Anyone ever had a surgical procedure done outside of Canada

[Sylvanfan]

I couldn't seem to find a recent thread on this topic.

Basically my wife has foot problems. She complains about her foot daily being in pain. She's been to our family physician and he's put in a request to see a specialist, but the wait list is up to 2 years to see the specialist, and a surgery list is even longer out. Physician says that her foot is pretty messed up, but he can't do anything more than make this referral.

As standing or walking are pretty much part of her regular job duties not to mention life....she does not have the patience to wait for this.

She made an appointment to see someone at the Cambie clinic, some outfit in Vancouver that does private surgery. Needless to say, this appointment pretty much bleeds my shallow family coffers dry (I'm one of the few on this site with a 5 figure salary) at $550 for a consult plus getting her to Vancouver. The receptionist said the doctor would review the X-Rays done, than determine what type of surgery may be required at a ball park price of 6 to 9 grand. Chump change for most of you...enough to pretty much destroy me...

Are we being scammed here? Anyone have any experience with this Cambie clinic? Has anyone actually got so annoyed with our system that they went to a Mexico or Costa Rica to get something like this done where the cost was considerably less. Obviously this isn't a huge amount of money, but if a trip to Mexico with a reputable doctor can be done for $4500 as opposed to $9000...I'd consider this.

We could try a podiatrist route too, if we dare to deal with a less qualified local person who may be willing to do this. We did this 3 years ago at a cost of $5000 to remove a bunion on her one foot. She claims the bunion isn't the problem...but skeptical me wonders if getting rid of this, just didn't cause the next problem. So I'd be reluctant to shell out a big sum of money to go this route again.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Are we being scammed here? Anyone have any experience with this Cambie clinic? Has anyone actually got so annoyed with our system that they went to a Mexico or Costa Rica to get something like this done where the cost was considerably less. Obviously this isn't a huge amount of money, but if a trip to Mexico with a reputable doctor can be done for $4500 as opposed to $9000...I'd consider this.

.

My father in law drove to Mexico for dental surgery while the were wintering in Phoenix.

He got what he paid for, and had to pay to get some of the work re-done and fixed.

I would be wary of getting any type of complex surgery done in one of these places.

[Locke]

I wouldnt be too broad about poor work, you can actually get some very reputable work done out of country it just depends on finding the right Doctor.

I dont know about the Cambie clinic personally, but I've had lots of clients get medical work done out of Country, usually in the US or Mexico.

Many of these Doctors were actually North American trained and then went home to start their practices, so do your research, if they've done good work they'll likely have online testimonials and if they've done bad work well, same.

I've even had clients go as far as Germany or India to get certain major procedures done, but unfortunately I know nothing about feet.

Has she tried manning up and walking it off?

[NuclearFart]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I couldn't seem to find a recent thread on this topic.

Basically my wife has foot problems. She complains about her foot daily being in pain. She's been to our family physician and he's put in a request to see a specialist, but the wait list is up to 2 years to see the specialist, and a surgery list is even longer out. Physician says that her foot is pretty messed up, but he can't do anything more than make this referral.

Are you in Calgary? PLC hospital recently hired some new surgeons, including a very good Foot & Ankle specialist who trained at one of the top Orthopedics hospitals in the US. Since he's relatively new in town, his waitlist is only about 1-2 months. I sent you a PM with his details.

Also, is it possible your wife's issues are a work related injury? If its WCB related, you can have it covered at a private facility with virtually no waitlist.

I wouldn't recommend a podiatrist to be honest - they're basically a chiro with a big knife.

[Matata]

My mom had some dental work done in bucerias, mexico at 'DentoAmerica' and was thrilled with the service and saved a ton of cash. It was a american dentist with an american cliental and she was thrilled with how it went, she's been an ER nurse most of her adult life and is very particular about these kinds of things.

[Drummer]

Question for everyone. Would you rather have dental surgery done in Mexico OR watch an Oiler game in their new arena? How about both?

[metallicat]

I have a friend, who is originally from Russia, have back surgery done in Russia. And he had to bribe the doctors before and after the operation. Madness.

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

Are you in Calgary? PLC hospital recently hired some new surgeons, including a very good Foot & Ankle specialist who trained at one of the top Orthopedics hospitals in the US. Since he's relatively new in town, his waitlist is only about 1-2 months. I sent you a PM with his details.

Also, is it possible your wife's issues are a work related injury? If its WCB related, you can have it covered at a private facility with virtually no waitlist.

I wouldn't recommend a podiatrist to be honest - they're basically a chiro with a big knife.

Glad to see someone in the medical field say the same. I've been critical of podiatrists for a long time - I've seen nothing but poor outcomes (with bias).

