Knee replacemet surgery

[denboy]

I am considering knee replacement surgery within Thailand. I have a qoute from Bangkok/Pattaya hospital which my insurance find acceptable.

I am undecided at present if I should go ahead as I have heard of some sad stories of the knee replacement by guys here in Thailand. Has anyone experience of the same surgery at the Bangkok/Pattaya hospital, if so I would be interested to know how it all worked and in particular the recuperation period.

Cheers

[moe666]

Do your research in Thailand you go with the DR. not the hospital. There are several threads here on knee replacement

[AnotherOneAmerican]

I know someone who had it done in CM 3-4 months ago.

He says it hurts more now than it ever did before, total waste of 100+kbht.

Let's hope you have more success with yours.

Edited September 22, 2014 by AnotherOneAmerican

[uptheos]

There is a knee surgeon in Chiang Mai with a first class reputation, if Chiang Mai is your cup of tea.

Dr. Chanakaran and fees run around 180-200,000 THB.

http://www.my-arthroscopy.com/Conf/AASMC2013/facultyCVs/CV-Eng%20Dr%20%20Chanakarn%20Smith&Nephew.pdf

[meand]

Take the skill level of anything you can think of in thailand, and that is the quality, or thereabouts, of its doctors.

So, How good are the tennis players here, the poets, the engineers, the city planners. The doctors are about on par with this quality relatively speaking. So, if you like to take chances go right ahead.

[Issangeorge]

Take the skill level of anything you can think of in thailand, and that is the quality, or thereabouts, of its doctors.

So, How good are the tennis players here, the poets, the engineers, the city planners. The doctors are about on par with this quality relatively speaking. So, if you like to take chances go right ahead.

That's a pretty stupid post. Just like any other country, there are some very good tennis players, golfers, engineers, doctors, etc. here and some not so good. Same as anywhere.

[meand]

Take the skill level of anything you can think of in thailand, and that is the quality, or thereabouts, of its doctors.

So, How good are the tennis players here, the poets, the engineers, the city planners. The doctors are about on par with this quality relatively speaking. So, if you like to take chances go right ahead.

That's a pretty stupid post. Just like any other country, there are some very good tennis players, golfers, engineers, doctors, etc. here and some not so good. Same as anywhere.

Pretty stupid? I would say it is right on point. And it is based in logic. The training, meticulousness, competitiveness cultural aspects of people in Thailand all would come into play. In short, if you want some Thais to engineer something, or some Japanese to engineer something, you're going to get wildly different quality. Same with doctors.

Another example, as you say, there are some good golfers here. So, take the top golfers here and face them up against the golfers from the US and see what happens. This will be the same with the doctors. Hopefully people know this. If you have an argument that states otherwise, I'd love to hear why Thais are somehow better doctors than they are at anything else.

Edited September 23, 2014 by meand

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Another example, as you say, there are some good golfers here. So, take the top golfers here and face them up against the golfers from the US and see what happens. This will be the same with the doctors. Hopefully people know this. If you have an argument that states otherwise, I'd love to hear why Thais are somehow better doctors than they are at anything else.

Tiger Woods always seemed to do quite well in the US.

[moe666]

Take the skill level of anything you can think of in thailand, and that is the quality, or thereabouts, of its doctors.

So, How good are the tennis players here, the poets, the engineers, the city planners. The doctors are about on par with this quality relatively speaking. So, if you like to take chances go right ahead.

That's a pretty stupid post. Just like any other country, there are some very good tennis players, golfers, engineers, doctors, etc. here and some not so good. Same as anywhere.

Pretty stupid? I would say it is right on point. And it is based in logic. The training, meticulousness, competitiveness cultural aspects of people in Thailand all would come into play. In short, if you want some Thais to engineer something, or some Japanese to engineer something, you're going to get wildly different quality. Same with doctors.

Another example, as you say, there are some good golfers here. So, take the top golfers here and face them up against the golfers from the US and see what happens. This will be the same with the doctors. Hopefully people know this. If you have an argument that states otherwise, I'd love to hear why Thais are somehow better doctors than they are at anything else.

Many of the Drs here have had training in the US as well as in Europe, your post appears to be a bit racist

[uptheos]

Take the skill level of anything you can think of in thailand, and that is the quality, or thereabouts, of its doctors.

