Prosthetic leg, expense & how you arrange one?

[rockyysdt]

Hi.

 

Hope someone can assist.

 

I have a friend who lost part of one of her legs in an accident many years ago.

The Thai medical system introduced her to a false limb, I think made of some kind of plastic material.

It has a cushioning section which insulates her stump with the leg.

 

These last her approx 1 to 2 years before breaking or becoming unstable.

 

If the clinic doesn't do the measurements correctly, or the producer is inaccurate then the imbalance places stress in the hip area.

Also compression of the cushioning causes the length to be compromised.

The result is a painful stump and wear and tear in the hip due to the imbalance.

 

Are there better quality prosthetics available?

Something with user adjustment for length, better quality cushioning and some kind of spring to cushion the shock when walking.

 

Can one acquire such a device economically?

 

 

Cheers

 

R

 

 

 

[Sheryl]

There are a wide range of devices.

 

What hospital has she been attending? Where in Thailand is she? She can get care for free under the government health system but has to follow the correct referral pathway according to the hospital where she is registered under the govt health system. 

[rockyysdt]

12 hours ago, Sheryl said:

There are a wide range of devices.

 

What hospital has she been attending? Where in Thailand is she? She can get care for free under the government health system but has to follow the correct referral pathway according to the hospital where she is registered under the govt health system. 

Hi Sheryl.

 

She's never told me where she sources her replacements.

I know she has little faith in the public system as they were going to amputate both her legs.

She refused to sign the consent and transferred to a private setting where they saved one of her legs.

It's possible she's going to a private group.

I'll make some enquiries.

 

She lives near Thabo so maybe she might come under the Thabo Hospital or perhaps Udon Thani which might be the biggest Hospital in that region.

 

She may or may not know what she has free access to under the health system.

 

What pathway do you recommend?

 

Will this lead to quality prosthetics, or do they offer what she's been using?

 

thanks greatly

[Sheryl]

I can't say what any specific facility will offer her as it depends on the specifics of her case.

 

For that matter, her difficulties might nto be fro mthe quality of the prosthetic but rather form poor fitting etc.

What I can tell you is that the best place for this sort of thing is this specialized government hospital in Nonthaburi (outskirts of Bangkok).

 

https://www.snmri.go.th/en-po/

 

They custom make all their prosthetics.

 

There is a world of difference between giovernment hospitals in the provinces, and specialized government hospitals in the Bangkok area.

 

She may need a referral letter from the hospital she is registered at under the 30 baht scheme to be treated there for free (though I am not certain on that point in the case of disabled people.). Sometimes it works best to go there first and then, if it looks like they can be of help, have them write a note to her home hospital explaining that they would like to treat her and asking for a referral slip. This usually works.

 

The link I gave has phone numbers, she could also try calling to ask them clearly if she can get free treatment without a referral letter (but don't be surprised if cannot get through - often the case with government hospitals).

 

 

[rockyysdt]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

What I can tell you is that the best place for this sort of thing is this specialized government hospital in Nonthaburi (outskirts of Bangkok).

 

https://www.snmri.go.th/en-po/

 

They custom make all their prosthetics.

 

 

 

 

Thanks Sheryl.

 

I cannot thank you enough for access to your experience and advice.

 

I'll work towards exploring your lead.

 

As of tonight my attempt to access the website fails.

 

It could be that their website is down.

I'll keep trying.

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, rockyysdt said:

Thanks Sheryl.

 

I cannot thank you enough for access to your experience and advice.

 

I'll work towards exploring your lead.

 

As of tonight my attempt to access the website fails.

 

It could be that their website is down.

I'll keep trying.

It opens fine for me.

[rockyysdt]

7 hours ago, Sheryl said:

It opens fine for me.

Thanks Sheryl.

 

It might be geo blocked (I'm attempting access from out of the country).

 

Is it possible for you to pass on the contact details of the recommended government hospital in Nonthaburi.

 

I would be greatful.

