Hospitalization And Operation

[nakhonsawan]

Hello

Unfortunately,my left knee is totally kaput now. The only way for me to be walking again is, to get a new knee.

I have nowfound out that Thailand is a jungle regarding pricing of hospitalization and pricing for a new knee.

Pricing wasfrom 80,000 .- Baht to 540,000 .- baht for the same operation. The funny thing is, that in the city I live in, there are five private hospitals, and I have been using one of those private hospitals several times the past years.

I asked them if they could do such an operation, which they confirmed they could do for the price of 280,000 .- baht, which I after examination of the prices else where, was a very cheap price. Especially, when they say, that a professional doctor team from Bangkok, would make this operation.

I was just about to accept , when my wife came back after conversation with a nurse, who had told her, that this person is not telling the truth, because all private hospitals in our town are using doctors from the local military hospital for such things.

With this news in mind, I contacted the doctors at the military hospital. The doctors confirmed that they are making such operations at several private hospitals in our city. I allowed myself to ask them, why I could not use the military hospital instead of the private hospital, because they was the ones who should do the work anyway.

They said that I could use the military hospital, and the price would be all Inclusive 80,000 .- baht, which would say the following.

1^st. Feasibility study which has now lasted for the first weeks, CT scan, heart scan, blood tests, radiology and more.

2^nd Operation.

3rd Private room with private nurse for eighth days.

4th Rehabilitation.

Surely itcannot be said other than that, very, very cheap.

It would be the same as going into BIG C and buy a bottle of Red Label to 100,000.- baht, and then go to Macro and see that same bottle of whisky here only costs 1000 .- Baht.

It's the same product..

Surprised, surprised. I am…..

[crazydrummerpauly]

Very very interesting, thanks for taking the time to spread the word.

However, it would be much more useful if -

- you would name your city - pls,

- you report back AFTER the procedure to let everyone know as to

the quality of treatment and outcome.

Generally, has anyone else on TV gone down this route ( military hospital )

and if so - how did it go ???

p.s. - i know your city might be the same as your ID ( nakhonsawan )

but it might not.

[nakhonsawan]

Hello,not so fast hehe

If I survive the operation, I will give a report on progress, but before this happens, we must surely be patients.

I am promissing.

I will write about what is happening, if I survive ...

Have a nice weekend every one out there....

[crazydrummerpauly]

Hello,not so fast hehe

If I survive the operation, I will give a report on progress, but before this happens, we must surely be patients.

I am promissing.

I will write about what is happening, if I survive ...

Have a nice weekend every one out there....

Yes, please DO survive ! ( sure you will ), but really, we need more input about

where to find a Military Hospital anywhere in Thailand if your experience proves

that they would be a safe and inexpensive resource for ex-pats in general.

Why didn't you answer the questions about your city ?

Really, your original post will be no use to anyone unless we can all have some

idea of where your and other Military hospitals are located.

Good luck!

Please - anyone - how widely distributed are Miltary Hospitals in LOS, and does

anyone have personal experience of particular ones ?

[moe666]

Hello,not so fast hehe

If I survive the operation, I will give a report on progress, but before this happens, we must surely be patients.

I am promissing.

I will write about what is happening, if I survive ...

Have a nice weekend every one out there....

Yes, please DO survive ! ( sure you will ), but really, we need more input about

where to find a Military Hospital anywhere in Thailand if your experience proves

that they would be a safe and inexpensive resource for ex-pats in general.

Why didn't you answer the questions about your city ?

Really, your original post will be no use to anyone unless we can all have some

idea of where your and other Military hospitals are located.

Good luck!

Please - anyone - how widely distributed are Miltary Hospitals in LOS, and does

anyone have personal experience of particular ones ?

I met a Thai lady Dentist in Feb and she had been in the Army she resigned and went to NYU for futher studies and now works at the Dental Hospital in Bangkok. Talking to her she seemed very competent and I wouldn't have a problem with her working on me. More than likely the military doctors are good probaly lots of pratice on thoses recruits.

