shoulder problems - cortisone injection?

[RedBaron12]

Does anyone know if there is an easy place to get a cortisone steroid injection for my shoulder?

I do have travel insurance but it has an excess that may well be more than the treatment.

I've had problems with this shoulder for years but it has always been manageable until now.

[Mrjlh]

Walk into Phuket Bangkok Hospital or any private hospital will do. They'll have you register with them first, ask a lot questions. Ask to see an Orthopedic surgeon. He'll have you get an x-ray first and then afterwards a shot unless you can convince him you only need the shot. All should be less than 1,000baht paid on the way out. Also medicine here is not as strong as it is in the states.

Edited September 24, 2014 by Mrjlh

[RedBaron12]

Thank you mrjlh. I've seen a "surgical clinic" in phuket town which apparently does cortisone. Does anyone have experience with this place or should I not waste my time and go straight to the hospital as you say?

Thank you

[RedBaron12]

Well I went to phuket international hospital. All very quick. Saw orthopaedic consultant. He gave me an xray and then a shit load of medication. Cost 4000baht. He wasnt sold on givinjg me the shot. Have to go back on Monday... Not sure if I should for that money.

[Jimi007]

Well I went to phuket international hospital. All very quick. Saw orthopaedic consultant. He gave me an xray and then a shit load of medication. Cost 4000baht. He wasnt sold on givinjg me the shot. Have to go back on Monday... Not sure if I should for that money.

Hospitals always over charge for medications. Have them write what you need and go to a local pharmacy. Whoops, too late for that advice. Oh well you'll know next time.

[RedBaron12]

You are right the medicine bill was 2000 which seems a lot compared to pharmacies. I have to go back next week so I will remember that if I get prescribed more stuff. Thank you

[Mrjlh]

Interesting that they charged you 4000B. My bill came to only 853B for the exam and shot. The X-ray was 300B. And that was at the Phuket Bangkok Hospital. Must have been my lucky day. The Doc also told me the shot would only last about a month and he was sure right about that. Then I went and had surgery for it in the states, now no more shots!

[Kabula]

Try Voltaren available over the counter in most pharmacies. It is a topical anti-inflammatory agent for osteoarthritis and post-traumatic symptoms. It is amazing.

[KOZMO]

Make sure their is no interaction with any meds you currently take. I went to Bangkok hospital in Korat and showed theDoc the list of my med; for a shoulder problem last year. The orthopedic doctor gave me 400mg of Celebrex to try first and said to come back after a week if no help. I went to web md from America and found out had I taken the Celebrex I probably would have died from an interaction with my blood pressure medication. I went back and showed him and he gave me the shot and it was better in a few days. Becareful of the meds you get, sometimes they will give you 2 meds that are the same thing, just to make more money. Always check before you take any meds from here!!!

[Sheryl]

There are serious downsides to cortisone injections, especially repeated ones. Hence the doctor's reluctance.

If you pass through Bangkok at any point there is a really top notch, Harvard-trained orthpedist there specializing in shoulder problems https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Mason-Porramatikul

Get your Xray film to have with you so no need for repeats.

And as others have said, unless it is a controlled drug, never get your meds at a hospital pharmacy. (Anything with codeine or other opiate, and oral steroids like prenisolone are controlled. Pretty much anything else you might be given for shoulder pain is OTC.)

[loongdavid]

I'm not a medical man and neither do I have anything greater than first aid training but I do know that many within the medical field in both the UK and Australia have denounced the use of cortisone as being too risky. Apparently, the cure is worse than the disease. Having had a course of cortisone injections many years ago for an inflamed elbow, I agree with their findings. All the best to you anyway.

[The Deerhunter]

You should only have one or at most two cortisone injections into the one place. It is a powerful medicine with severe side effects if repeated more than 1x or twice. The suggestion about Voltaren anti-inflammatories was good but I prefer Celebrex 200. It works for me on all sorts of things where inflammation is even part of the problem (like a flu or inflamed throat but it is prescribed for inflamed joints etc. It is not one of the old fashioned meds like Voltaren which needs to be taken with or after food & can still give stomach upsets.. Many anti--inflam meds cannot be take if you have stomach ulcers or any kind of gastric problem. Celebrex is a modern med called a cox-inhibitor. There was 4 or 5 of them on the market but there were reports about safety and all have been taken off the market except Celebrex. It has a clear bill of health. I love it. I only ever take it for a few days at a time and the (safety) problems could only affect you if you are a high risk for blood pressure or a stroke and were on maximum dose for 2 or 3 months or more, straight. Taken for short term or occasional use you should have no problems. Next to most anti-flams it is expensive (a dollar or so a pill once a day) but it works so well i swear by it. Ask the Dr at the hospital l if you have any contra-indications for celebrex. If not, you can buy it at most pharmacies, take one a day max and have a break. Try 14 days on & 7-14 off. I am not a Dr so please check this info with a Dr. It is great stuff.

[lvr181]

Apparently, the cure is worse than the disease. Having had a course of cortisone injections many years ago for an inflamed elbow, I agree with their findings. All the best to you anyway.

Having had cortisone for shoulder problem, I would DISAGREE with your comment. I had no ill effects from the cortisone at all. But I did get some wonderful relief. Anecdotal evidence vs Empirical?