Hip replacement

[northernjohn]

I was told today by Doctor Sudhee at the Ram that I needed a new hip.

I have the list from the pinned doctors.

I was wondering if any one here in Chiang Mai has had there's replaced by who and what was the total cost. Also were they satisfied with the work and care taken by the surgeon? Doctor Sudhee does not do them any more and he said he didn't know what the cost would be. He says the best is in Bangkok but that would be quite a bit more.

Thank you in advance

Edited August 26, 2013 by northernjohn

[dave2]

re

what was the total cost

i know someone who was quoted about 7 thousand quid at ram a year go but hes not had it done yet !

dave2

pic ... doi suthep getting wet at 4 15 today

[Sparkles]

Might well worth your while to talk to DR CHANAKARN PHORNPHUTKUL he is an orthopaedic specialist who has a clinic at Rajavej Hospital and an his own clinic opp on the other side of the river. I am presuming he does hip replacement.I don't have personal experience of his work but accompanied my 78 years old friend for knee surgery and he was very professional and the surgery and recovery was 100% Apparently has a very good reputation.Speaks fluent English and has practiced overseas. Others may have first hand knowledge..

[AnotherOneAmerican]

You might want to request prices from Indian hospitals, I'm told they are very competitive.

http://www.hipsurgery.in/

[ricklev]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/health/for-medical-tourists-simple-math.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Very interesting article on hip replacement costs.

[jimmym40]

My wife had two total knee replacements done by Dr. Charnakarn a little less than 2 yrs ago. Completely satisfied and would highly recommend him. Cost for one knee replacement was approx. 155,000 baht

[northernjohn]

Thank you for the responses.

India would be out as there would be the added cost of transportation and support after the hospital The Doctor tols me it could be an eight week recovery time. It would involve the use of a walker and exersises plus all seats would have to be a certain heigth,

7,000 works out to close to 350,000 Baht. For 450,000 baht I can get it done in the best hospital in Bangkok that would be all inclusive for a 7 day stay in the hospital. More than I am willing to spend.

It would seem that the cost of the hip to make is cheap but the price the consumer pays to purchase it is not. You pay what the doctor charges you..

I had talked to doctor CHANAKARN PHORNPHUTKUL about it. He says the cost of the hip is 60,000 baht. At the time I did not press him for an all in cost as I was still fairly mobile. I have no idea when this Arthritis started but the pain started in early November and has rapidly increased. I will talk to him about the price. We did in a general way talk about it. He said in the area of 200,000 baht. I have heard good things about him and was hoping there would be others with first hand experience with this operation .

Their costs who the Doctor was and what hospital was used and of course are they happy with it. Also the time frame for their recovery. I realize some will recover faster than others.

[hmficc]

I would be very careful in considering having major work done in a provincial capital of a of a third world country. I will spare you the experience of friends ( one with a broken hip) in CM. I have had 2 replacement both done in the U.S.A where I am insured. My insurance would have covered me in BKK and I met with a doc there. I think he knew his stuff but the U.S.A standard infection control capability was missing. Also there is a new approach which meant a smaller cut and my walking out of the Hosp. after 2 nights with a cane which I threw away after 3 weeks.

I have 13 years on my first one and I do not know they are there. How nice to leave the pain behind. Spare parts are great.

Best of luck and a speedy recovery.

[uptheos]

I do know someone who had a hip replacement done by Dr. Chanakarn a couple of years ago and everything seems to have gone well. I believe the cost was around 175,000 Baht, but for sure that would have increased.

Just out of curiosity I looked up the prices in the USA Blue Book and UK Private costs.

Average fair price in the USA Blue Book $30,000+ about 950,000+ Baht

UK price range privately appx £10,000+ about 500,000+ Baht

http://www.privatehealth.co.uk/hospitaltreatment/whatdoesitcost/hip-replacement/

http://www.healthcarebluebook.com/page_Results.aspx?id=47&dataset=hosp&g=Total%20Hip%20Replacement

For what it's worth, I do know for a fact that Dr. Chanakarn is frequently in the USA during the year, attending seminars/courses, whatever you want to call them, trying to keep up with all the latest developments, particularly in hip and knee replacement surgery.