[drtreelove]

I had bi-lateral knee replacements two years ago in the US. I am very pleased with the results, no more pain and I'm back mt biking and hiking and other activities.

I was lucky and had full insurance coverage; I don't know what I would have done if I had to pay out of pocket, I'd probably still be somewhat crippled and hurting.

This is something that I would not be looking for the cheapest price, even if I had to borrow the funds. If at all possible, go with the most experienced surgeon that you can find and afford, a specialist who has done hundreds of knee replacements. Experience makes a difference in technique, alignment, choice of materials, and success of the operation. I have a friend who was forced by economic limitations to use a general orthopedic surgeon; he went through all that and then the alignment was off, he was in considerable pain for months, and he has been back under the knife two additional times to try and make it right.

I believe the standard now is computer assisted alignment and cobalt chrome. Titanium reportedly wears out faster. Search it and get all the information you can.

After care is a big deal, get the best nursing that you can. my surgeon was great, but the week in the hospital was agonizing. Find out what pain meds you will have, you'll need some good stuff like Vicodin to sleep at night, ibuprofen just won't do it. The first month is tough, but after that is gets steadily better. Build up your upper body strength and reduce your body weight as much as possible prior to the surgery, because you have to lift yourself and move around in bed, toilet and shower using upper body. Of course I had both done at the same time so this was a big factor. I was happy that I was in relatively good shape physically.

Good luck, I hope you find a good surgeon and it goes well for you. don

[fredlaw]

In 2004 and 05 i began checking all hospitals in the bkk area for a knee replacement. i could have had the operation here in the US but opted for Thailand. i researched for about a year and settled on Vej Thani, in BKK.

this was the best choice i could ahve made. the surgery started on monday evening and i awoke about noon on tuesday. on wednesday morning my doctor came in and ask if i wanted to try and walk. i thought he was crazy but i said i would try. i have been walking ever since. i have no pain what so ever. i only wish i had done it a couple years earlier. had i opted for the surgery in the US the knee would havve lasted about 10 to 12 years and then anouther replacement. the one i received, not approved in the US, is expected to last about 35 years.

during the week after the surgery, i spoke with several of the girls who were giving me physical thearpy. they were not part of the hospital staff, but rather from a contracted company. they told me that for a knee or hip replacement that Vej Thani was the best hospital in Thailanad to havve it done. oter areas of the body i should go elsewhere but for knees and hip, there was no better place than Vej Thani.

it's not only the cost at the time but what happens later that is important. i know several people whose knee replacements, here in the US, that have casued total disability for life.

i highly recommend Vej Thani and you can research the hospital on line and read comments by others who havve had the surgery. good luck. don't spare any expense if you want to walk agin.

the cost at that time was about280,000 baht.

[fredlaw]

Should have proof read before I sent my message. The spelling, ect is really screwed up. but the message is there. Not the greatest on typing. thanks

[crazydrummerpauly]

In 2004 and 05 i began checking all hospitals in the bkk area for a knee replacement. i could have had the operation here in the US but opted for Thailand. i researched for about a year and settled on Vej Thani, in BKK.

this was the best choice i could ahve made. the surgery started on monday evening and i awoke about noon on tuesday. on wednesday morning my doctor came in and ask if i wanted to try and walk. i thought he was crazy but i said i would try. i have been walking ever since. i have no pain what so ever. i only wish i had done it a couple years earlier. had i opted for the surgery in the US the knee would havve lasted about 10 to 12 years and then anouther replacement. the one i received, not approved in the US, is expected to last about 35 years.

during the week after the surgery, i spoke with several of the girls who were giving me physical thearpy. they were not part of the hospital staff, but rather from a contracted company. they told me that for a knee or hip replacement that Vej Thani was the best hospital in Thailanad to havve it done. oter areas of the body i should go elsewhere but for knees and hip, there was no better place than Vej Thani.

it's not only the cost at the time but what happens later that is important. i know several people whose knee replacements, here in the US, that have casued total disability for life.

i highly recommend Vej Thani and you can research the hospital on line and read comments by others who havve had the surgery. good luck. don't spare any expense if you want to walk agin.

the cost at that time was about280,000 baht.

