2 hours ago, Bacon1 said:

Pain was in lumbar region &  I went to a government hospital.

 

I also had 20 minutes of traction each session- forgot to mention that.

 

So, 4 weeks of 30 mins shockwave & 20 traction was 1500 per week.

 

Well worth it & the problem is fixed.

 

I wouldn't hesitate to have Shockwave again.

 

Thanks. I'm trying 😆

 

The clinic that Sheryl recommended wants 2100b for a chat, slap and tickle. There appears to be no actual physician on premises. They did not deny it. When I objected to the price they cut the price to just a chat for 700b. If I'm just doing shockwave why do you need to know about my condition which takes 30 seconds to inform and perhaps 3 minutes to poke at me. This is ridiculous. You can see a top specialist in BKK hospital for 1000b. Then and only then they do 15 mins of shockwave apparently for a reasonable price of 1000b anyway.

 

I'm being told by law they must do a 700b consultation 😂 Physiotherapist grad from some rajabaht ...

 

They also tried to hard sell me post consultation ??? treatment ???(massage and hot pads?) for 2000b 60 minutes.

 

The entire chat struck me as extremely pushy and money oriented. It reminds me precisely what my wife goes through when she navigates dermatology clinics. 

 

The prices posted on the website are reasonable. The problem is they wrap what I believe to be unecessary procedures and the time is valued like a gold. In reality, you just know there's a plethora of young physiotherapists mucking about on their phones. 

 

In fairness, the clinic near me that I was originally going to go to started out in exactly the same way. Big expensive package with lots of vague items. When I questioned much of it things changed immediately and prices lowered. I'm going to walk in and talk with them. I'll report back. 

 

Acupuncture and cupping tomorrow (1000b). Chinese medicine Dr diploma Shanghai University. Dealing with this office completely different experience.

 

Stay tuned. 

 

Honestly KH, you should go to a government hospital. I’ve been there many times, and it’s always turned out well.

 

The same doctors usually work in both government and private hospitals or clinics — maybe not all of them, but most do.

 

And it's much cheaper...

 

On 10/11/2025 at 9:19 AM, KhaoHom said:

Right now I'm just going to rest relax and no exercise.

 

Do you have access to a pool. Buoyancy takes the weight off and the water adds resistance. 

I had pain everywhere in Thailand sleeping and sitting on cheap Thai furniture.  Back home i bought a memory foam mattress from Amazon for 400 bucks and pain gone.

4 minutes ago, Celsius said:

I had pain everywhere in Thailand sleeping and sitting on cheap Thai furniture.  Back home i bought a memory foam mattress from Amazon for 400 bucks and pain gone.

I would think most that live here have invested in a good bed. Easy here, but not for 400. I spent 50% more and got a quality king mattress with a 2 inch memory phone topper. Pretty much the same set up as a high end hotel. 8 years now and with rotating the topper, like new. 

 

Why did you keep sleeping on a bed that hurt your back?

38 minutes ago, marin said:

I would think most that live here have invested in a good bed. Easy here, but not for 400. I spent 50% more and got a quality king mattress with a 2 inch memory phone topper. Pretty much the same set up as a high end hotel. 8 years now and with rotating the topper, like new. 

 

Why did you keep sleeping on a bed that hurt your back?

 

Foam mattresses are cheap back home *removed*. I didn't skimp on anything, but you can't just replace the furniture at rentals.

 

Toppers are crap. You need a memory foam mattress. It will change your life.

 

3 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

 

Thanks. I'm trying 😆

 

The clinic that Sheryl recommended wants 2100b for a chat, slap and tickle. There appears to be no actual physician on premises. They did not deny it. When I objected to the price they cut the price to just a chat for 700b. If I'm just doing shockwave why do you need to know about my condition which takes 30 seconds to inform and perhaps 3 minutes to poke at me. This is ridiculous. You can see a top specialist in BKK hospital for 1000b. Then and only then they do 15 mins of shockwave apparently for a reasonable price of 1000b anyway.