Edited August 27, 2013 by uptheos

[Methuselah]

My father aged 95 had a hip replacement at the Ram hospital.The surgeon Dr Paiboon was excellent and had excellent communication skils as well as practical skills.However he admitted before surgery that post operative rehabilitation at Chiang Mai Ram was not a strong point.This proved to be the case,and I was appalled at the extremely poor attitude to rehabilitation.

I paid a visit to Suan Dok hospital to discuss rehabilitation with the chief occupational therapist,and she confirmed the lack of emphasis on rehabilitation at Ram Hospital.

In the end I opted to remove my father from the Ram and employ at home a private nurse and physiotherapist from the McCormack to oversee my father's recovery.

The overall cost at Ram was about 250000 baht,but I did not regret my decision to remove my father from the Ram.

Should someone recommend a good orthopaedic surgeon at Sriphat medical centre {wing of Suan Dok},I would opt for surgery there.

Good luck.

[uptheos]

I think Dr. Chanakarn would operate at Sripat, but you would need to ask him to make sure. Most surgeons do the rounds according to patient's preferences.

If he operates at Rajavej, then the physio dept there is quite good IMO. The girls know what they are doing and are both caring and supportive

[northernjohn]

I think Dr. Chanakarn would operate at Sripat, but you would need to ask him to make sure. Most surgeons do the rounds according to patient's preferences.

If he operates at Rajavej, then the physio dept there is quite good IMO. The girls know what they are doing and are both caring and supportive

Thanks uptheos

That pretty well confirms what I had heard on a PM from a patient who had used him. I know when this first came on I had seen him and he said he worked out of Rajavej. He said he could work out of Ram but the cost would be more. As I was just looking at options at the time I did not get to specific about price and rehabilitation. I am going to contact him today and have a talk with him. I will mention Sripat but in the final analysis if I go with him I will follow his advice.

I have heard good things about their physio department and when the pain first started I had gone to them and been given exercises that were to painful to do. Doctor Suthee recommended another one who had operated out of his clinic before he closed it down. I saw her and she gave me more exercises to do. Painful but doable. The surprising thing was it is my left hip and after about a month and a half I decided to do them with the right leg also. I was doing a set of 15 painful ones with the left leg. I was surprised when I did sets of 10 with the right leg. I almost couldent complete them.

[NancyL]

I know several people who have had hip surgeries with Dr. Chanakarn and all have been pleased. In every case, the need for the surgery was trauma (accident that caused a broken hip), but the surgery was the same, with total joint replacement. The cost varied from 150,000 - 220,000 baht, but as I said, these were trauma cases, so some of the cost may have been related to stabilizing the patient prior to the surgery.

[jingjoke]

I had occasion to visit the Mae Rim hospital for a consultancy on my 'rugby' knee. Encountered another farang who stated he had a total knee replacement done for about TB75000, at a military hospital somewhere between CMai and Bangkok. He was extremely pleased with not only the cost but their professionalism. Possibly inquire of any military hospital whether or not there are any that perform hip replacements. They obviously do not discriminate between military and civilian - a patient in need...?

[elektrified]

I had occasion to visit the Mae Rim hospital for a consultancy on my 'rugby' knee. Encountered another farang who stated he had a total knee replacement done for about TB75000, at a military hospital somewhere between CMai and Bangkok. He was extremely pleased with not only the cost but their professionalism. Possibly inquire of any military hospital whether or not there are any that perform hip replacements. They obviously do not discriminate between military and civilian - a patient in need...?

Give a pass on the one in the area of Kawila. They can't do much of anything there and are unfriendly as well.

[northernjohn]

Thanks guys.

