Acupuncture in Phuket

[aussiebrian]

I have sciatica arising from a spinal disc herniation and wondered if anyone here has had traditional Chinese acupuncture in Phuket with success and if you have any recommendations of a good acupuncturist?

[Sheryl]

Phuket International Hospital Acupuncture & Alternative Medicine center has gotten generally good reports.

http://www.phuketint...on-alternative/

That said, pain from nerve compression from a protruding disc does not, in my experience, respond well to acupuncture.

Physiotherapy -- particularly lumbar traction -- is apt to do more good.

[Shot]

Phuket International Hospital Acupuncture & Alternative Medicine center has gotten generally good reports.

http://www.phuketint...on-alternative/

That said, pain from nerve compression from a protruding disc does not, in my experience, respond well to acupuncture.

Physiotherapy -- particularly lumbar traction -- is apt to do more good.

I 2nd that. Both the Mrs. and a friend have been treated there with great results.

[aussiebrian]

Phuket International Hospital Acupuncture & Alternative Medicine center has gotten generally good reports.

http://www.phuketint...on-alternative/

That said, pain from nerve compression from a protruding disc does not, in my experience, respond well to acupuncture.

Physiotherapy -- particularly lumbar traction -- is apt to do more good.

Thanks Sheryl, I did have Physiotherapy, Traction made it worse. I also had ultrasound, electrical stimulation, heat treatment, cold packs, chiropractic manipulation treatment and short wave none of which helped. I have read that acupuncture is very good for nerve pain.

[Guest]

How does acupuncture differ from homeopathy? I'd like to think that there is some wisdom, but when the Phuket International hospital shares their crazy miracle cure list, it's quite hard to believe acupuncture is nothing else than a bit of placebo effect.

Diseases and disorders

• Weight loss program
• Cosmetic acupuncture
• Menstrual cramps
• Tennis elbow
• Myofascial pain
• Stroke rehabilitation (CVD, Paralysis)
• Headaches (Migraines, Tension headaches)
• Fibromyalgia
• Dementia (Alzheimer’s, Pakinson’s)
• Insomnia
• Erectile dysfunction
• Diseases relating to the face, such as numbness of the face or one-sided facial palsy
• Illnesses relating to tendons, joints and bones and numbness of distal nerves, muscle atrophy, muscle weakness, rheumatoid arthritis, numbness of the extremities, cramp, back pain, numbness of the toes, knee pain, ankle pain
• Asthma
• Allergy

[grumpyoldman]

How does acupuncture differ from homeopathy? I'd like to think that there is some wisdom, but when the Phuket International hospital shares their crazy miracle cure list, it's quite hard to believe acupuncture is nothing else than a bit of placebo effect.

Diseases and disorders

• Weight loss program
• Cosmetic acupuncture
• Menstrual cramps
• Tennis elbow
• Myofascial pain
• Stroke rehabilitation (CVD, Paralysis)
• Headaches (Migraines, Tension headaches)
• Fibromyalgia
• Dementia (Alzheimer’s, Pakinson’s)
• Insomnia
• Erectile dysfunction
• Diseases relating to the face, such as numbness of the face or one-sided facial palsy
• Illnesses relating to tendons, joints and bones and numbness of distal nerves, muscle atrophy, muscle weakness, rheumatoid arthritis, numbness of the extremities, cramp, back pain, numbness of the toes, knee pain, ankle pain
• Asthma
• Allergy

I had a heck of a time with nerve compressionn in my upper back causing numbness in my hand and arm. Acupuncture worked.........for about 20 minutes after the session, then returned to problematic.

[Sheryl]

Phuket International Hospital Acupuncture & Alternative Medicine center has gotten generally good reports.

http://www.phuketint...on-alternative/

That said, pain from nerve compression from a protruding disc does not, in my experience, respond well to acupuncture.

Physiotherapy -- particularly lumbar traction -- is apt to do more good.

Thanks Sheryl, I did have Physiotherapy, Traction made it worse. I also had ultrasound, electrical stimulation, heat treatment, cold packs, chiropractic manipulation treatment and short wave none of which helped. I have read that acupuncture is very good for nerve pain.

Have you been evaluated by a good specialist in spinal disorders (not just a regular orthopedist)?