So, How good are the tennis players here, the poets, the engineers, the city planners. The doctors are about on par with this quality relatively speaking. So, if you like to take chances go right ahead.

That's a pretty stupid post. Just like any other country, there are some very good tennis players, golfers, engineers, doctors, etc. here and some not so good. Same as anywhere.

Pretty stupid? I would say it is right on point. And it is based in logic. The training, meticulousness, competitiveness cultural aspects of people in Thailand all would come into play. In short, if you want some Thais to engineer something, or some Japanese to engineer something, you're going to get wildly different quality. Same with doctors.

Another example, as you say, there are some good golfers here. So, take the top golfers here and face them up against the golfers from the US and see what happens. This will be the same with the doctors. Hopefully people know this. If you have an argument that states otherwise, I'd love to hear why Thais are somehow better doctors than they are at anything else.

Many of the Drs here have had training in the US as well as in Europe, your post appears to be a bit racist

Dr Chanakarn is always in the states attending one thing or another.

It's hard scheduling him in at times.

[meand]

Take the skill level of anything you can think of in thailand, and that is the quality, or thereabouts, of its doctors.

So, How good are the tennis players here, the poets, the engineers, the city planners. The doctors are about on par with this quality relatively speaking. So, if you like to take chances go right ahead.

That's a pretty stupid post. Just like any other country, there are some very good tennis players, golfers, engineers, doctors, etc. here and some not so good. Same as anywhere.

Pretty stupid? I would say it is right on point. And it is based in logic. The training, meticulousness, competitiveness cultural aspects of people in Thailand all would come into play. In short, if you want some Thais to engineer something, or some Japanese to engineer something, you're going to get wildly different quality. Same with doctors.

Another example, as you say, there are some good golfers here. So, take the top golfers here and face them up against the golfers from the US and see what happens. This will be the same with the doctors. Hopefully people know this. If you have an argument that states otherwise, I'd love to hear why Thais are somehow better doctors than they are at anything else.

Many of the Drs here have had training in the US as well as in Europe, your post appears to be a bit racist

Honestly, if you're going to call somebody racist, you'd better have a clue, which you obviously don't.

Thai docs that go to the us means nothing because they come back and turn into Thai doctors again. I'm trying to explain using analogies that it is a cultural thing too.

All I'm saying is take any profession in thailand.... Engineer, athlete, doctor, writer, and there will be a common theme, they are far below the best countries in the world in every one of those. If you are ok with taking that risk, that's fine. But don't be stupid and say it racist, it's just a fact on paper they aren't as meticulous, competitive and exacting here I any field. People that think they are getting western quality care are in total lala land. It's simply not up to that standard.

Look, a friend of mine came out with a hole in his hip after getting an appendix out completely unrelated to his surgery. This is not the single reason I believe Thai docs are not up to par, the point is this would never, ever happen in other countries, and the doc would done if it did. There is no accountability here. You can talk all you want about us educations, but it's Thai culture. You aren't going to get near as good a care here as in other countries, and you're taking a chance. If you're fine with that, so be it.

I've been here ten years and my philosophies is I don't let Thais cut, ever. I'll fly back home first. They just don't seem to get The whole cosmetic issues. Fillings in my teeth, teeth cleaning ok, I'll let them do it. Stitches they can have at it, tooth extraction no way. Anything requiring more than modicum of skill like precise cutting I will pass 100% no question! and think I am very wise for deciding so. Others can take my advice or leave it, either is fine by me

Edited September 23, 2014 by meand

[NancyL]

My goodness, meand, have you ever had knee replace surgery from Dr. Chanakarn? Do you know anyone who has? Have you even been to Chiang Mai? How about Rajavej Hospital, where he practices? I can answer 3 out of 4. I haven't had knee replacement surgery, but I'm seriously considering it and he would be at the top of my list. I've had several friends who have had knees and hips replaced by him. The hip replacement people are all very happy. The knee people, less so. It's my observation that the people with knee problems are all overweight. They'd do their knees a world-of-good if they lost 15 kilos. Myself included. I'm going to make a concerted effort to try that first. The hip replacement people often have traumatic injuries, so they "really" need a hip replacement. It's not because they're just fat slobs who expect their bodies to work overtime. And I'm speaking as a fat slob who expects her body to work overtime. It's no surprise when the joints start to complain.