 

I'm being told by law they must do a 700b consultation 😂 Physiotherapist grad from some rajabaht ...

 

They also tried to hard sell me post consultation ??? treatment ???(massage and hot pads?) for 2000b 60 minutes.

 

The entire chat struck me as extremely pushy and money oriented. It reminds me precisely what my wife goes through when she navigates dermatology clinics. 

 

The prices posted on the website are reasonable. The problem is they wrap what I believe to be unecessary procedures and the time is valued like a gold. In reality, you just know there's a plethora of young physiotherapists mucking about on their phones. 

 

In fairness, the clinic near me that I was originally going to go to started out in exactly the same way. Big expensive package with lots of vague items. When I questioned much of it things changed immediately and prices lowered. I'm going to walk in and talk with them. I'll report back. 

 

Acupuncture and cupping tomorrow (1000b). Chinese medicine Dr diploma Shanghai University. Dealing with this office completely different experience.

 

Stay tuned. 

If you do a google search for “physiotherapist near me” you will get the fancy clinics with luxurious lobbies.  If you google the same in Thai “กายภาพบําบัด ใกล้ฉัน” you will find the smaller clinics that aren’t fancy enough for a website but at least you’ll be able to find them and they will be less expensive.

10 hours ago, Airalee said:

If you do a google search for “physiotherapist near me” you will get the fancy clinics with luxurious lobbies.  If you google the same in Thai “กายภาพบําบัด ใกล้ฉัน” you will find the smaller clinics that aren’t fancy enough for a website but at least you’ll be able to find them and they will be less expensive.

 

Thanks. That's precisely what's happened. I'll give it a go. I found a small clinic for Chinese Medicine. The menu looks excellent and reasonable prices but inconvenient. She does dry needling and Tens, some other things in addition to acupuncture and cupping 

 

 

 

Appreciated

11 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

Foam mattresses are cheap back home *removed*. I didn't skimp on anything, but you can't just replace the furniture at rentals.

 

Toppers are crap. You need a memory foam mattress. It will change your life.

 

 

Thanks. Condo has a great bed. Probably 40-50k and new when we moved in. 

12 hours ago, marin said:

I would think most that live here have invested in a good bed. Easy here, but not for 400. I spent 50% more and got a quality king mattress with a 2 inch memory phone topper. Pretty much the same set up as a high end hotel. 8 years now and with rotating the topper, like new. 

 

Why did you keep sleeping on a bed that hurt your back?

 

You must live upcountry in some 500k house you've been in for 20 years. That isn't our lifestyle. We are in central Bangkok where life is far more expensive and sqm prices are dear.

 

For all intents and purposes all condos come with a bed. Condo owners will not move the bed out they have nowhere to store it and probably just get filthy and ruined. 

 

Moreover, we do have a king but these are next to impossible to find in rentals.

 

So  you're assumptions are quite off

 

Your mindset is stuck in Nakon Nowhere. 

 

This bed is best we have had.

 

The couch is nice, expensive as well, but not good for my back. Too much sitting is a problem. The bed is not a problem 

Have you ever thought about you are doing to much core training? Maybe give it a rest, do easy stretching and mobility exercises, easy walks at the beach, swimming, oil massage and maybe treat stress related syndrome and try an anti inflammation diet?

 

I have been there, and taking a break from exercises that can trigger inflammation could a solution. Not always only a chronic issues, and check your cortisol levels as well

10 minutes ago, KhaoHom said:

You must live upcountry in some 500k house you've been in for 20 years. That isn't our lifestyle. We are in central Bangkok where life is far more expensive and sqm prices are dear.

 

 

10 minutes ago, KhaoHom said:

Your mindset is stuck in Nakon Nowhere. 

Not even close. We live in a gated muban and have for over 25 years. Our land size is 190 wah, the house size is just over 240 sq meters. Located in Don Muang district of BKK.  I have no idea where you got your assumptions from but you could not be more wrong. 