I talked with DR CHANAKARN PHORNPHUTKUL today and he said it will be in the area of 200,000 baht. 3 or 4 days in the hospital depending. He said he would be traveling and wanted to keep an eye on the recovery process for at least three days. Not only does it make sense to me but it makes me feel more comfortable with him. It is not like an assembly line slam bang thank you mam. He wants to have a check up at Rajavej as the intern doing the check up is going to be involved in the recover process. I will go in tomorrow for the check up with a list of my medications that I am sure are OK as my doctor who prescribes them knows I am going to eventually have the hip replaced.

I know that I have to stop taking the Wharfin he said at least a week prior to the operation. All in all I walked away with the feeling that I was in the hands of a highly skilled doctor who cares about his patients.

As for the ability of Doctors in Thailand. The answer to that is the same the world over. They estimate in the states alone that 200,000 people die every year as the result of a Doctors mistake. No telling what other things go wrong. In Canada I had an operation on my knee before they put me out they put a mark on the knee and checked with me to be sure it was the right knee they were operating on.

[ericthai]

Northernjohn, that's a good price. I checked in Bangkok about 7 years ago for my mother and the cost was about 450,000B at that time. I'm sure it went up since then.

Also good is that you will stay in the hospital 3-4 days afterwards that's the correct move. You cant rush the recovery. Even in the US where the insurance company wants to get you out of the hospital ASAP you end up being about 3 days and then move you to a Skilled nursing center for 7-12 days depending on the patients recovery. One poster said he was out in one day I find that hard to believe. Maybe for a knee but not for a hip. I worked in the medical insurance industry in the US and the cost for a hip replacement varies greatly from place to place. The cost can be anywhere from $40,0000 up to $100,000. It is just crazy when the actual cost of manufacturing the hip is less than $1000. Please keep us posted how things went after you surgery. Very interested to hearing about the end results. Make sure you listen to your therapist and don't take short cuts on exercises. Wish you all the best!!!

[MAJIC]

I suggest that the OP does some homework on where is the best place to have this Hip Replacement done,according to a specialist in the UK,although Hip Replacements are considered pretty much Standard,run of the mill operations,they still can only claim and expect a 95% success rate,due to post operative unforeseen circumstances! The good news is: Age doesn't seem to matter too much, it's more about about,how fit one is,an old fella I know who is now 83 had his last Hip replacement (he's had two) at an unbelievable 79!

Edited August 27, 2013 by MAJIC

[elektrified]

I talked with DR CHANAKARN PHORNPHUTKUL today.....All in all I walked away with the feeling that I was in the hands of a highly skilled doctor who cares about his patients.

In Canada I had an operation on my knee before they put me out they put a mark on the knee and checked with me to be sure it was the right knee they were operating on.

I have heard nothing but good things about that Doctor. Everyone I know who has been treated by, or operated on by him says he is a skilled surgeon and a very nice, caring person.

They have been doing that in the USA, Canada, South Korea, and in some European countries as well for many years now. I would imagine they do it in Australia and elsewhere. It is a great idea. When I had hernia surgery in the USA in about 2004, I had to draw an arrow pointing to where the surgery would be and sign my name on my skin as well as verbally agree as to what was going to be done and on what side of my body. The nurse immediately took a Polaroid photo. When I had foot surgery in the Czech Republic a couple of years later the surgeon had me do the same exact thing.

[elektrified]

Northernjohn, that's a good price. I checked in Bangkok about 7 years ago for my mother and the cost was about 450,000B at that time. I'm sure it went up since then.

Also good is that you will stay in the hospital 3-4 days afterwards that's the correct move. You cant rush the recovery. Even in the US where the insurance company wants to get you out of the hospital ASAP you end up being about 3 days and then move you to a Skilled nursing center for 7-12 days depending on the patients recovery. One poster said he was out in one day I find that hard to believe. Maybe for a knee but not for a hip. I worked in the medical insurance industry in the US and the cost for a hip replacement varies greatly from place to place. The cost can be anywhere from $40,0000 up to $100,000. It is just crazy when the actual cost of manufacturing the hip is less than $1000. Please keep us posted how things went after you surgery. Very interested to hearing about the end results. Make sure you listen to your therapist and don't take short cuts on exercises. Wish you all the best!!!