Terrific post, thanks, really valuable, solid info. As I'm back in the UK until October, the only negative that occurs to me

is that I have to pay anything at all in LOS, as I have been a beneficiary of free National Health since I was born in '45!

But the point remains, if we have to pay as an ex-pat, at least lets get the best there is - that's where your post scores.

[nakhonsawan]

Now there are only 48 hours for me, before I am laying on the military hospitals cold operating table here in Nakhon Sawan for insertion of a new knee.

If I was to become one of the 99.8% who would survive such an operation, I will with great zeal describe the entire process.

One should indeed not sneeze at the price, and if you've read my first post, you will be able to see that they are the same doctors who perform this operation, as in my private hospital.

Hope we talk after 8 days of rehabilitation after surgery.

Do not forget the price, because if one have to pay for himself, we must look for the best and cheapest place.

Hope the best, but after all a little nervous. .

[tango]

Thank you one and all for your invaluable advice. And good luck to you Nakhonsawan! I may need knee-replacement surgery.

I had a torn meniscus repaired in my right-knee some 40 years ago as a result of a university rugby violent take-down. The knee did well for forty years, including a 20-year military career, a three-year UN consultancy in Sudan, and a decade plus of 'stand-up' teaching. I have been with Blue Cross for 15 years here in Chiangmai, and had at the outset annotated their insurance policy that I had a preexisting condition with my knee.I had no claims with Blue Cross until five years ago when I dropped 3-meters straight down through the roof of the garage. I was treated for back compression at CMai Ram and released after three days: Blue Cross paid the bill, relatively inexpensive. A few months thereafter I began experiencing a slight knee slackness which has had me favoring the knee for about five years now.

Two weeks ago I awoke to my knee severely swollen, so much so that it took me a good 20 minutes to hobble and crawl downstairs. I was recommended a good pain reliever(Synflex)plus Meloxicam tablets(for osteoarthritis)to reduce the swelling due to inflammation of the prepatellar bursa(kneecap). Both did the job, swelling gone including purplish red welts around the knee caused by the serious swelling. A persistent dull pain nonetheless continues, as does the sense that the knee might possibly give out: even a slight twist is painful. I walk gingerly and try not to move the leg whilst sleeping, which makes for a bad night's rest. I am worried I may need my knee replaced.

I inquired at the Blue Cross office here in Chiangmai who said Blue Cross will not pay for any right-knee surgery due to the preexisting condition: despite my attributing my knee problem to the roof fall five years ago and not to the menisectomy forty years ago.

I am now weighing my options: your valuable experience and advice above are guiding me. I ought to at least get an x-ray to confirm. But before doing so I have been trying to gain a solid perspective on courses of action. Lanna Hospital and Ram are Thai-recommended, both rated well-qualified at ~250K baht but with Ram considered an additional ~50K more expensive. I had heard too that it's the same surgical team rotating through the various hospitals: yet to confirm. The Special Medical Service Center has been good for outpatient service the couple of times I needed it, but I've yet to confirm their surgery expertise.

"drtreelove" states above that 'the standard now is computer-assisted alignment and cobalt chrome' and that 'Titanium reportedly wears out faster'. Thanks, that answers what material to use. But do hospitals in Chiangmai or Bkk actually use computer-assisted alignment: a plus if they do, a definite downer if they do not. Well thanks everyone for your input. I'll keep checking back. Best regards... :jap:

[JSixpack]

I am worried I may need my knee replaced. I ought to at least get an x-ray to confirm.

Understatement. And more . . . .

But before doing so I have been trying to gain a solid perspective on courses of action.