[Sheryl]

7 hours ago, rockyysdt said:

Thanks Sheryl.

 

It might be geo blocked (I'm attempting access from out of the country).

 

Is it possible for you to pass on the contact details of the recommended government hospital in Nonthaburi.

 

I would be greatful.

[orang37]

My friend had a similar issue with her leg after an accident, and we found that companies like Össur and Endolite make some solid prosthetics that have adjustable lengths and better cushioning, which really helped her comfort. I’d recommend reaching out to local charities or support groups; they often have resources or can point you to places that offer used prosthetics at a lower cost. 

[rockyysdt]

On 10/26/2024 at 11:39 PM, Sheryl said:

There are a wide range of devices.

 

What hospital has she been attending? Where in Thailand is she? She can get care for free under the government health system but has to follow the correct referral pathway according to the hospital where she is registered under the govt health system. 

Hi Cheryl.

 

She indicated that the hospital she uses is King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

 

When I suggested the Sirinhorn National Hospital she got very angry.

She said she had a long relationship with her specialist doctor and going the Nonthaburi hospital entails very long waiting periods.

Due to her finances it's been a number of years since her last upgrade of the prosthetic which cushions her stump from the actual leg.

She's not in a good state physically and pretty sore.

 

She is quoting 80,000b for a replacement leg.

Her leg had been amputated at the knee.

 

 

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, rockyysdt said:

Hi Cheryl.

 

She indicated that the hospital she uses is King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

 

When I suggested the Sirinhorn National Hospital she got very angry.

She said she had a long relationship with her specialist doctor and going the Nonthaburi hospital entails very long waiting periods.

Due to her finances it's been a number of years since her last upgrade of the prosthetic which cushions her stump from the actual leg.

She's not in a good state physically and pretty sore.

 

She is quoting 80,000b for a replacement leg.

Her leg had been amputated at the knee.

 

 

 

 

What hospital is she registeted at under the universal scheme?  If she gets a letter of referral fom them can get care at Chula free.

 

 

[rockyysdt]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

 

What hospital is she registeted at under the universal scheme?  If she gets a letter of referral fom them can get care at Chula free.

 

 

 

Thanks for your esponse Sheryl.

 

I believe Thabo is her closest public hospital.

 

In one of her messages, she indicated her doctor has been her prosthetic specialist for many years.

 

She had earlier complained that it might take a year to be seen by the specialist group.

She also indicated that in that system she'd likely get an inexperienced doctor and consequently a poor outcome.

 

Are we looking at a high fee vs virtually gratis for the same leg depending on how one engages the system?

Is the service vastly different between each stream.

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, rockyysdt said:

 

Thanks for your esponse Sheryl.

 

I believe Thabo is her closest public hospital.

 

In one of her messages, she indicated her doctor has been her prosthetic specialist for many years.

 

She had earlier complained that it might take a year to be seen by the specialist group.

She also indicated that in that system she'd likely get an inexperienced doctor and consequently a poor outcome.

 

Are we looking at a high fee vs virtually gratis for the same leg depending on how one engages the system?

Is the service vastly different between each stream.

 

  I do not know what this 80,000 baht prosthetic is, or if/how  it differs from what the 30 baht system  would cover.  It should be possible for her to continue treatment at Chula- - which is also a government hospital -- under the 30 baht system if she obtains a letter of referral from her registered hospital. Possible she has already done this and is already not having to pay for the specialist consultations there, only to pay extra for the prosthesis for some reason. You'd have to clarify that with her.

 

If you mean Tha Bo Crown Prince Hospital, in Nong Khai, that would not have prosthetic services and would refer her elsewhere.  She could get a letter from Chula explaining they are providing her with prosthetic servicesand asking them to issue a referral -- if she has  not already done this. (She may have).

 

Your original post sounded like she was very unhappy with the prosthetic services currently being received and that there were quality concerns, now it seems that she likes where she goes and refuses to change?