have to first get a referral from a general doctor. Need to arrive at crack of dawn, and expect very long waits and crowds. May take more than a day to be seen in the ortho clinic.

 

(2) Once she is, tell them she saw Prof. Wicharn privately and he recommended surgery on cervical spine, then show all records.  (He is in a senior position at Chula, they all know who he is).

 

(3) Once surgery there is being actively discussed, explain that she is covered under the "30 baht" scheme at Hospital X in the provinces and ask for a letter to show that hospital to get a referral letter from them which will get her surgery at Chula covered under that scheme.

 

(4) Take that letter back to the hospital where she is registered in her home province and ask for a referral. 

 

This approach usually works though may need to be assertive and persistant.  There will still be some private costs e.g. for the hardware (maybe 100 - 150k) and private room assuming you opt for one.

 

As you can see  option (c) is by far the cheapest but also the most time consuming to pursue.  Options A & B will be less than BCH or BH but still pretty costly (i.e. somewhere between 300 - 550K or so)

 

Wherever you go, be sure to bring:

 

* Medical summary or certificate from BNH stating diagnosis and recommended treatment

* MRI on DVD

*Xrays on DVD

 

[Matt87]

13 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

As I previously indicated, the purpose of going to BNH was to get Prof. Wicharn's recommendation, not to necessarily have surgery there. Now that i is confirmed she needs surgery (and from the cost, apparently a 2 level fusion), you can explore other options that cost less.

 

Bangkok Hospital will not be cheaper. A single level cervical spine is about 400K.  https://www.bangkokinternationalhospital.com/packages-promotions/spine-surgery-packages-2

However if you insist in this hospital (should actually never choose the hospital, rather the surgeon -- and make absolutely sure it is a spinal specialist with experience operating on cervical spine) then the doctor you would want is 

https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/doctor/assoc-prof-dr-worawat-limthongkul?srsltid=AfmBOoqzr6BkgVuRt0kCBjK_LnsB5bs4lqn0iFjuVgEinqlwK5JdPWBK

 

My suggested  options:

 

(A) See the same doctor as above at Chulalongkorn Hospital, seeing him through  their after hours clinic:

https://spcweb.kcmh.or.th/users/users/getDoctorClinic/8d51362723f31bd29648a7cd8f317b47-010514-

Above website is in Thai, open in Chrome for English translation. He is there Wednesday and Friday evenings. Have your GF call 02-256-5193 for an appointment  (not much English spoken)  and make note of the appointment confirmation  number given.  Then arrive at the Por Por Ror Building by 3 PM (on Rama IV road, accessible by walkway from BTS), register for a patient number on the ground floor, showing them the confirmation number, proceed to the floor they tell you and wait. They start issuing queue numbers at 4 PM. Expect crowds and long wait.

 

I don't know what cost would be at Chula on private basis but certainly less than either BNH or Bangkok Hospital.

 

(B) Another option is this surgeon at Bangkok Christian Hospital (BCH): https://www.bch.in.th/find-doctor/doctor-profile/?smid=4548

He specifically specializes in cervical spine surgery

 

It will cost less at BCH than at BNH or BH but I can't say how much less or how it will compare to Chula private channel. Waits will be less and overall dealings easier at BCH.

 

(C) Lastly, but not least - she can probably get this done through the government "30 baht" system (though would have to pay out of pocket for all the titanium screws etc, so probably at least still 100K) if you do the following:

 

(1) with all records, scans, Xrays  in hand , including Prof. Wicharn's note recommending surgery, go to the Chulalongkorn orthopedic clinic public channel during normal working hours. She may have to first get a referral from a general doctor. Need to arrive at crack of dawn, and expect very long waits and crowds. May take more than a day to be seen in the ortho clinic.

 

(2) Once she is, tell them she saw Prof. Wicharn privately and he recommended surgery on cervical spine, then show all records.  (He is in a senior position at Chula, they all know who he is).

 

(3) Once surgery there is being actively discussed, explain that she is covered under the "30 baht" scheme at Hospital X in the provinces and ask for a letter to show that hospital to get a referral letter from them which will get her surgery at Chula covered under that scheme.

 

(4) Take that letter back to the hospital where she is registered in her home province and ask for a referral. 

 

This approach usually works though may need to be assertive and persistant.  There will still be some private costs e.g. for the hardware (maybe 100 - 150k) and private room assuming you opt for one.

 

As you can see  option (c) is by far the cheapest but also the most time consuming to pursue.  Options A & B will be less than BCH or BH but still pretty costly (i.e. somewhere between 300 - 550K or so)

 

Wherever you go, be sure to bring:

 

* Medical summary or certificate from BNH stating diagnosis and recommended treatment

* MRI on DVD

*Xrays on DVD

 

Thank you very much for the reply. Doctor at BNH gave us two options which are:

 

1. One level disk replacement, and other level to put screws with something that makes space between c5 and c6.

2. If he can manage to put both disk replacement.

[Sheryl]

13 hours ago, Matt87 said:

Thank you very much for the reply. Doctor at BNH gave us two options which are:

 

1. One level disk replacement, and other level to put screws with something that makes space between c5 and c6.

2. If he can manage to put both disk replacement.

Disk replacements (artificial disk) are costly. Likely almost half of the estimated cost is the hardware (artificial disk, screws and spacer). 

 

In which case different hospital for exact  same procedure --   even a public one --  can only reduce cost somewhat.

 

It should be  possible to forgo  disk replacement  altogether and do a 2 level fusion. Would likely reduce cost by 150k give or  take.

 

Disadvantage is more loss of neck flexibility. But possible and indeed for a long time was only option.

 

If you go the public hospital route artificial disk might not be availble anyhow. 

 

 

 

[Larryst]

I was doing a search on the same problem. Vejhani Hospital came up as a excellent hospital for spine problems online. Haven't been there. Have anyone have any responses for this hospital.