Cart before the horse, pal. You don't weigh your courses of action until you know what possible actions might be needed.

Get the dam_n X-ray and MRI and talk to a few specialists. Maybe you just need some PT.

[Robby nz]

Re military hospital:

A while back I had surgery for rectal cancer, wrote about it on here somewhere.

I met the Dr who did the job at a private BKK hospital in the course of our discussion he offered to do the job at the private hospital where we met or at the military hospital where he is based.

Turned out he is an army Dr and he along with his fellow army Dr's are farmed out to private hospitals when they dont have a specialist who can do the job.

I chose the army hospital for about half the price with the same Dr, glad I did.

[nakhonsawan]

Hello to everyone.

When I know writing this, I've survived the operation. After five days I arrived home from the hospital. I would have been home Monday, if the doctors did not found out that I did not have COPD ... Lung disease ... as a private hospital had spent many resources on to convince me that I have. Okay because the symptom is the same, so this inflammation addressed of the heart region, in parallel with my surgery, cost some extra days.

Today I am home and turned over to my own workout. Which is no problem.

I was already hospitalized Thursday morning because doctors want to make sure once more with blood tests, heart tests and everything else.

Friday morning I was prepared for surgery, which should start at.0800. Since I do not anesthetized locally, a total anesthetic was necessary.

No problems. The operation took two hours.

Woke up after anesthesia an hour later and taken to the recovery room, a single room, where I was supervised by seven nurses the first 24 hours.

After examination by doctor, I was transferred to my private room. Not luxury but had what we needed. My wife and daughter spent the nights here too. Nothing to complain about, but the standard not as the private hospital I've used several times. They will try to improve, because I am the first farang they have that operation on there hospital.

I am now home and training has begun and next Thursday will the doctor remove all clips.

I hope in the coming weeks to avoid any infections or other things, that can cause problems.

Well the price some will probably say. New knee, all medication during their stay, where one part was morphine to keep the pain down, operation, more nurses than needed. My wife and daughter stay with me in the same room, and Thai food 3rd times a day. Single room with TV, bathroom, outdoor kitchen and refrigerator. NOT LUXURY RUM, I just say, but okay.

I will also say. If you do not have a friend or other to help you with the Thai languages you could have a lot of trouble. No one speak so much English, that you would could understand. Important for farangs who do not speak Thai languages themselves, that they bring someone to help.

<BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR style="mso-special-character: line-break">

Alt inklusive 83.273.- Baht,,,,,

If any want more information send me an PB or write here, and I will answer if possible.

The hospital is the military hospital in Nakhon Sawan, but I would mean the prices on other military hospitals should be the same, but I do not know

[Sheryl]

Thanks for your feedback, and please do let us know how it turns out with time. Be sure to cooperate fully with recommendations regarding exercise/physical therapy as this is crucial.

Military hospitals, like tertiary level government hospitals, do indeed cost far less than private hospitals and often have excellent specialists. the main disadvantages are those you mention, e.g. language barrier and some comforts.

Personally, I hope they do not start upgrading their patient rooms to "international standard" because if they do a huge jump in cost will surely follow, and this has no bearing at all on the quality of medical care.

[nakhonsawan]

Hello

I think you are right in your considerations. Let military hospitals be as they are, so us selves insured has the option to pay for such an operation.

I will not give you quite right in your considerations of rehabilitation. I just read an article from an University Hospital in Denmark, which had 100 individuals with new knees tested after the operation.

50 were trained under the old standards and 50 were simply asked to relax.

The result was that. That out of the 50 who just relaxed. Most of them did best after 5 years.

I asked the doctor at the military hospital here in Nakhon Sawan if others also can make use of their excellent service. No problems, he said, but perhaps there may be a little waiting time, because we are only a small hospital.

I've got the final prices for two common operations.

NEW KNEE ....... 80.000,. to 100.000.- Baht

NEW HIP ..... 160,000 .- to 200,000 .- Baht.

