Recommendations on affordable but good Orthopedic Surgeons/Hospitals in BKK or Nonthaburi?

[keysersoze276]

I did it good this time.  
I’m in Chiang Mai (I live near Bangkok) and broke my leg (fibula) near the ankle.  Not only that, I broke it in the same place about 10 years ago and still have the metal plate and screws in there. 

I went to ChiangMai Ram hospital and they charged me 40,000 THB just for xrays, consultation, meds, and a “slab” cast.  With surgery they wanted 400,000. 

When I had surgery a decade ago, I went to a government hospital, which was much less comfortable, but paid 15,000 in total for surgery, 4 days in a bed, a cast and medicine. Maybe a post-surgery check up, too. 

I live in Nonthaburi very close to northern BKK.  I’ll do the surgery closer to home, obviously.  

It gets worse.  They have to take the old hardware out, install new metal, realign the other bone (tibia) as it is very dislocated and probably replace new ligaments.  

It’s gnarly, guys.  And I am beating myself up for not having insurance, so no need for a lecture, please.  I know. 
Your thoughts on government, university hospitals?  Or have recommendations on private hospitals that are decently priced?  All recommendations are welcome.

 
p.s.  I was walking on the sidewalk and rolled my ankle. Not riding a bike or fighting or acting irresponsibly.  

[Sheryl]

Your most economical option in that location with good quality would probably bd Ditirsj (public eing).

 

Crowded   red tape, long waits but between 1/3 to 1/4 the cost of a private hospital

[keysersoze276]

4 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Your most economical option in that location with good quality would probably bd Ditirsj (public eing).

 

Crowded   red tape, long waits but between 1/3 to 1/4 the cost of a private hospital

Thanks so much. I can’t seem to find it. I assume that was public wing?  Still couldn’t find it though. It’s in BKK?

[Lorry]

Lertsin Hosp. is good for this kind of stuff, and not expensive (public).

But far (Silom)

[thaibeachlovers]

If talking private, "affordable" does not necessarily mean good.

 

There is no reason to assume a Thai public hospital is not "good" when it comes to surgery. The deficit would likely be in having to have ones own caretaker as the post op nursing seems lacking in my wife's mother's experience ( my wife had to sleep under her bed to look after her ). Whole families camped outside the hospital.

[Sheryl]

12 hours ago, keysersoze276 said:

Thanks so much. I can’t seem to find it. I assume that was public wing?  Still couldn’t find it though. It’s in BKK?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oMF8f1XQ311MScYy6

 

It is on Thonburi side if the river

 

Best governmrnt hospital in the country. Affiliated with Mahidol University (best Medical school).

 

Note that there is a separate private wing which is substantially more expensive https://www.siphhospital.com/th/home

Costs thete are in line with mid range private hospitals. Since cost is a priority for you make sure you go to the main government hospital (per Gokglr map link above) .

 

Arrive very early (i.e. 7 am-ish) , bring a native  Thai speaker with you and expect long waits

[keysersoze276]

10 hours ago, Sheryl said:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oMF8f1XQ311MScYy6

 

It is on Thonburi side if the river

 

Best governmrnt hospital in the country. Affiliated with Mahidol University (best Medical school).

 

Note that there is a separate private wing which is substantially more expensive https://www.siphhospital.com/th/home

Costs thete are in line with mid range private hospitals. Since cost is a priority for you make sure you go to the main government hospital (per Gokglr map link above) .

 

Arrive very early (i.e. 7 am-ish) , bring a native  Thai speaker with you and expect long waits

Excellent!  Thanks so much.  I've seen you give out good advice before on medical questions before, I took your recommendation and called the call center as soon as I got home to try to find out if an orthopedic surgeon would be available tomorrow (Sunday), and she checked the schedule and made an appointment for me on Monday.  However, when I mentioned wanting to go to the public wing, she said I had to call a different number, but that number was just hanging up on me.  I called the call center number again and she said to call a completely different number tomorrow morning.

 

Cheers!

[keysersoze276]

20 hours ago, Lorry said:

Lertsin Hosp. is good for this kind of stuff, and not expensive (public).