If this has been going on for sometime it may not be due to a herniated disc. Pain from those will usually resolve within say 2 months. Note that the fact that there is a disc herniation does not mean pain is due to it. Lots of people have herniated disks without any symptoms, and lots of people have back pain from a cause other than herniated disk even though there is one.

If there is bone spur pressing on the nerve and/or the vertebral space where the nerve root exits is too small, nothing but surgery is going to help that.

From what you recount I think you'd find it a worthwhile investment to come to Bangkok and be evaluated by a really good spinal specialist.

[Sheryl]

How does acupuncture differ from homeopathy? I'd like to think that there is some wisdom, but when the Phuket International hospital shares their crazy miracle cure list, it's quite hard to believe acupuncture is nothing else than a bit of placebo effect.

Diseases and disorders

• Weight loss program
• Cosmetic acupuncture
• Menstrual cramps
• Tennis elbow
• Myofascial pain
• Stroke rehabilitation (CVD, Paralysis)
• Headaches (Migraines, Tension headaches)
• Fibromyalgia
• Dementia (Alzheimer’s, Pakinson’s)
• Insomnia
• Erectile dysfunction
• Diseases relating to the face, such as numbness of the face or one-sided facial palsy
• Illnesses relating to tendons, joints and bones and numbness of distal nerves, muscle atrophy, muscle weakness, rheumatoid arthritis, numbness of the extremities, cramp, back pain, numbness of the toes, knee pain, ankle pain
• Asthma
• Allergy

Definite hype. And some of the tretaments offered at that center (which is not limited to acupuncture) are certainly questionable.

But acupuncture (which is completely unrelated to homeopathy) does have a proven role to play in pain management.

[aussiebrian]

Phuket International Hospital Acupuncture & Alternative Medicine center has gotten generally good reports.

http://www.phuketint...on-alternative/

That said, pain from nerve compression from a protruding disc does not, in my experience, respond well to acupuncture.

Physiotherapy -- particularly lumbar traction -- is apt to do more good.

Thanks Sheryl, I did have Physiotherapy, Traction made it worse. I also had ultrasound, electrical stimulation, heat treatment, cold packs, chiropractic manipulation treatment and short wave none of which helped. I have read that acupuncture is very good for nerve pain.

Have you been evaluated by a good specialist in spinal disorders (not just a regular orthopedist)?

If this has been going on for sometime it may not be due to a herniated disc. Pain from those will usually resolve within say 2 months. Note that the fact that there is a disc herniation does not mean pain is due to it. Lots of people have herniated disks without any symptoms, and lots of people have back pain from a cause other than herniated disk even though there is one.

If there is bone spur pressing on the nerve and/or the vertebral space where the nerve root exits is too small, nothing but surgery is going to help that.

From what you recount I think you'd find it a worthwhile investment to come to Bangkok and be evaluated by a really good spinal specialist.

Yes, I had a x-ray and then a MRI and it was then they diagnosed the herniated disc and degeneration of my spine, causing the sciatica. This was done at Bangkok hospital Phuket. It has been going on for 6 months now. About 1 month ago, I was in so much pain I was admitted to Bangkok Hospital Phuket. They wanted to give me microdiscectomy surgery.

My insurance said they want me to get the best treatment back in Australia so sent me back to Australia even though I said I didn't want to go. They didn't want to take a risk that something would go wrong here even though it cost them 4 times the cost of the operation to get me back. Even had a Thai nurse accompany me on the plane so she could give me morphine and look after me. It is a very long story, but my insurance told me they had arranged the flight, and I had a bed in Royal Melbourne. The bed bit was BS.

I was transported by ambulance to the airport,had a stretcher on the plane, then transported by ambulance to Royal Melbourne hospital. After waiting on a stretcher for 3 hrs, a Malaysian Dr there told me, even before an examination that the health system is stuffed in Australia, gave me a prescription for some morphine tablets, said I would need to contact out patients as I wasn't an emergency, which would take at least 3 weeks and at least 3 months for an operation. I was then sent away.

A friend has been waiting 2 years for the same operation. So after being in hospital 2 weeks in Thailand, I had to push my luggage out of the hospital and wait for a friend to pick me up.

After 1 week in Melbourne, I got a flight back here.

It is now a pre existing illness, so I don't have any more cover for this. At least I got to see may daughter and got a few things done.