He figured that would be the the price for all military hospitals, but was not sure.

[Khonwan]

Thank you, Nakhonsawan, for your report; this is excellent news. I have always distrusted private hospitals, preferring to use Chulalongkorn Hospital in the past when I lived in Bangkok. I’ve lived in Nakhon Sawan for 14 years (100km west of the city) but was not aware of the services of the Military Hospital. I’ll be sure to pass this onto my other NS friends.

Best wishes for your speedy recovery,

Khonwan

[Khonwan]

I found this list of military hospitals at Piatom.com:

RTA Hospitals.

Ananthamahidol Hospital, Lop Buri.

Jakapong Hospital, Prachinburi.

Jirapravat Hospital, Nakhon Sawan.

Kai Somdej Chao Phaya Maha Kasatsuk Hospital, Buriram.

Khaikhetudomsak Hospital, Chumphon.

Naresuan Army Hospital, Phitsanulok.

Prajaksilapakom Hospital, Udon Thani.

Somdet Phra Naresuan Maharaj Hospital, Phitsanulok.

Srisongrak Military Hospital, Loei.

Surasak Montree Military Hospital, Lampang.

Suriyaphong Military Hospital, Nan.

Vajiravudh Hospital, Nakhon Si Thammarat.

[nakhonsawan]

Hello

Now there's been a week since the operation, and I have been trained very hard. It is amazing that muscles from the knee upwards can be so dull after such surgery. Now it is time to use the stick with caution.

On Thursday braces have to be taken out of the doctor, so I hope I get the okay to swim in the pool again.

It is probably in the pool I will see the great progress. The goal is 14 days after surgery almost normal again.

Thanks for the information on all military hospitals in Thailand, now the individuals can find the one nearest one, if there is others like me, whom do not have insurance to cover such things.

If I may say so.... Pretty goooodddd for an old man 62 years of age.....

[moe666]

Glad to hear you made it and all is well.

[nakhonsawan]

Soon there are gone four weeks since surgery.

I can bend my new knees slightly more than 90 degrees, but I think I've gone a little stuck now ..

The increase can not be seen any more, and I feel as if my legs are in two halves with a hinge in between.

If there is someone like me out there, who has been such a operation with an new knee, and have same experiences or others they might share with me, or other future patients, it would be great if you could post something here</SPAN></SPAN>.

I do not know the different between the military Hospital and the Privat ones, but hospitals in my own country, are using lots of efforts after the operation for programs for exercising. Etc.. Here in Thailand they do not use time as such things, but okay.

I am in the moment making such a book for an exercising program for the military hospital, so new patients know what to do.

I would be happy to hear from anyone, who can help and give there experiences on that matter.

[Robby nz]

I found this list of military hospitals at Piatom.com:

RTA Hospitals.

Ananthamahidol Hospital, Lop Buri.

Jakapong Hospital, Prachinburi.

Jirapravat Hospital, Nakhon Sawan.

Kai Somdej Chao Phaya Maha Kasatsuk Hospital, Buriram.

Khaikhetudomsak Hospital, Chumphon.

Naresuan Army Hospital, Phitsanulok.

Prajaksilapakom Hospital, Udon Thani.

Somdet Phra Naresuan Maharaj Hospital, Phitsanulok.

Srisongrak Military Hospital, Loei.

Surasak Montree Military Hospital, Lampang.

Suriyaphong Military Hospital, Nan.

Vajiravudh Hospital, Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Missed out Phramongkutklao in BKK.

[moe666]

Soon there are gone four weeks since surgery.

I can bend my new knees slightly more than 90 degrees, but I think I've gone a little stuck now ..

The increase can not be seen any more, and I feel as if my legs are in two halves with a hinge in between.

If there is someone like me out there, who has been such a operation with an new knee, and have same experiences or others they might share with me, or other future patients, it would be great if you could post something here</SPAN></SPAN>.