I'm fairly certain that in an interview I saw with Tina Turner, she said she was out of the hospital within 24 hours after hip replacement surgery. She was in great physical condition so it probably depends on the individual.

[uptheos]

I talked with DR CHANAKARN PHORNPHUTKUL today.....All in all I walked away with the feeling that I was in the hands of a highly skilled doctor who cares about his patients.

In Canada I had an operation on my knee before they put me out they put a mark on the knee and checked with me to be sure it was the right knee they were operating on.

I have heard nothing but good things about that Doctor. Everyone I know who has been treated by, or operated on by him says he is a skilled surgeon and a very nice, caring person.

They have been doing that in the USA, Canada, South Korea, and in some European countries as well for many years now. I would imagine they do it in Australia and elsewhere. It is a great idea. When I had hernia surgery in the USA in about 2004, I had to draw an arrow pointing to where the surgery would be and sign my name on my skin as well as verbally agree as to what was going to be done and on what side of my body. The nurse immediately took a Polaroid photo. When I had foot surgery in the Czech Republic a couple of years later the surgeon had me do the same exact thing.

I too think it's an excellent idea, provided they give a photograph to a relative or friend too, before going in to surgery.

[hellodolly]

I talked with DR CHANAKARN PHORNPHUTKUL today.....All in all I walked away with the feeling that I was in the hands of a highly skilled doctor who cares about his patients.

In Canada I had an operation on my knee before they put me out they put a mark on the knee and checked with me to be sure it was the right knee they were operating on.

I have heard nothing but good things about that Doctor. Everyone I know who has been treated by, or operated on by him says he is a skilled surgeon and a very nice, caring person.

They have been doing that in the USA, Canada, South Korea, and in some European countries as well for many years now. I would imagine they do it in Australia and elsewhere. It is a great idea. When I had hernia surgery in the USA in about 2004, I had to draw an arrow pointing to where the surgery would be and sign my name on my skin as well as verbally agree as to what was going to be done and on what side of my body. The nurse immediately took a Polaroid photo. When I had foot surgery in the Czech Republic a couple of years later the surgeon had me do the same exact thing.

I too think it's an excellent idea, provided they give a photograph to a relative or friend too, before going in to surgery.

I hope it all goes well with you. I myself hate surgery. Not that big a fan of hospitals but from what I have read here sounds like you are in good hands I also saw that Doctor about surgery on my knee. He was recommended to me as the best arthroscopic surgeon he said I would do better replacing it as this would be the second time and might only last three years. I believe he also put in several years at the Mayo clinic in the states. They are a very highly regarded clinic.

Edited August 28, 2013 by hellodolly

[northernjohn]

If they get the wrong hip it would not be that big a tragedy as I have arthritis in the other hip only not so bad. I could maybe get a free hip replacement out of the whole deal.

As far as researching hospitals go when you trust a doctor as much as I do and have heard nothing but good about him I at least trust his choice of hospitals. If I didn't I would get another doctor. Unless I had money and it didn't make a difference. He said Ram would be about 350,000 baht. That is a lot of money to pay for a fancy room. The doctor doing the operation will be the same no matter.

As for recovery time we all have a different speed we recover at. The one poster was fortunate. Maybe they only had a partial replacement also their age and physical condition could have been real good. Or perhaps they have a high pain threshold or had all kinds of pain killer. I am sure that was there true experience and I am sure as a RN they know that is not normal. I have a hard time believing that in the states with their high prices insurance companies will not get them out just as fast as they can. I see in that posters particular case it was a day and a half in the hospital and no mention of any after care. Also being a RN they were aware of many things the public is not aware off. I know of two RNs who are drug addicts.

For myself I feel it is appropriate to have knowledgeable follow up. I also have Diabetes which will need to be watched a little more than the non diabetic. I am fortunate it is type 2 and was caught at an early stage.

Today I went into the hospital and saw an intern who turned me over to a blood specialist. Like I said in an earlier post I take Wharfin and am going to stop it on Sunday they want me to come in every day for a shot of another substance. Cost more money but I have no wish to extend recovery time or cause other problems.

