Best Hospital For Blood Tests And Back Pain?

[boomerexpat]

I'm mainly in Bangkok but would also be interested in any tips for Chiang Mai and Phuket.

I am having lower back pain and weird issues with other joints - sort of a Pandora's box has been open.

1. A chiropractor I saw in Phuket recommended I get a blood panel to see if there was any systemic issue that needed to be treated since he wasn't used to seeing someone with as many issues as I had all of a sudden. In Phuket, he can't get the local hospitals to do as complete a blood test as he is used to getting for patients in the US. He suggested trying Bumrungrad.

I've been to Bumrungrad before but found them to be a circus - disorganized and took too long to get from point a to c.

What hospital would you recommend?

2. Is there a good back doc or physical therapist you would recommend or a hospital that has a really good center for spine/joint issues? I don't want to go to a mill that just can deal with square peg in square hole and round peg in round hole. I'm looking for a therapist who is good at problem solving.

Thanks

[Sheryl]

You can get blood tests done well at any hospital, issue is (1) knowing what tests to get and (2) getting a doctor to sort through the results in a thoughtful and detailed manner that takes into account your specific age and health complaints. Without more information as per below i can't advise on number 1 n or say whether any good internist will do or you need to see a specialist and if so what type.

Regarding your back, have you ever had a thorough work up to determine the cause of the problem? As that is the first step. Not all back pain -- even back pain of the same type and in the same location -- has the same cause and approach has to depend on the cause. Some problems respond to conservative management/physical therapy and some do not. Some back pain is spinal in origin and some is not. etc etc

Since you mention some sort of other joint issues I am wondering if this is really a back problem or rather pain in multiple joints/muscles which suggests not only a different sort of problem but also need for a different type of specialist than a spinal problem would. I could certainly point you to a good spine specialist but I am not at all sure from the limited info provided that this is what you need as opposed to say a rheumatologist or immunologist.

Can you please advice:

1. Where the back pain is, how long you have had it and whether it pre-dated the other joint issues or came at about the same time; what is the pain like and what types of things seem to make it better or worse?

2. What exactly are the "weird joint issues" you are having and when did they start; in the month or two before they started and since have you had any sort of fever or take any new medications?

3. Your age, any medications you take regularly, history of any known medical problemsand when you last had a full check up (and results of same)

If you can provide that info I will advise accordingly