I do not know the different between the military Hospital and the Privat ones, but hospitals in my own country, are using lots of efforts after the operation for programs for exercising. Etc.. Here in Thailand they do not use time as such things, but okay.

I am in the moment making such a book for an exercising program for the military hospital, so new patients know what to do.

I would be happy to hear from anyone, who can help and give there experiences on that matter.

How are things going with the new knee. I think stretching exercise will be good for recovery and walking. When I had surgery 20 years ago walking helped the old knee more than anything. Also how about massage .

keep us informed about progress.

[nakhonsawan]

Hello

I was in the hospital a couple of days ago, for the first months check up.'

That is now just over a month ago I had the surgery.

X ray was taken of my new steel knees ... Everything was as it should be.

I got the okay to start my morning swim again. Which has given me a lot the last days.

The stairs, they will now be taken normally, and not as before one step at a time.

The doctor will not see me more in the future, except if I have problems with the knee.

Hopefully, next time I see my excellent doctor. It will be on about. 2. month when we play the first round of golf after surgery.

So far... I am just a very happy man,,,

My knee can now be streched out, better than before the surgery. I can bend over my knee more than 90 degrees without any problems. For an old man over the 60 I would say.. Pretty good after one month.

[moe666]

Sounds great, how about your pain level. One of my former co-workers had double knee replacement last year and he became addicted to pain medication and went off cold turkey. It doesn't sound as if you are having a problem with pain.

Years back I had the cartilage removed from my left knee and I was doing yoga at the time and the stretching helped a lot. A year later another surgery on same knee and I was no longer doing yoga and the recovery was different. I will probaly have to have knee replacement eventually because of developeing problems.

[nakhonsawan]

I have not experienced any pain.

It felt weird when I started rehabilitation, but nothing compared to the old knee.

I have had 10 years of constant pain in my left knee, so it was really a new feeling now, when the pain was gone.

The days I was in hospital after the surgery, I got so much morphine that the pain was just something that did not exist hehe. They are not afraid to use large amounts of morphine here.

After I came home from the hospital, no painkillers have been taken, only pills against possible infection, which they are very interested in, for that I am happy, because I have been listening to many stories on this subject.

[moe666]

Nothing like some morphine to take the edge off. You sound like my sister except hers was a hip. She set down in a chair and couldn't get up we eventually got her moving but she was in a great deal of pain. She walked around on a hip fracture for 6 months before a Dr. figured it out. She didn't fall so they never considered a fracture and as it turns out the fracture is usually a stress fracture while standing and then the person faols.

The surgery was such a relief that she had very little pain afterward compared to before.

[tango]

nakhonsawan: Thank you so very much for the details of your surgery. I have had an X-ray and three different consultations which confirm I will require a knee replacement in the near future. Did they implant a Zimmer-brand prosthesis or what brand?

Actually I may visit your military hospital - Jirapravat Hospital, Nakhon Sawan - to have it done; you certainly did well by them. What were the surgeons' names please. No listing for military hospital in Chiangmai, and Lampang is almost as far.

Again thanks for reducing my trepidation factor. Very kind of you. Regards....

[nakhonsawan]

nakhonsawan: Thank you so very much for the details of your surgery. I have had an X-ray and three different consultations which confirm I will require a knee replacement in the near future. Did they implant a Zimmer-brand prosthesis or what brand?

Actually I may visit your military hospital - Jirapravat Hospital, Nakhon Sawan - to have it done; you certainly did well by them. What were the surgeons' names please. No listing for military hospital in Chiangmai, and Lampang is almost as far.

Again thanks for reducing my trepidation factor. Very kind of you. Regards....

Hello

Great excuse, because I have not been on very long, but hope you might have been here. If not, please write and I will investigate further.

He is the only one so there can be no misunderstandings ..

You are welcome to contact if you would want this hospital, I will assist you as much as I can.

[nakhonsawan]

What pain... I do not have....