[Sheryl]

6 months, the herniation has likely resolved, quite likely that the degeneration has resulted in a narrowing of the space where the nerve root exits and that only surgery will relieve this. However, you need a spinal specialist to confirm that. What you will have seen in Bkk Phuket Hosp is not that, just a regular ortho. And it sounds like you did not get much of an evaluation in Oz.

I strongly suggest you consult this doctor in Bangkok:

http://www.bnhhospital.com/en/find_doctor/detail/256

http://www.bangkokchristianhospital.org/dr-profile-e.asp?did=269

It is the same doctor, he has hours at both BNH and Bangkok Christian hospitals. I include both websites because only the BNH one has his CV. However since you will be paying out of pocket it would be better to see him at Bkk Christian, less expensive.

If he recommends surgery, be frank with him regarding the fact that you are paying out of pocket. Likely cost if done at Bkk Chrisitan is somewhere between 150-200K baht, can be reduced a bit by having a semi-private room. Would be higher at BNH. Higher still at Bkk Phuket hospital and nowhere near the same level of expertise.

[grumpyoldman]

6 months, the herniation has likely resolved, quite likely that the degeneration has resulted in a narrowing of the space where the nerve root exits and that only surgery will relieve this. However, you need a spinal specialist to confirm that. What you will have seen in Bkk Phuket Hosp is not that, just a regular ortho. And it sounds like you did not get much of an evaluation in Oz.

I strongly suggest you consult this doctor in Bangkok:

http://www.bnhhospital.com/en/find_doctor/detail/256

http://www.bangkokchristianhospital.org/dr-profile-e.asp?did=269

It is the same doctor, he has hours at both BNH and Bangkok Christian hospitals. I include both websites because only the BNH one has his CV. However since you will be paying out of pocket it would be better to see him at Bkk Christian, less expensive.

If he recommends surgery, be frank with him regarding the fact that you are paying out of pocket. Likely cost if done at Bkk Chrisitan is somewhere between 150-200K baht, can be reduced a bit by having a semi-private room. Would be higher at BNH. Higher still at Bkk Phuket hospital and nowhere near the same level of expertise.

For my upper back dilemma, I got an MRI at Bangkok Phuket Hospital.

What Sheryl describes is what the doctor told me, C4 and C5, the canals where the nerve root comes out were so narrow, the nerve was getting crimped causing the numbness in my fingers and arm. Doctor said he'd go through the front of my neck and fuse those bones in my back.

GOM is like "whoa pal, slow down", doctor was adamant that I needed to do the surgery soon as to not have permanent damage to the nerve roots. I hate the idea of surgery, scary.

Stopped swinging my arm for six months. Got orthopedic pillows that supported my head better, started lifting some weights, specifically working my neck. it took six months of this to get back to normal, but I rehabbed it myself.

OP I recommend an upside down machine where you can hang by your knees. Also, be sure your abs and hamstrings have equal strength as those pull that part of your back you are talking about. I'm no doctor, but I've been through what you are talking about, and if you are in Phuket you are welcome to PM me and come hang on the machine I have. BR,GOM

[aussiebrian]

6 months, the herniation has likely resolved, quite likely that the degeneration has resulted in a narrowing of the space where the nerve root exits and that only surgery will relieve this. However, you need a spinal specialist to confirm that. What you will have seen in Bkk Phuket Hosp is not that, just a regular ortho. And it sounds like you did not get much of an evaluation in Oz.

I strongly suggest you consult this doctor in Bangkok:

http://www.bnhhospital.com/en/find_doctor/detail/256

http://www.bangkokchristianhospital.org/dr-profile-e.asp?did=269

It is the same doctor, he has hours at both BNH and Bangkok Christian hospitals. I include both websites because only the BNH one has his CV. However since you will be paying out of pocket it would be better to see him at Bkk Christian, less expensive.

If he recommends surgery, be frank with him regarding the fact that you are paying out of pocket. Likely cost if done at Bkk Chrisitan is somewhere between 150-200K baht, can be reduced a bit by having a semi-private room. Would be higher at BNH. Higher still at Bkk Phuket hospital and nowhere near the same level of expertise.

Thanks Sheryl, great advise but I may take up grumpyoldmans offer, if hanging doesn't work then acupuncture and if all fails I will look at an opinion from the Dr. you suggest. I want to leave the operation as a last resort.