Hip Replacement Surgery at Praram 9 Hospital

In July 2022, Chulalongkorn Hospital confirmed that I needed a right hip replacement.

I had been referred there to the professor of spinal medicine but he was more concerned with my hip which he said was racked with arthritis.

After meeting with the hip specialist who agreed to operate, sadly I was in such a state that I failed the pre-op with blood sugar levels of 323. This was way too high and as a diabetic the hospital turned me down for the operation and told me to get my diet and medication in order and then come back to the hospital.

As I had previously worked with Praram 9 Hospital in building up their international clientele I had been introduced to Dr. Pradit. He runs the pain clinic Fix and Fit there so I worked with him for 18 months to try and avoid yet another operation. Unfortunately, it was not to be and I asked Dr. Pradit to refer me to one of his colleagues in the Joint Centre.

I had written about their Joint Centre when it opened 4 years ago and had met Dr. Pruk Chaiyarat and a couple of his doctor colleagues. I told them then that I could see that their new Joint Centre was going to be a success with my expat readers so I was happy to put my faith in him to conduct my procedure.

Time for Surgery

I stayed in overnight and had all the necessary tests (and passed!). The evening before Dr. Pruk came by to tell me that he would be operating at 5 am following day as I was not planned and he was otherwise booked up.

They collected me at 4:30 am and I was taken to the operating room. I was soon put under and the next thing I remember was being woken up back in my room.

I have to admit that the pain was pretty intense but after they had sedated me I slept ok. I didn’t like it when the catheter was removed! I was woken every 4 hours and medicated whilst they took my vitals – blood pressure, heartbeat, etc.

I spent 5 days in the hospital and was generally very well looked after. Language was a bit of a problem, as it is all over Thailand when you do not speak Thai, as so few Thais speak English fluently. This is something that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his cabinet colleagues have to address before they drop the third-world country label. Having said that, the hospital is modern, efficient, and the doctors are faultless.

Follow-up from my Hip Replacement Surgery

I would recommend Praram 9 to any foreigner who needs a joint operation. I am writing this 8 weeks after the operation and I can walk without crutches or a cane although I still take the latter for peace of mind and to warn other people I am coming.