But far (Silom)

Thanks, Lorry.  I checked out their reviews on google maps and they're pretty bad, especially the newest ones.  Mostly translated from Thai saying the staff speaks very rudely, but some did say the doctors were good.  I probably wouldn't know if they were being rude, anyway.  And from what I understand, docs, nurses, and other staff are overworked and underpaid in Thai hospitals.

[keysersoze276]

21 hours ago, Sheryl said:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oMF8f1XQ311MScYy6

 

It is on Thonburi side if the river

 

Best governmrnt hospital in the country. Affiliated with Mahidol University (best Medical school).

 

Note that there is a separate private wing which is substantially more expensive https://www.siphhospital.com/th/home

Costs thete are in line with mid range private hospitals. Since cost is a priority for you make sure you go to the main government hospital (per Gokglr map link above) .

 

Arrive very early (i.e. 7 am-ish) , bring a native  Thai speaker with you and expect long waits

I'm really stretching it here, but would you happen to know the number for the orthopedic center in the public wing?  I somehow ended up speaking with the orthopedic center at Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital.  She said it was public, but google says it's private and it seems to be a different hospital than you linked to me.  A few hours of this has my head spinning.  LOL.

[Sheryl]

23 hours ago, keysersoze276 said:

Excellent!  Thanks so much.  I've seen you give out good advice before on medical questions before, I took your recommendation and called the call center as soon as I got home to try to find out if an orthopedic surgeon would be available tomorrow (Sunday), and she checked the schedule and made an appointment for me on Monday.  However, when I mentioned wanting to go to the public wing, she said I had to call a different number, but that number was just hanging up on me.  I called the call center number again and she said to call a completely different number tomorrow morning.

 

Cheers!

Pretty much never works to call government hospitals. And cannot make an appointment on the phone.  You have to just show up...very, very early. 

 

The private wing will be much easier to deal with but cost much more. (Though still less than you were quoted in CM).

[Sheryl]

12 hours ago, keysersoze276 said:

I'm really stretching it here, but would you happen to know the number for the orthopedic center in the public wing?  I somehow ended up speaking with the orthopedic center at Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital.  She said it was public, but google says it's private and it seems to be a different hospital than you linked to me.  A few hours of this has my head spinning.  LOL.

See above. You can't call. Just show up. 

[keysersoze276]

@Sheryl Yes. I will just show up at 7:00. You have been a great help.  Much appreciated.  

[keysersoze276]

@Sheryl Thanks so much for your suggestion.  It was pretty great AND cheap.  I wanted to leave a little update for you.  I really didn't want to end up waiting all day in as much pain as I was in, so I arrived extra early, 6:30 a.m. on a Monday.  They got me in a wheelchair and took me to register and get a hospital number immediately, then straight to xrays, then to a doctor to discuss and plan the surgery.  Unfortunately my leg was too swollen for them to suture it, so they scheduled for me to come back in and see a different orthopedic surgeon that Friday.  I was out in a couple hours.

That Friday, the swelling had gone down.  Green light for surgery and set a date.  I had done all of this without a native Thai speaker and my Thai language is pretty bad.  I had two options for recovery rooms.  A regular one with 18-20 people in it.  I've done that before and I have insomnia and I am a light sleeper.  2,000 THB/day, but with patients and nurses and doctors talking at all hours, plus snoring and lights on 24/7, I chose a private room for 5,000/day.  The catch is you need to bring a caregiver to stay with you 24/7 the entire stay.  I thought that was odd, but I suppose it makes sense to keep costs down having my wife (in my case), there to fluff the pillows, help me to the bathroom, get water, adjust stuff, etc.

My total cost for the surgery, meds and morphine (Yum), meds to take home, cast, 4 days in the hospital, and a quality walker totaled 84,000 as opposed to 400,000 at ChiangMai Ram hospital.  Probably covers my next appointment to get the sutchers out, but I'm not sure.  Everything was great and so much cheaper!   Many, many thanks!!!

[Lorry]

9 hours ago, keysersoze276 said:

you need to bring a caregiver to stay with you 24/7 the entire stay.  I thought that was odd,

It's the normal way, even the international hospitals may insist on one if they feel you shouldn't be left alone in your room (they can usually organize one, at a cost)