Hip operation overseas.
Posted , 7 users are following.
When I was told by my GP that the waiting list for a THR was probably twelve months or more I started looking to have the operation elsewhere in Europe where it seemed waiting time and cost were much less. There were so many adverts from Latvia, Lithuania, France and even Thailand complete with glowing testimonials from previous patients, but I've not read of anybody on this site who had the operation other than in their own country. The thought of a train journey or flight only a week after the THR, and the problem of after care, rather put me off. Luckily I managed to get an operation under the NHS just four months after my visit to my GP.
Has anybody ventured to have a THR in other than their own country ???
0 likes, 4 replies
joe63159 john49662
Posted
No I haven,t traveled elsewhere when I found the best right here in South Bend Indiana..he is fantastic
barb50991 john49662
Posted
I am an American living in Indonesia and decided to go back to the USA to have my surgery. I did my homework ahead of time and found a hospital and surgeon with good reviews. I made arrangements to stay with my sister for at least 6 weeks after the surgery. The tricky part is that the surgeon would not schedule my surgery until after he saw me in person. By God's grace, it happened a person canceled their surgery the day I saw the surgeon, so I was able to have the surgery 12 days after the initial appointment.
The surgery went well and so did the recovery (a bit up and down but no major problems). I saw the surgeon 2 weeks after the surgery to get the dressing removed. I saw him 4 weeks after that for another check-up and then flew back to Indonesia (6 weeks after the surgery). I plan to be back in the USA in September and will make another "one year" appointment with the surgeon (14 months after surgery).
One challenge on the flight back was walking around the plane every hour to prevent blood clots. I was not using a cane at home, but I needed the cane on the airplane to maintain my balance. The other challenge was using the toilet in the plane. It turns out the bathroom was so small and had a hand rail, so I was able to sit down and get up without breaking my restrictions. I also used a wheelchair in all the airports.
It's not something I would recommend, but I needed to have the surgery and didn't want to have it here in Asia. Singapore might have been an option, but I didn't have anyone I could stay with. Staying with my sister and being waited on by my husband, sister and brother-in-law during those first few weeks of recovery were definitely needed. I'm the independent, don't need anyone else's help type of person; but this is the first major surgery I have had and you definitely need assistance and rest when you are discharged from the hospital.
jen86183 john49662
Posted
John,
Loads of people have THR in Spain, France, Greece etc., as they have moved there. I personally know 3/4 that have had THR in Spain. After the hip, you have to buy all your recovery aids etc., It is not advisable though to travel so soon after having an operation. Better having it in the country you live in if you are thinking about a future op.
Rocketman_SG6UK john49662
Posted
No, the thing that would put me off is 'What happens if anything should go wrong' as it did with my new hip? At least I knew that I had a fair chance when I was taking legal action against the NHS in this country.
It took 2 years to get an unreserved apology and compensation by the way.