Spine / Slipped Disk Specialist In Bkk ?

[luisparis]

Hi

On saturday morning after my back started hurting badly I went to BNH and met the only doctor available at the spine section. It's been a very thai experience . Basically "Hello, xray" than check the results " here maybe problem, MRI" than looking at the results "here, two hernias (slipped disks), take medecines, rest a lot, next week come back, maybe we start daily physiotherapie" when I enquire what happens if it doesn't heal " Surgery easy one , very common, bye bye now " and as usual you don't even get an explicative notice with the medecines they give you...

Hence at home quite a bit of work, starting with reading "Protusion" instead of "Hernia" in the MRI results, than check what kind of medecines he gave me (over 2200for a single week, at least I hope they are the right ones, 13000tbh for the entire consultation, MRI, XRAY and medecines).

Checking the internet, it seems that doctors are supposed to ask patiens to do a few movements to check how bad is the situation, the surgery is NOT that easy and riskfree, and I hope I will be kind of OK until meeting a doctor in the develloped world...this one has graduated from Chiang Mai university and apparently spent a few weeks in Seoul for a practical of some sort, I guess Songran wasn't the right time to go to the hospital as well...

Yet is there a decent specialist slipped disk in BKK ? Bumrungrad maybe ? where else ?

Thanks

Luis

[lopburi3]

My wife uses Dr. Porn-A-Nake Tardthong at Vejthani Hospital and can say his English is excellent and am confident that he will not advise surgery if not required. In my wife's case has prescribed medication, which works, and advised her to only return when it stops helping or she has questions. No push to sell hospital medicine.

[trogers]

Protusion - disc slipping slightly out of position and touching and inflaming some major nerves, usually downwards to one leg. Pain in moving or lifting a leg, and some numbness that goes right to the foot.

Avoid sitting for too long a duration, no jogging or sports that impact the spine. Strolling and swimming is good.

I also found some Thai herbal ointment good for bringing down inflamation of the nerves. Brand name is Indrachid. Use Formula 2 and 3. Bought them at ground floor of Carrefour Rama 4. Bt95 per bottle.

Edited April 19, 2009 by trogers

[luisparis]

Thanks for your replies ! Had to google Vejthani Hospital because I'd never heard of it, the website looks atractive as well as Lopburi's report but it's very very far from my place.

Made a mistake on the OP, I went to BNH on friday morning not saturday but since this afternoon I feel no longer any pain using the medecines and wearing a supportive belt when standing or sitting, which is already good news. Still thinking of checking another specialist for some extra info, Burumgrad sounds like the most obvious choice, anyone has other suggestions not to far from Sathorn ?

Trogers, your info is well in line with what I read on the internet, and I'm planning to start swinning this week, at least make some use of the residence's pool. As of the thai ointment it might be worth a try, probably less side effects than Lyrica or Neurotin

Cheers

[trogers]

Thanks for your replies ! Had to google Vejthani Hospital because I'd never heard of it, the website looks atractive as well as Lopburi's report but it's very very far from my place.

Made a mistake on the OP, I went to BNH on friday morning not saturday but since this afternoon I feel no longer any pain using the medecines and wearing a supportive belt when standing or sitting, which is already good news. Still thinking of checking another specialist for some extra info, Burumgrad sounds like the most obvious choice, anyone has other suggestions not to far from Sathorn ?

Trogers, your info is well in line with what I read on the internet, and I'm planning to start swinning this week, at least make some use of the residence's pool. As of the thai ointment it might be worth a try, probably less side effects than Lyrica or Neurotin

Cheers

I did not get the info from the internet. I have the same condition as you are, and stayed 3 days in Thai Nakarin Hospital (BangNa) last Feb.

Initially, I could not even swim breast stroke as it involves kicking. Had pain when bending my leg. All I could do for the first few weeks was to walk (immersed in the water) around the sides of the pool, lifting my thighs to horizontal. But I have to get my muscles working, 'else they will soften and cramp up.

If you go for physical therapy in the hospital, they will first have to bring down inflammation of your muscles and nerves through heat and electro pulses. This may take 4-5 sessions. Then there will be stretching of your spine to try realigning the disc(s).

This is the only treatment other then surgery. Medication is basically painkillers.

Edited April 19, 2009 by trogers

[Sheryl]

The two best spinal specialists in Thailand AFAIK are Dr. Wicharn at BNH and Dr. Nanthadej at Bumrungrad. Of the two, Dr. Nanthadej is reported to be very conservative in recommending surgery so suggest you start with him. The usual treatment for a herniated disk, in absence of any vertebral degeneration, is a course of physical therapy along with anti-inflammatory drugs. Application of heat (hot pad) may also be helpful, and you should avoid sitting for prolonger periods - stand or lie down flat.

