MRI Exam

[gk10002000]

Have a flare up of an old old lower back L5 disk injury. Might just be inflammation of the nerve or some local swelling but leg sciatica type of pain is happening. Back in 1971 I had an old fashioned mylogram and they removed a protruding disk. Nowadays, an MRI exam would be done. Is it worth getting looked at in Pattaya? Any recommendations? Thanks

[sweetchariot]

I had one done for the mother-in-law a few months back at the International Hospital on soi 4. It cost about 16,000 all in, but she had to have loads of drinks and injections as it was a stomach/ intestinal condition.

I would imagine looking at your back would be much quicker, less involved, and therefore a bit cheaper (possibly).

I thought it was pretty cheap anyway considering the cost of these machines.

[gk10002000]

I had one done for the mother-in-law a few months back at the International Hospital on soi 4. It cost about 16,000 all in, but she had to have loads of drinks and injections as it was a stomach/ intestinal condition.

I would imagine looking at your back would be much quicker, less involved, and therefore a bit cheaper (possibly).

I thought it was pretty cheap anyway considering the cost of these machines.

Thank you for the reply.

[chakatee]

They must have really fooled you there sweetchariot, or at least the mother-in-law. Pattaya Int'l Hospital doesn't even have a MRI machine.

Probably they did some barium x-ray and/or CT scan or they put her in an ambulance to have the investigation done in Bangkok Pattaya.

Your second comment "looking at your back would be much quicker, less involved, and therefore a bit cheaper" was quite funny actually. Ever seen a MRI set of pictures of a spine? Ever seen a compression of an exiting nerve?

For an experienced radiologist both a whole abdomen as a LS-spine for example are almost like daily routine but to judge a spine MRI quicker and 'less involved'

[sweetchariot]

Well I am truly sorry if I misinformed. I never professed to be a medical genius, and wouldn't know the difference between an MRI and a CT if they bit me on the bum. It was a big machine that you lie down and slide into - I was unaware of the difference until I just googled them both.

I was trying to help the guy, as nobody else had answered, and I don't think there is any need for your rather pompous tone.

I was surprised how long she was in the machine for - about 40 mins I think with all the different injections, enemas, drinks etc, and assumed a spinal scan would be quicker as none of this would be involved. I did not profess to know about the complexities of the analysis afterwards.

Sheesh, try and help someone and get ridiculed, good here innit.

[chakatee]

Never meant to ridicule you Sweetchariot.

My first part, I only wrote because I would not be surprised at all if they would have mislead you (or any other non-medically trained customer) ...

The second one I really found funny, not to make joke with you but just with the idea that some people have about these things ...

So really no harm intended ... and 'pompous' is probably just the way I am :-)

Anyway, this doesn't lead to anything and the OP might still be suffering from his back pain, therefore I did a minor search on the net and Bangkok Pattaya they indeed do have a MRI (a nothing old-fashioned it seems, 1.5 Tesla Philips made). They also have a lot of orthopedists there so I guess they should be able to tell you who is their spine specialist.

P.S. 40 minutes for a CT or an MRI isn't that long, seeing the amount of images made and the fact (or 'good habit') that before removing the patient, a radiologist should always take a quick first look at the images to see if they are clear enough, so if not they can repeat some until the necessary clear images are there.

[PhilHarries]

Had an MRI scan back in March at Bumrungrad, Bangkok.

This was for a gall bladder problem and I didn't have to drink any liquids they were all fed intravenously.

I still have the bill and costs were 10,335 Baht for the scan and 2,665 for the MRI-Radiologists fee.

Sweetchariot : the CT machine is quite large but the MRI is a tight fit down the tube if you are a bit generously proportioned. The MRI scan makes quite a lot of wierd noises and you have to wear headphones to hear the instruction to stop breathing or breath normal. All in all it's quite wierd and I felt like asking the operator "what century am I in?" when I came out. The time I spent in the scan was around 45 minutes but it probably depends on what they are looking for.

Don't know if PIH or BPH have MRI.

[suiging]

Two weeks ago had exactly the required MRI ( L4/L5 rupture, sitting on Swiss ball as we speak ).

This was in a private Hospital in HK which costs the soddin earth, equivalent to about 20,000 Bhat.

Only reason posting is A. Should be a darn sight cheaper in Patters and B. The cost for anything involving internal fluids extra added to the process in HK, almost doubles the cost, so an MRI without such gunk in Patters should be cheaper than the 16K quoted with the gunk, drunk ( I'm a poet and I didn't know it )

BPH, has the kit.

Edited June 4, 2008 by suiging

[Prakanong]

Phil

Interesting about the costs - I will ask my pal who is a Neuro-Radiologist down here in Singapore how much this would cost here.

He was just telling me last night about a Phillipine General he was called back into see at the weekend who he had to do a spinal MRI on - the guy got run over by taxi and is not in a good way shall we say

[gharknes]

CT's are dangerous, do a little research on radiation exposure, MRI is magnetic

just my 2 cents worth

[gk10002000]

Thanks all for the replies so far. sounds like I may head to BKK for it. I posted the same question on the health forum and there seems to be more up in BKK as one might expect. Many thanks

[PattayaParent]

MRI ,8000 Baht

CT 5,000 Baht

at Phayathai SriRacha Hospital

http://www.pattayamail.com/current/community.shtml#hd4

[PhilHarries]

Seems from the figues being quoted in both threads that my costs were a little on the high side. Might be a reflection on the costs of hospitals in Bangkok, the fact that the Bumrungrad appears to be targetting medical tourists from the middle east or the fact that my scan was done under medical insurance .

In the end I don't care, what is money when compared to good health?