MRI or CT Scan in Koh Samui

[fabinou]

Hello there,

I am currently in Koh Phangan, I've had issues on my low back (lumbar) on the right for 2 months now and I cannot sleep since then... By day it's fine though quite annoying sometimes, but when I sleep I have to change positions several times in the night (most of the time I have to sleep on the left side in fetal position...) and when it's really early in the morning I have to get up because it's impossible for me to stay on the bed lying down... I feel my muscle on the low back is so tight and rigid... After like 30 minutes of stretching it's fine and I can live normally, but I always feel exhausted. It may be because of a wrong move I made in december with a heavy bag, but it didn't hurt me during 2 months. So why did it come out in february when I arrived in Thailand ?

I used to do sports almost everyday so I stopped for 3 weeks to see any improvements, no changes... Now I'm doing sports again (like pull-ups, push-ups, yoga stretching...) but I've just had a terrible night. Only nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug seem to heal the pain, but when I stop the pain just get back.

A friend of mine who is osteopath in France told me it may be ankylosing spondylitis : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankylosing_spondylitis I got many of these symptoms and I'm just 27... But she advised me to check this with a MRI to be sure, unfortunately when I contacted Bangkok Hospital in Koh Samui they said there was no MRI in Samui...

Can someone confirm that ? Also it seems the price of MRI in Thailand is around 12,000 bahts, but this is covered by insurance right ?

Thanks a lot for your kind advices, you may save my life !

[nzexpat]

Why not, as a first step, seek medical advise from an Orthopaedic Specialist!

Many "back aches" will settle with conservative treatment and do not require expensive investigation.

[fabinou]

Thank you for your reply. Do you have any idea of the cost to see an Orthopaedic Specialist ? Also, as I said I am currently in Koh Phangan and I am not sure there are specialists here

[nzexpat]

The cost of an initial consultation will be unlikely to exceed 1-2000 Baht.

I cannot provide any information specific to your locality but if you could get to Phuket there is a large branch of the Bangkok Hospital Group which enjoys a good reputation locally.

[Sheryl]

Frankly you are going to need to come to Bangkok for this. But agree, MRI may not be necessary especially from your description.

While there are orthos in Samui, not with the specific expertise in spinal issues that you need.

Suggest getting a cheap flight up and consulting Dr. Wicharn at the BNH Spine center. It will be cheaper and more productive in the long run than trying to get this properly diagnosed down there.

[samuijimmy]

I used the Orthopaedic doc at Samui Public hospital, (I suspect he does rounds at all the hospitals on Samui, as he's not at the public hospital, all the time....)

But the cost reasonable and results were good...

In the 1000 to 2000 baht range, plus physio treatments.... including Xray... which clearly showed the problem. (Stenosis )

Dr Somkat, is his name.... (pretty sure that is right) But it could be worth asking at the public hospital on KP as to whether he visits KP or whether a doctor there can refer you to him.

Might be worth a try and ask before heading to BKK...

I know he'll be at Samui PH on April 28th, as I have a follow up appointment, which I really don't think I need now~ !

[fabinou]

Thank you for your replies !

So I made an appointment in Bangkok Hospital in Koh Samui to see an orthopedist, I hope it will help and it's covered by insurance...