 

 

21 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Have you ever thought about you are doing to much core training? Maybe give it a rest, do easy stretching and mobility exercises, easy walks at the beach, swimming, oil massage and maybe treat stress related syndrome and try an anti inflammation diet?

 

I have been there, and taking a break from exercises that can trigger inflammation could a solution. Not always only a chronic issues, and check your cortisol levels as well

 

 

Thanks. I'm doing that now. Just walking. I'm also trying to be more mindful of twisting and turning. I think that's part of it 👍

On 10/10/2025 at 10:19 PM, KhaoHom said:

When exercising I could be overstretching and pulling these areas ??

 

I wonder if regular massages might be better than stretching due to possibility of over-stretching. 

 

On 10/14/2025 at 7:32 AM, VocalNeal said:

 

Do you have access to a pool. Buoyancy takes the weight off and the water adds resistance. 

 

Or even better, do you have access to a bathtub?

Hot baths with Epsom mineral salts might help. They contain Magnesium and the magnesium combined with warm water will relax the muscles. And you can probably add other stuff in there too. 

 

57 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

 

Or even better, do you have access to a bathtub?

Hot baths with Epsom mineral salts might help. They contain Magnesium and the magnesium combined with warm water will relax the muscles. And you can probably add other stuff in there too. 

 

 

No, sounds like a great idea. I do think my lower back area might be inflamed. I'm back to NSAIDs for now and as mentioned chilling out on all exercise save for walking and some mobility stretching. 

 

🙏

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

 

I wonder if regular massages might be better than stretching due to possibility of over-stretching. 

 

 

Good idea. I've thought of doing that. The shop I've gone to I'm not crazy about the woman's massage. It's a bit too strong and imbalanced.

 

The traditional massage stretching my legs out and around pelvic area feels good but lacking in other areas. Another they have neck back shoulders but that's another hour. It's only b300 an hour but that's 2 hours in the tiny shop. It's very chill...music, AC it's just a bit much for me 

 

Need to find another shop. 

 

I'm definitely thinking this might be a good alternative but have also read about bruising. 

Sauna is good too, hot pool, cool pool, ice bath. 

3 hours ago, sungod said:

Sauna is good too, hot pool, cool pool, ice bath. 

 

Thanks. 

 

Today in BKK is a sauna 

 

I'm hesitant to join a gym for a few reasons 

I did the acupuncture a few hours ago. The entire process was an hour. I expect the next appointment probably 45 minutes. The clinic was very clean - I've been in 'dirtier' (old) Drs offices before for work permits.

 

The doctor was great. English was a certain level of good. It was like going to a proper doctor. Lots of questions, medical history by staff and then many more from doctor -important before sticking pins in people I suppose. She informed me what she was going to do a d then carried out the procedures.

 

The pins were interesting. Most went in one side and it was the side I have lesser pain. Moreover, none went into the areas around my lower back. She did put a few near my neck which I often have tightness. She did back and front. Front side she put some pins in my thighs ... different spots on each thigh.

 

I'd done cupping 30 years ago in the streets of Phnom Penh. Definitely cleaner, more professional 😂

 

Post treatment 

 

*Doctor said my take a few days to really get full effect and to give it at least 1-2 more times. Fair enough 

 

It should be noted I took 400mg ibuprofen. My back wasn't not good this morning, but tomorrow I'm back off the NSAIDs. I mention this because I can't be certain what is the medicine and acupuncture. Medicine taken around 8am*

 

So, a miracle did not occur. What did was I thought I felt I could move bend my body with less achiness immediately off the table 

 

Over past few hours I've noticed my stiff neck has lessened it seems. My back seems much better than this morning - good signs.

 

Note: I've also walked minimum 2km since treatment and the 400mg ibuprofen am. It's Wednesday and that is naughty HJ day so....I feel good and best I've felt in days.

 

I'm going to follow this up tomorrow with a massage.

