knee operations and post op care

[pachoderm]

Hi there folks, I am considering getting knee replacement surgery soon and was wondering if anyone else here has done this in Chiang Mai? If so, can you recommend any surgeons and hospitals? I made a few enquiries at RAM hospital when there last but could not really get much information at the time. Also, I need to get an idea of costs, but from what I can work out, its not much different cost to the UK. I know its much cheaper than USA of course. I am also interested in new techniques like growing cartiledge in the knee and so forth.

Also, I would have to hire some post op care for about 8 weeks, any clues on this? Thanks for your attention!

[Thighlander]

get a price from www.bumrungrad.com and use it as a guideline. RAM will be less, but not by a lot. Parts are likely US.

http://www.bumrungrad.com/en/realcost-thailand-surgery/final-bill-estimate-surgery-cost-pricing?Pid=0&RealCostPid=459

[northernjohn]

Had a hip done at Rajavej by

Dr Chanakarn Phornphutkul (sports medicine)

Rajavej Hospital, 053 801999 and 053 204545

(Orthodpedic clinic opposite the hospital on the other side of the river)

He reckoned the cost at 200,000 baht. It came out to 183,000 baht. He said ram would have been over 300,000 baht and he would be doing it there the bulk of the money went to the ''Ram. I was completely happy with him. He was recommended to me as the best arthroscopic surgeon in Thailand. He does travel and lecture on surgery. so call his office he is in around 5:30 at night.

As for after care their is always McKean. Nancy from Lanna Care would know more about that.

The knee from what I understand is more costly and the recovery time is slower.

Good Luck with what ever your choice is. My knee has vastly improved ever since I got MSM from the states. It made a world of difference. There for a while it was which to do first my hip or my knee. With the massive improvement I got from MSM it is looking like a couple of years down the line. Mind you I do baby sit it a bit with a cane.

[NancyL]

If you live alone and are interested in residential post-op care, then consider McKean Rehabilitation Hospital or perhaps their nearby Dok Kaew assisted living center. McKean has a very good physio-therapy dept and the facility is on a beautiful island in the Ping River about 10 km south of Chiang Mai. The island has many paved, low-traffic roads where you could walk for therapy. There are old trees, many labeled in English. People come to the island to bird watch and do nature photography. You may want to consider staying just for a couple weeks or even longer if you don't have anyone to help you post-of at home. It would be worth it to get the proper therapy for your new knee and not to have to worry about housekeeping, meal prep, etc.

The rooms at Dok Kaew are very modern, much like a studio apartment, with air con, Truevisions, internet. You could stay at Dok Kaew and take your therapy at McKean hospital, about 50 meters away. If money is tight, then you could simply stay in a ward room at McKean to have the benefits of the physio-therapy and amuse yourself with books and looking at the scenery from the veranda.

Unfortunately, they don't have a good website:

http://www.mckeanhosp.com/796642/dok-kaew-gardens-comprehensive-retirement-living

http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/viewfa.php?id=2761

[pachoderm]

thanks friends for your posts, these are very useful!

[Loaded]

Dr Chanakarn also gets my vote. As mentioned by NorthernJohn, ask him to conduct the operation at Rajavej Hospital. His parents own it. It will be a lot cheaper than Ram but the standard of care is still good according to my experience.

Dr Chaakarn was the only doctor I visited who gave me an alternative option to a knee replacement. Let him examine your knees, he might surprise you.

[northernjohn]

Dr Chanakarn also gets my vote. As mentioned by NorthernJohn, ask him to conduct the operation at Rajavej Hospital. His parents own it. It will be a lot cheaper than Ram but the standard of care is still good according to my experience.

Dr Chaakarn was the only doctor I visited who gave me an alternative option to a knee replacement. Let him examine your knees, he might surprise you.

He is known as the best arthroscopic surgeon in Thailand. He did not recommend it to me because I had it 12 years prior and it had worked really good for ten years. He told me it might help then again it might only help for three years.

I highly recommend him.

I have heard of a procedure where you get some thing shot into your knee on some kind of a schedule. Works good for a time. One fellow I know used it but in the end had to have his knee replaced. I know of one other fellow using it and he admits he will have to have the knee replaced eventually.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Go and talk to Tony (Tonys big bikes) at the Coffee Station, in the Petronus Garage forecourt on Moonmuang, near Loi Kroh.

He had his knee done last month.

[Saan]

I was pricing a knee replacement and it was about the same as a hip - around the 180,000Baht mark.

I have already had a knee and hip replacements done in Oz. The hip was a doodle, no pain afterwards. The knee was quite painful but I managed by myself after about 5 days. Walking and and an exercise bike were two of the best rehab exercises which can be handled pretty well alone. I have the other hip and knee needing replacement soon and would be grateful if you would report back after you have your knee done. Good luck.

[pachoderm]

Thats a very good price Saan. Was this with Dr Charnakan at Rajavej?

For 180,000 Baht, was that for a Total Knee Replacement, Partial Knee Replacement or Arthroscopy?

[northernjohn]

Thats a very good price Saan. Was this with Dr Charnakan at Rajavej?

For 180,000 Baht, was that for a Total Knee Replacement, Partial Knee Replacement or Arthroscopy?

If I remember correctly he was quoting me in the 60,000 baht range for arthroscopic.

[Saan]

Thats a very good price Saan. Was this with Dr Charnakan at Rajavej?

For 180,000 Baht, was that for a Total Knee Replacement, Partial Knee Replacement or Arthroscopy?

I was talking about a hip replacement with someone from Rajavej and asked for a ball park figure for a total knee job. I was told it was around the same as a hip. At this stage I was more interested in the hip as you can put up with knee pain but with the hip the pain can go into the stratosphere. I often wonder how people survived in the days before replacement surgery. Their quality of life must have been appalling. How lucky we are.