Edited September 23, 2014 by NancyL

[rodknock]

i had both knees replaced in 2010 in the U.S. virtually no pain. had pain meds and did not use them.

physical therapy after the surgery is the most important thing. you gotta work your butt off doing it. having access to a swimming pool is very usefull. i still try and work out in the pool at my condo daily for at least an hour. i walk in the pool, frontwards and backwards. i also walk sideways. i do squats and leg lifts. i now go bowling 2-4 times a week, 4-6 games a session.bowling is on the ok list of sports you can do. i can not stress how important the physical therapy is.

i see most people who complain about pain after replacement where not serious about therapy and did not work at it.

[uptheos]

My goodness, meand, have you ever had knee replace surgery from Dr. Chanakarn? Do you know anyone who has? Have you even been to Chiang Mai? How about Rajavej Hospital, where he practices? I can answer 3 out of 4. I haven't had knee replacement surgery, but I'm seriously considering it and he would be at the top of my list. I've had several friends who have had knees and hips replaced by him. The hip replacement people are all very happy. The knee people, less so. It's my observation that the people with knee problems are all overweight. They'd do their knees a world-of-good if they lost 15 kilos. Myself included. I'm going to make a concerted effort to try that first. The hip replacement people often have traumatic injuries, so they "really" need a hip replacement. It's not because they're just fat slobs who expect their bodies to work overtime. And I'm speaking as a fat slob who expects her body to work overtime. It's no surprise when the joints start to complain.

I too know people who have had both surgeries by him and are doing OK. It takes work post-op.

Knee surgery takes a much longer rehabilitation period, but Rajavej also have good physios to help and at 200 baht an hour they won't break the bank.

VERY important to slim down as much as possible before knee replacementnsurgery Nancy, those knees have to take most of the strain.

No more threads looking for pie fillings etc.

Good luck

[oxo1066]

Hi, I had knee replacement in the U.K. over two years ago on left knee first op they only did half of my knee could not walk at all, 6 months later they removed that and had full knee replacement which is a bit better at least I can walk, for me I wish I had never had it done but having said that I know people which surgery as worked.

[Sheryl]

As another poster said, you should choose the surgeon, not the hospital. Look for someone with extensive training specific to knee replacement in a Western country and who has done a large number of these procedures, and published on it in an international peer-reviewed journal. I don't think you will find the former at Bkk Pattaya, but the good news is that they are usually the most expensive hosp in Thailand so if your insurance company was OK with their quote, should have no problems on that score going anywhere else.

Contrary to what some have said, in my experience there are indeed some world class orthopedic surgeons in Thailand, but you have to search them out and not take pot luck.

However be warned that physical therapy services here are pretty weak, you will not get the level of supervised PT that you would in a Western country and the PT is important so you will need to make an extra effort on your own in that respect, and be disciplined about it.

Some suggestions re surgeon:

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Srihatach-Ngarmukos

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Viroj-Larbpaiboonpong and also at Vejthani Hosp http://www.vejthani.com/doctors_detail.php?DoctorCode=90361 AND also at Bangkok Hospital, Bangkok https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/centers-and-clinics/Hip-and-Joint-Replacement-Clinic/

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Wirat-Kongcharoensombat

As you live in Pattaya it might be advantageous to go to Bangkok Hosp (Bangkok) as it would then be easy to arrange pre and post op tests etc to be done at BPH.

[Lumbini]

Watch this live, this robotic arm is revolutionizing knee replacement and don't do anything till you investigate. Thus is changing everything, I know someone who has total knee replacement in Houston and thus Dr was one of the first to use for total replacement. Up to know it's been used only in partials buy now everything changes with accuracy and results on another league. The person I knew who had it was doing long walks within weeks and had no issues not even needing pain meds after surgery.

JOURNEY™ II BCS Bi-Cruciate Stabilized Knee System with Gap Balancing

http://smithnephewlivesurgery.com/?utm_source=broadcastmed&utm_medium=email_reminder&utm_campaign=smn_5111

Edited September 24, 2014 by Lumbini