Jobs!
when I went back in February the doctor refused to even look at my x-rays from Korea
I don't know why my doctor rejected the x-ray. Canadian medical liability laws are pretty intense so I assume that's why he didn't want to make a diagnosis based on a scan he doesn't really know about.
- Even though I had medical insurance, it was still pretty pricey. I ended up paying about 2 or 3 million won. I know that might seem cheap to others, but if I had of gone home it would have been completely free for me.
About 8 months ago I had a similar pain in my leg. I saw the doctor who told me it was sciatica and he gave me a prescription and I had more or less daily treatment, including traction and some kind of electric stimulus treatment (no idea really). The problem got worse, I was instructed to stop most exercise and keep going.After a while I wasn't able to go, and the condition didn't seem to get any worse so I thought nothing of it. About 2 months ago I started getting the ache in my leg again and went back for treatment (new city) and was given a host of new pills to take again. 2-3 weeks of this and my condition had gone from an ache in the leg to almost crippling pain - simply walking was difficult, and I had to sit down for a few classes. I sought out a medical hospital in Seoul as I was getting desperate - they told me I needed an MRI which would establish whether or not I needed surgery). I said I couldn't afford one (at about 500k) and they immediately halved the price - which had me suspicious. I said I'd think about it.After this I spoke to a relative back home who said they'd had the same condition and the doctor instructed them to relax for a while and take ibuprofen. I tried this instead - the first few days 2 or 3 (400mg) a day, and after that, 1 or 2 max. The condition is much better, and i'm nearly at a point where I feel I could hit the gym a little harder without too many repercussions (though I did that once when getting treatment and nearly put my back out, so I'm holding off).I don't want to sound negative on Korea - I'm not, and I loathe terms like 'apologist'. However, perhaps it's because I'm from the UK, but I've recently, because of this and another episode, become a little suspicious of Korean doctors - I'm new to the idea of doctors trying to make money out of you. I don't know what kind of pain you're in, but unless it's desperate, I'd try and get second opinions (and from outside the country too) where possible.
Quote from: ashe1590 on July 02, 2014, 10:32:30 AM- Even though I had medical insurance, it was still pretty pricey. I ended up paying about 2 or 3 million won. I know that might seem cheap to others, but if I had of gone home it would have been completely free for me. i take it you're from the UK? if so, yeah, you could've had it done for free but probably would've had to have waited 6 months for the surgery
Completely.I'm not entirely happy about self medicating with 1 or 2 ibuprofen per day, but I'd rather take that amount and be out of pain than take about 15 tablets per day for months on end with no pain relief and no word from the doctor as to when I would see an improvement.