[uptheos]

If they get the wrong hip it would not be that big a tragedy as I have arthritis in the other hip only not so bad. I could maybe get a free hip replacement out of the whole deal.

As far as researching hospitals go when you trust a doctor as much as I do and have heard nothing but good about him I at least trust his choice of hospitals. If I didn't I would get another doctor. Unless I had money and it didn't make a difference. He said Ram would be about 350,000 baht. That is a lot of money to pay for a fancy room. The doctor doing the operation will be the same no matter.

As for recovery time we all have a different speed we recover at. The one poster was fortunate. Maybe they only had a partial replacement also their age and physical condition could have been real good. Or perhaps they have a high pain threshold or had all kinds of pain killer. I am sure that was there true experience and I am sure as a RN they know that is not normal. I have a hard time believing that in the states with their high prices insurance companies will not get them out just as fast as they can. I see in that posters particular case it was a day and a half in the hospital and no mention of any after care. Also being a RN they were aware of many things the public is not aware off. I know of two RNs who are drug addicts.

For myself I feel it is appropriate to have knowledgeable follow up. I also have Diabetes which will need to be watched a little more than the non diabetic. I am fortunate it is type 2 and was caught at an early stage.

Today I went into the hospital and saw an intern who turned me over to a blood specialist. Like I said in an earlier post I take Wharfin and am going to stop it on Sunday they want me to come in every day for a shot of another substance. Cost more money but I have no wish to extend recovery time or cause other problems.

I wish you all the very best, for successful surgery and a speedy recovery.

[northernjohn]

If they get the wrong hip it would not be that big a tragedy as I have arthritis in the other hip only not so bad. I could maybe get a free hip replacement out of the whole deal.

As far as researching hospitals go when you trust a doctor as much as I do and have heard nothing but good about him I at least trust his choice of hospitals. If I didn't I would get another doctor. Unless I had money and it didn't make a difference. He said Ram would be about 350,000 baht. That is a lot of money to pay for a fancy room. The doctor doing the operation will be the same no matter.

As for recovery time we all have a different speed we recover at. The one poster was fortunate. Maybe they only had a partial replacement also their age and physical condition could have been real good. Or perhaps they have a high pain threshold or had all kinds of pain killer. I am sure that was there true experience and I am sure as a RN they know that is not normal. I have a hard time believing that in the states with their high prices insurance companies will not get them out just as fast as they can. I see in that posters particular case it was a day and a half in the hospital and no mention of any after care. Also being a RN they were aware of many things the public is not aware off. I know of two RNs who are drug addicts.

For myself I feel it is appropriate to have knowledgeable follow up. I also have Diabetes which will need to be watched a little more than the non diabetic. I am fortunate it is type 2 and was caught at an early stage.

Today I went into the hospital and saw an intern who turned me over to a blood specialist. Like I said in an earlier post I take Wharfin and am going to stop it on Sunday they want me to come in every day for a shot of another substance. Cost more money but I have no wish to extend recovery time or cause other problems.

I wish you all the very best, for successful surgery and a speedy recovery.

Thank you.

If all goes as planned I will be home in Two weeks.

Hopefully my main problem then will not to take to big of an advantage of the wife. As is she tries to do to much already.

All though I will admit she was a big help at the hospital.She was able to lead me around from department to department. They said I would have to take a pill every day starting Sunday to make up for the wharfin. They would not let me take it then they said to come back Sunday to get it. It made no sense to me and the wife couldent explain it to me either. So I went over to the office that said English and Japanese spoken and asked there. The lady very nicely took the paper and talked to the doctor about it and came back and said it was not a pill it was a shot.

To all the Thai staff I talked to it was a pill they don't seperate the two as definatly as I am used to. Really good to have a translator there that good

Edited August 28, 2013 by northernjohn

[ericthai]

Northernjohn, that's a good price. I checked in Bangkok about 7 years ago for my mother and the cost was about 450,000B at that time. I'm sure it went up since then.

