Arthroscopic rotator repair: cheaper ( or alternative) ?

[alyx]

Hey 

 

A friend of mine has torn his shoulder's ligament a couple of months ago playing tennis.

The pain has forced him to consult and the MRI shows a definite tear. He was told he needed surgery at two different hospitals ( Bagkok hospital and BNH  ) and the cost vary from 320,000 to 400,000 baht which seems a huge amount, especially because the insurance will refund a quarter of the sum only.

the questions are:

1)anyone knows of a reputable surgeon applying a lower fee? Personally I wouldn't hesitate flying back home or elsewhere if that was the case but married, two kids...you know

2) I have heard of high level sportsman suffering the same problem who didn't go for surgery and had been "cured" through other means ( don't ask me which one... I am asking you ?)

 

Can anyone come up with answers ?

 

thanks ( attached the description of the intervention ) 

[Sheryl]

The most affordable option will be a government hospital like Chulalongkhorn or Siriraj. I am rushing off to work now but will get back to you later tonight or tomorrow with specific doctor names and details.

 

I assume that non-surgical treatment has already been tried? i.e. medications and physical therapy?

[Sheryl]

Try Dr. Gof Tantisricharoenkul at St Louis Hospital

If this is still unaffordable then one of these at Chulalongkhorn (go through their after hours clinic):

Dr. Somsak Kuptniratsaikul

Dr. Pongsak Yuktanandana

[alyx]

Hey Sheryl 

thanks for the info 

i pass it on 

[alyx]

Actually I hadn't paid attention to your first post 

no, non-surgical option has been tried as this was discarded ( not discussed ? ) by the doctors he saw 

[Sheryl]

Well that is the first thing to try. I suggest he first have a consultation with this doctor who is the best (IMO) shoulder specialist in Thailand. The purpose being to get another opinion as to whether  non-surgical management is worth trying (and, if not, whether there are less invasive surgical techniques that would be appropriate in his specific case).

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Mason-Porramatikul

http://www.phyathai.com/doctorsearchdetail/63872/PYT1/en

(same doctor, different hospitals)

 

while this doctor is really excellent, would not want to have surgery with him at either of these two hospitals as Bumrungrad  will be as expensive as the other places he got quote from and Phyathai 3 probably close to it.

 

He is on faculty at a government hospital, Vajira. However I do not know if they have a private channel like Chula which is why I did nto list him in the prior post. Might however be worth finding out - it will mean a trip to Vajira (Dusit area) with a Thai speaker along to ask if there is a "clinic nawk wela" or "clinic piset" and if there is, go there just before it opens and ask the nurses at the desk if an appointment can be made with Dr. Mason or not.  http://www.vajira.ac.th/b/

 

Even if nto possibel ot see him privately at Vajira, I think still worth having just a consultation with him at Bumrungrad regarding whether there are alternatives to the surgery the other doctors recommended. .

 

If any member reading this has any infor on possible after hours clinic at Vajira, please post!