Dr. Nanthadej Hiranyasthiti

Speciality: Orthopaedics (Bone), Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine

Language: Spoken: English,Thai

Qualifications: Medical School:

- M.D.Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, 1989

Board Certificates:

- Diploma of The Thai Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, 1995

Fellowships:

- Spine Surgery, Chicago, USA, 2001-2003

Member of North American Spine Society

Member of American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Day Time Location

Mon 09:00 - 16:00 NS 12A (Orthop/Physical Med)

Wed 09:00 - 16:00 NS 12A (Orthop/Physical Med)

Thu 09:00 - 16:00 NS 12A (Orthop/Physical Med)

Fri 09:00 - 16:00 NS 12A (Orthop/Physical Med)

Sun 09:00 - 12:00 NS 12A (Orthop/Physical Med)

the anti-inflammatory drugs can be readily obtained OTC in any pharmacy where they will cost considerably less than from the hospital. Be sure to take with meals and do not take if you have a history of ulcer disease or coagulation disorder.

[luisparis]

Thanks again for the info and good luck for your own lumbar issues, I've started swimming crawl and backstroke and will try and visit Dr Nanthadej next week .

[cblunt]

Thanks again for the info and good luck for your own lumbar issues, I've started swimming crawl and backstroke and will try and visit Dr Nanthadej next week .

Would you mind giving an update on this? Did you get to see Dr. Nanthadej?

I have a pinched nerve in my neck and may need spinal surgery to fix it. I'd like to find the best place in Thailand to have this done.

Chris

[track61]

About 15 years ago I had a second herniated disc that pinched a nerve bundle running down my spine. I was working in Saudi and it had been hurting severely for several months. When I finally got here I went to Bumrungrad for the frist 15 days or so "they" tried to correct it with physio-therapy. I was in great pain this entire time and no progress made. Finally a head Neuro-surgery guy examined me, ordered a MRI with a dye added and then showed my the image of the herniation. It was large and he said there was no way to fix it without cutting. 2 days later he performed a surgery that took over 11 hours because of the previous cutting had to be done through a lot of scar tissue. When I woke up the first thing I noticed was that my leg didn't hurt for the first time in 6 months.

I think the Dr's name was Dr. Dhanit (long thai last name but went by Dha-neat) and I'm pretty sure he was head of neurosurgery at that time. He was great and the care in the hospital was outstanding. I ended up in there for over 30 days and the bill was about 350 thousand baht, about 20% of what it was in the States. He may be retired now but I doubt it. He did go to Rayong to open the Bumrungrad unit down there and I don't know if he stayed or not but I would sure recommend him and Bumrungrad if they have to cut. Good luck, I know what you are going thru.

[Old Man River]

The two best spinal specialists in Thailand AFAIK are Dr. Wicharn at BNH and Dr. Nanthadej at Bumrungrad. Of the two, Dr. Nanthadej is reported to be very conservative in recommending surgery so suggest you start with him. The usual treatment for a herniated disk, in absence of any vertebral degeneration, is a course of physical therapy along with anti-inflammatory drugs. Application of heat (hot pad) may also be helpful, and you should avoid sitting for prolonger periods - stand or lie down flat.

Dr. Nanthadej Hiranyasthiti

Speciality: Orthopaedics (Bone), Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine

Language: Spoken: English,Thai

Qualifications: Medical School:

- M.D.Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, 1989

Board Certificates:

- Diploma of The Thai Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, 1995

Fellowships:

- Spine Surgery, Chicago, USA, 2001-2003

Member of North American Spine Society

Member of American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Day Time Location

Mon 09:00 - 16:00 NS 12A (Orthop/Physical Med)

Wed 09:00 - 16:00 NS 12A (Orthop/Physical Med)

Thu 09:00 - 16:00 NS 12A (Orthop/Physical Med)

Fri 09:00 - 16:00 NS 12A (Orthop/Physical Med)

Sun 09:00 - 12:00 NS 12A (Orthop/Physical Med)

the anti-inflammatory drugs can be readily obtained OTC in any pharmacy where they will cost considerably less than from the hospital. Be sure to take with meals and do not take if you have a history of ulcer disease or coagulation disorder.

If, at the end of the day, Endoscopic surgery is in order, please note that Bamrungrad has recently brought in Dr. Sompoch Paiboonsirijit from Bangkok Hospital for this type of surgery.

Name: Dr. Sompoch Paiboonsirijit

Speciality: Orthopaedics (Bone), Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine

Language: Spoken: English,Teo Chew,Thai

Qualifications: Medical School:

- M.D., Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand, 1991

Board Certifications:

- Diploma of The Thai Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, 1996

Fellowships:

- Acetabulum and Pelvic Trauma, Germany, 1998

- Spine and Total Joint Replacement, UCLA, USA, 2000

Special Clinical Interests:

- Spine

- Total Joint Replacement and Trauma Surgery

Special Clinical Trainings:

- Endoscopic Spine Surgery

[stevoo]

a friend of mine in the uk had a disc replaced, rather than spinal fusion, this method maintains spinal mobillity

[Who, me ?]

I can only WARMLY recommend the BNH hospital, and especially Dr Eakpatipan

to Stevo, I had a spine fusion, and I can guarantee you that I lost almost nothing. Now, Disc replacement is a method that is very much recommended by a lot of specialists. Thing is that I had 3 previous operation (in an other hospital) at the same level (L5-S1), and that this option was no longer the right one.