Also good is that you will stay in the hospital 3-4 days afterwards that's the correct move. You cant rush the recovery. Even in the US where the insurance company wants to get you out of the hospital ASAP you end up being about 3 days and then move you to a Skilled nursing center for 7-12 days depending on the patients recovery. One poster said he was out in one day I find that hard to believe. Maybe for a knee but not for a hip. I worked in the medical insurance industry in the US and the cost for a hip replacement varies greatly from place to place. The cost can be anywhere from $40,0000 up to $100,000. It is just crazy when the actual cost of manufacturing the hip is less than $1000. Please keep us posted how things went after you surgery. Very interested to hearing about the end results. Make sure you listen to your therapist and don't take short cuts on exercises. Wish you all the best!!!

I can assure you I was not making up that I was out of the hospital the day after my hip was replaced and no it was not an assembly line procedure. As I worked as a Registered Nurse for 20 years I would not put up with that type of care.

Are you pontificating from experience? You don't mention that you've had the surgery. You say you can't rush recovery. They had me up walking the halls on crutches 4 hours after I was transferred to my room from the OR and the evening I got home I began doing laps around the hallway of my building using crutches.

The next day I began twice a day walks outside, soon progressed to one crutch, then a cane, then freedom. Live alone and as I recall, other than getting in and out of the shower, there weren't too many problems.

Don't want to be in a hospital one nanosecond longer than necessary.

Sir, I did not mean any disrespect or to claim you were lying. I was just amazed that a hospital would allow this. Typically the reason you are kept in the hospital for 2-3 days is to make sure there are no infections or rejection by your body. It has nothing to do with movement or they would just transfer you to s Skilled Nursing facility. If they discharge you and then serious problems come up they are liable. Hip knee replacements are almost common practice but this is still a serious operation. My comment on not rushing recovery meant not to stop doing your exercises too soon. You need to give it the time it needs to heal. You cant rush things and then think u are ok and just start sitting around watching TV all day. You need to complete the PT that is setup for you. I have seen people think they are ok and not want anymore PT and then the healing ends up taking much longer. Getting up and moving right away, that is great the sooner you can move the faster it will heal. Have I had a Hip replacement, no I work in the Medical industry. Like you said they had you up and waling the halls in 4hrs, that is good, this happens allot. Allot of the people I see in the US just are too much over weight that we need to setup the machine to exercise the leg for them. All depends on the person.

[ataloss]

KNEE and HIP REPLACEMENT - CAUTIONS

http://search.aarp.org/browse?Ntt=hip%20replacement

http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/news-12-2011/cost-of-failing-artifical-hips

http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-05-2011/4-surgeries-to-avoid.4.html

[THAIPHUKET]

Since I have a captive audience here, how did your hip problem manifest itself at first? All of a sudden?

Reason, I have been walking, not running every day 4 km, no problem ever. Then all of a sudden, strong pain seemingly coming from the femoral almost causing to give way , during the day stronger pain coming from the hip. Controlled with 2 Votaren 100 RS , next day hardly anything, but still there.No, did not fall, no injury otherwise.

1. can hip pain come out of the blue or is there a build up?

2. I´m not a hypochondria , don´t wont to run to the doc...yet. Want to observe.

What painkillers did you take?

[uptheos]

Since I have a captive audience here, how did your hip problem manifest itself at first? All of a sudden?

Reason, I have been walking, not running every day 4 km, no problem ever. Then all of a sudden, strong pain seemingly coming from the femoral almost causing to give way , during the day stronger pain coming from the hip. Controlled with 2 Votaren 100 RS , next day hardly anything, but still there.No, did not fall, no injury otherwise.

1. can hip pain come out of the blue or is there a build up?

2. I´m not a hypochondria , don´t wont to run to the doc...yet. Want to observe.

What painkillers did you take?

Don't worry about how others manifest. If you had a 'strong' pain almost causing you to give way, then just go and get it x-rayed just for starters. No problems on the x-ray.....then observe.

[THAIPHUKET]

x-ray shows tissues too, not a CT right away?