Regardless of surgical or non surgical, your wife should see a good physio. Most surgeons want (and all should want) a trial of ~3 months of conservative care. She will need therapy after anyway, and many conditions resolve with the proper rehab. Many surgeries can be avoided.

[jeffporfirio]

We have also been evaluating going abroad to see an ENT. My wife has been dealing with throat pain for about 3 mos, and the referral given by our family Dr has an 11-month wait.

[troutman]

The Greys put something inside of me on their spaceship.

[FlamingHomer]

I can't comment about the other countries listed but I have had nothing but great experiences here in Panama City. Cutting to the chase, Hospitals such as Punta Pacifica (Johns Hopkins affiliation) Paitilla, Hospital National are all private and have very good quality doctors and affordable care. There is a huge medical tourism industry here. Many doctors have been trained in the US and speak fluent English. You can email inquiries and you will be in touch with an English speaking representative. If you speak Spanish, even better.
Just as an example, today my wife walked unannounced into a nearby hospital to book a CAT scan and will go in on Friday. Cost is $200.
Unlike Canada you don't need a referral, you deal directly with the specialist.
I've heard that Medellin Colombia has even better pricing and highly trained medical staff. I have been there and it's a great city. I could live there tomorrow.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I couldn't seem to find a recent thread on this topic.

Basically my wife has foot problems. She complains about her foot daily being in pain. She's been to our family physician and he's put in a request to see a specialist, but the wait list is up to 2 years to see the specialist, and a surgery list is even longer out. Physician says that her foot is pretty messed up, but he can't do anything more than make this referral.

As standing or walking are pretty much part of her regular job duties not to mention life....she does not have the patience to wait for this.

She made an appointment to see someone at the Cambie clinic, some outfit in Vancouver that does private surgery. Needless to say, this appointment pretty much bleeds my shallow family coffers dry (I'm one of the few on this site with a 5 figure salary) at $550 for a consult plus getting her to Vancouver. The receptionist said the doctor would review the X-Rays done, than determine what type of surgery may be required at a ball park price of 6 to 9 grand. Chump change for most of you...enough to pretty much destroy me...

Are we being scammed here? Anyone have any experience with this Cambie clinic? Has anyone actually got so annoyed with our system that they went to a Mexico or Costa Rica to get something like this done where the cost was considerably less. Obviously this isn't a huge amount of money, but if a trip to Mexico with a reputable doctor can be done for $4500 as opposed to $9000...I'd consider this.

We could try a podiatrist route too, if we dare to deal with a less qualified local person who may be willing to do this. We did this 3 years ago at a cost of $5000 to remove a bunion on her one foot. She claims the bunion isn't the problem...but skeptical me wonders if getting rid of this, just didn't cause the next problem. So I'd be reluctant to shell out a big sum of money to go this route again.

Timelines seem out of whack here. I had a full knee replacement done last year. My family doctor referred me to a specialist and surgeon in December of 2015, I saw the specialist at the end of February 2016 and had my knee replaced middle of May 2016.

I am not sure exactly what your wife's problem is but 2 years wait time seems out of the ordinary.

I would as for another referral or else change family doctors and get a referral that way...it might make a difference.

Like it or not, some doctors have pull with getting referrals to specialists and some specialists have pull getting timely appointments for an operating room.

Not sure what your wife's problem is but my doctor was Dr. Stephen Miller.

As an aside, I have friends who have dealt with the Mayo clinic in a timely fashion...not sure of the cost though. They got all their x-rays etc together and made the appointment themselves.

[taco.vidal]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

My father in law drove to Mexico for dental surgery while the were wintering in Phoenix.

He got what he paid for, and had to pay to get some of the work re-done and fixed.

I would be wary of getting any type of complex surgery done in one of these places.

Originally Posted by Locke

I wouldnt be too broad about poor work, you can actually get some very reputable work done out of country it just depends on finding the right Doctor.

I dont know about the Cambie clinic personally, but I've had lots of clients get medical work done out of Country, usually in the US or Mexico.

Many of these Doctors were actually North American trained and then went home to start their practices, so do your research, if they've done good work they'll likely have online testimonials and if they've done bad work well, same.

I've even had clients go as far as Germany or India to get certain major procedures done, but unfortunately I know nothing about feet.

Has she tried manning up and walking it off?

Originally Posted by Matata

My mom had some dental work done in bucerias, mexico at 'DentoAmerica' and was thrilled with the service and saved a ton of cash. It was a american dentist with an american cliental and she was thrilled with how it went, she's been an ER nurse most of her adult life and is very particular about these kinds of things.