 

** I've written this up because I think that many of you like myself have never had acupuncture. 

 

I will update the thread if when anything changes in the next few days. I will be back in next week and I will update again assuming I haven't been banned 🤣😭

 

The total for this was 1250b. There were three staff. Admitting, junior doctor and senior doctor

 

I very much like this route working with doctors instead of young physiotherapists. I trust therapy in States but here ... not so much. Anytime you need something serious done to your body in Thailand it always requires a doctor. Everything else is just kind of nebulous bullshi+. I can go another three times and it will cost me the same amount as the initial consultations, circle jerk and electrical gadget. 

 

At the moment when I stand up there is very little pain involved. 

 

Thank you for your attention. I hope this might help others 

 

👍

 

This morning woke up. Felt good getting out of bed, made coffee and sat on sofa. Getting up the back pain was back. I lightly stretched it out and went walking for an hour. 

 

When I came back I made some sofa adjustment with pillows to fix incline.

 

I believe my problem is poor posture on sofa, too much couch time. 

 

Went out to lunch, walking 

 

On the way back stopped for massage. Got two hours. One hour neck back shoulders. I pulled back of my pants down and pointed to pain points.  She is a bit of a joker but initially thought I was cheeky I think, but understood this was real problem for me and went to work. It really hurt but same time felt great. She finished stretching out my legs and that felt so good despite the pain I asked for another hour.  Next, she pulled and stretched my thighs groin, legs for full hour. She kept saying keng, keng (strong). That's not my hot Adonis legs it's tightness. Even after good time working my legs, thighs, buttock, groin it was still tight. It was a real eye opener how this was huge part of my problem. In the end, ripped apart I felt really good.

 

All the stretching I am doing I'm uncertain how beneficial it is.

 

I'm actually tired after the massage. I'll go back weekly I think. 

 

 

So, my personal solution to this back pain thus far:

 

Revise core workout plan. 

 

Light stretching, Kegels 

 

15 minutes dumbbells 

 

Massage weekly lower body stretch 

 

Acupuncture 1 2 more times 

 

Fix sofa so always sitting 90 degrees 

 

Limit sofa time. Take sofa breaks evenings.

 

 

 

Hope this helps 

 

 

So, anyone interested and keeping up.

 

I cancelled the acupuncture. At b1200 session it just wasn't effective compared to the massage. I'm going for massage today and Friday. 

 

I'm thinking about doing massage every other day for a week just to see if I can rid myself of the tightness 

 

I believe I've boiled my particular issue down to muscle tightness. The area is mid buttock, side pain points and running upper pelvis all in muscle tissue. If that's you here's what's working for me... 

 

My legs are always super tight. I stretch and stretch my glutes but always tight.

 

First, stretching, but not extreme or jerky stretching. Slow stretches until I get a bit of pain... hold and release . 

 

These are easy stretches that do not require being on the floor -

 

Sit on a low chair, bend and slowly touch the floor in front of you. Release 

 

Cross one leg, press down and hold till bored. Release. Now, pull knee up to chest hold and release. Repeat on other leg

 

Stand and left one leg to 90 degree angle from the other. Hold as long as possible or 30 seconds. Repeat other leg.

 

Legs: 1) sit on your back legs and let it all stretch out (2) pull your foot up to your thigh and slowly stretch it all out

 

Sitting: place pillow(s) in back, but also hard flat pillow under you. Sit as little as possible especially on any sofa / incline 

 

I've included some videos with good stretches below from yt. Credits within the video. I really like Mr Alejandro stuff. Simple and effective. The lady Ive included. It's simple and good but she ends with advanced pigeon pose which is not easy at all 

 

====================

 

I'm curious if I can buy muscle relaxers here in Thailand? If they might make me drowsy, lazy or high I don't want them. Thank you 

 

On another note, I'm out of sleeping gel tab from US. I bought same medicine in my pharmacy some years back but wasn't cheap maybe 7b per tablet pack only 10. It's basically benedryll. I've heard not good over long periods. Any suggestions? Should not fog me in the morning. Thank you 

Thanks for that @KhaoHom

I've use Norgesic muscle relaxer before....not expensive, google Norgesic Thailand