[Sheryl]

BNH Spine Center can do disk replacements. it adds to the cost significantly, however, and may not be worth the extra cost if only 1 disk is involved.

My sister had fusion of 2 cervical spine vertebrae by Dr. Wicharn with excellent results. we considxered an artifical disk but were put off by the cost and Dr Wicharn said that with only 2 vertebra fused the impact on mobility would be negligible.

Results of the procedure were excellent and I highly recommend Dr. Wicharn. And as he had predicted, there is no noticeable change in neck mobility.

[drthom10]

I have a pinched nerve in my neck and may need spinal surgery to fix it. I'd like to find the best place in Thailand to have this done.

Chris

Hi Chris,

I take it that you are trying conservative treatment before you're considering surgery. Have you had treatment, an MRI?

Thomas

[ericg1953]

Again..I can second Sheryl's recommendation. One of my friends here also chose BNH for his spinal surgery. He did a very thorough screening of all the top spine specialists here and ended up at BNH. He felt very secure with the team of Dr.'s that consulted on his problem and the surgery was a success . He is back playing sports and feels great. I dont have the Dr.'s name as my friend isnt here right now.

[mj9945]

<br />Hi<br /><br />On saturday morning after my back started hurting badly I went to BNH and met the only doctor available at the spine section. It's been a very thai experience . Basically "Hello, xray" than check the results " here maybe problem, MRI" than looking at the results "here, two hernias (slipped disks), take medecines, rest a lot, next week come back, maybe we start daily physiotherapie" when I enquire what happens if it doesn't heal " Surgery easy one , very common, bye bye now " and as usual you don't even get an explicative notice with the medecines they give you...<br /><br />Hence at home quite a bit of work, starting with reading "Protusion" instead of "Hernia" in the MRI results, than check what kind of medecines he gave me (over 2200for a single week, at least I hope they are the right ones, 13000tbh for the entire consultation, MRI, XRAY and medecines).<br /><br />Checking the internet, it seems that doctors are supposed to ask patiens to do a few movements to check how bad is the situation, the surgery is NOT that easy and riskfree, and I hope I will be kind of OK until meeting a doctor in the develloped world...this one has graduated from Chiang Mai university and apparently spent a few weeks in Seoul for a practical of some sort, I guess Songran wasn't the right time to go to the hospital as well...<br /><br />Yet is there a decent specialist slipped disk in BKK ? Bumrungrad maybe ? where else ?<br /><br />Thanks<br />Luis<br />

<br /><br /><br />

when I was here a few years ago my boyfriend took me to a man called Doctor Don near soi cowboy

he was great- really good.

Bumingrad said I had a slipped disk and need surgery. After a few calls to him I was on my feet again and have had no trouble since

[sungod]

The two best spinal specialists in Thailand AFAIK are Dr. Wicharn at BNH and Dr. Nanthadej at Bumrungrad. Of the two, Dr. Nanthadej is reported to be very conservative in recommending surgery so suggest you start with him. The usual treatment for a herniated disk, in absence of any vertebral degeneration, is a course of physical therapy along with anti-inflammatory drugs. Application of heat (hot pad) may also be helpful, and you should avoid sitting for prolonger periods - stand or lie down flat.

Dr. Nanthadej Hiranyasthiti

Speciality: Orthopaedics (Bone), Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine

Language: Spoken: English,Thai

Qualifications: Medical School:

- M.D.Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, 1989

Board Certificates:

- Diploma of The Thai Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, 1995

Fellowships:

- Spine Surgery, Chicago, USA, 2001-2003

Member of North American Spine Society

Member of American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Thanks again for the info and good luck for your own lumbar issues, I've started swimming crawl and backstroke and will try and visit Dr Nanthadej next week .

Would you mind giving an update on this? Did you get to see Dr. Nanthadej?

I have a pinched nerve in my neck and may need spinal surgery to fix it. I'd like to find the best place in Thailand to have this done.

Chris

Well, thanks for the people on the forum who suggested Dr. Nanthadej at Bumrungrad. After being frustrated with my local hospital, I did a search on here and came up with his name. After lower back pain for 20 years that was controlled by medication and physio, in the last 6 months I had suffered massive pain with a huge herniation between L4 and L5. At the end of the day surgery was the only option and Dr.Nanthadej said a microdiscectomy was most appropriate. I had it yesterday and woke up 2 hours later with almost all of the pain gone and was walking instantly. Now I am sat at home 24 hrs later typing this post. I realise that I have further to go with my recovery, but am told if I follow his advice and be sensible for the next 6 weeks then I should be almost as good as new. Nothing but praise for him, apart form being a super nice guy and great at his job, he has huge genuine interest in his patients.

[Ben S]

Hello - I have Isthmic spondylolisthesis L3/L4 - saw a doctor overseas, did MRI.etc and have tried conservative methods but 4 months later it’s only got worse. I would like to go ahead with the lumbar spinal fusion surgery. Who’s the best surgeons in Thailand for this? I’m now based in Bangkok and have private insurance so cost is not an issue.

 

Thank you

[Sheryl]

Prof. Wicharn at BNH

https://www.bnhhospital.com/find-doctor/search-result/?dname=Wicharn