Read this post from an emergency dental clinic in Calgary.

https://www.facebook.com/EmergencyDe...98075950625772

If you scroll down in the Facebook comments on that post there is an Alberta woman sharing her own personal experience with Mexican dentistry.

Dentistry in Mexico - Know what you are getting !

The lure of cheap dentistry is hard to ignore. Dentistry for less than 1/10 the cost. Many see it as an incredible deal - a free trip, all your dentistry done for pennies on the dollar from "U.S. trained dentists" - "diplomas" from UCLA proudly displayed on the wall. It's hard to believe a "U.S. trained dentist" would move to Mexico to work for 1/10 of what they can make in the US.

Unfortunately unless something hurts or falls out, patients can't tell the difference until the dentistry starts to fail sometimes months or years later. When patients go to visit their local dentist and is given the bad news of what was found in the examination, often patients believe that their dentist is trying to just protect their turf and local fees.

These pictures are from a patient who had implants done in Mexico. These "implants" are available at the hardware section of Home Depot and Rona in 100 packs for about $5. Hardware screws were used as implants on this patient and this is what it looked like on an X-ray.

The implants were imbedded in the sinus causing chronic sinus problems on the upper. The lower ones pierced the lower nerve of the jaw causing permanent loss of feeling in the tongue and lip. The second picture is what it looked like when it was removed.

The patient went through a series of operations in an attempt to repair the damage to the sinus and lower nerve while removing all of these "implants". The patient is living with the consequences of their treatment and there is no recourse for the Mexican dentist who provided this treatment. There is no way for the patient to sue the Mexican dentist for pain, suffering and the damage he/she caused from improper treatment.

There are serious risks to having non-reversible surgeries done in a 3rd world country. Unfortunately it is too late when complications arise, it's done. How much risk are you willing to take with your health ?

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

Are you in Calgary? PLC hospital recently hired some new surgeons, including a very good Foot & Ankle specialist who trained at one of the top Orthopedics hospitals in the US. Since he's relatively new in town, his waitlist is only about 1-2 months. I sent you a PM with his details.

Also, is it possible your wife's issues are a work related injury? If its WCB related, you can have it covered at a private facility with virtually no waitlist.

I wouldn't recommend a podiatrist to be honest - they're basically a chiro with a big knife.

I'm curious why you say this. From my knowledge they're mainly trained in the states and their training is equivalent to medical doctors and often go to the same schools but specializing in the foot instead. This was of course talking to family in the medical field (not podiatrists).

[Peanut]

I had an emergency appendectomy in the US and have had nothing but complications ever since.

I have a friend who went to a private Vancouver specialist for back surgery and was thrilled with the results. it might have even been through the Cambie clinic as that name is ringing a bell.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Avoid discount surgery like a horrific infection that causes sepsis and potentially death. I am not saying that there are not good results that can be had with surgery in Mexico, it wouldn't be an industry if there weren't but at the same time the standards are not that same as exist here and the complications can be severe.

The questions that I would first want to know is if there has been physical therapy attempted and if your wife is overweight. I have personally seen podiatrists butcher someone's feet to the point where they couldn't walk anymore and I would be very leery as a result.

Surgery is about way more than the cutting by the way, it is about the extensive pre and post operative care required.

[Rutuu]

Had shoulder surgery on my left shoulder in Australia 5yrs ago. Interesting experience since I had private health, but didn't go through a GP, so all the bills came to me to filter to my insurer.

Emergency room: $400
Sling: $20
MRI: $600
Xray: $40
Consult with Surgeon: $150 x 2
Anaesthesiologist: $1000
Surgeon $3000
Hospital $3000

All in: $8,350

I had to wait 2weeks for the swelling to go down, so that my MRI was good to go, then after that it was anytime I wanted the surgery. One night in the hospital after the procedure and I was sent home for a week to recover.

[Northendzone]

while I can't speak to the level of care offered at the cambie clinic, I am sure I have seen their ad in several Canadian print magazines.

any private clinics do this type fo work in alberta.

otherwise - if going out of province is not a viable option, has your wife tried other treatments like acupuncture, chiro (shiockwave), physio?

I have heard of several people who have went down the mexico for dental treatmetns with no issues; however, in the back of my mind I'd be a little worried as in mexico it takes 3 to 5 hrs to bring extra towels to your hotel - it would be a real pain if you had to have additional follow up work done

[Zarley]

I've heard Thailand is great for medical and dental.

[Ace]

I would try making an emergency room visit. If for example your wife can't put weight on the foot, you're in, jump to the front of the line.

That's how our system works, you need to get classified as emergent.

If at first you don't succeed try try again.