Dear all,

I think I may know the answer already, but here goes...

I tore the cartilage in my knee while jogging last year (confirmed with MRI back home), and have been trying to nurse it and taking synthesised shark fin to grow back the cartilage. Seemed to be going ok, but kicking a ball in the park with my daughter last week blew it all away.

It's quite painful, even going up stairs now hurts, so I'm thinking about getting this surgery done locally. Am I out of my mind?

If anyone's done this before how was it for you? Also, I'm not on an expat package, so it's all out of my own none-too-deep pockets.

Any thoughts and advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers
golddd2

I did not have a good answer when this request was first posted, but do now. Dr Jason Brockwell heads a Sports medicine Clinic in HK and is a leading authority on Sports injuries, especially to joint injuries.
He will be visiting Shanghai on a regular basis and holding a Clinic at Shanghai United Family Hospital.
His first visit will be on Jan 10th. 5133 1909

So the more complete answer is, unless golddd2 has won the lottery in the meantime, he should still wait till he gets back to the real world before he gets a 'scope, right?

A supplementary question is in order here, I feel: Dr Mike - is your friend Dr Brockwell an orthopaedic surgeon? Or is he just a "leading authority"?

I know folks who could do with decent quality arthroscopies here.

As for taking "synthesised shark fin" - yikes! Personally, I'd save the dough you spend on that and see if it might add up to the price of an arthroscopy someday.

Maybe it's too late to reply this topic since it was posted since Oct. I did face this problem last year and went to 2 hospitals to find my best way on it.

For your information, if you don't have an expat package, there's a good Chinese hospital for accidental injury named Shanghai No. 6 people's hospital, very cheap one. But you need to have Chinese friend for helping you on translation. Only some doctors can speak English but the one I'd recommend you, his English is quite good. His name is Dr. Wang Qi. You may try to meet him there and ask for his comment. Don't let any scary outlook of the operation room mislead you. If you're looking for something good and cheap, it might be your right choice.

Anyway, for someone who has the package, I'd recommend you to contact SOS or your insurance company. The Arthroscopy cost for Foreigners here is about 3 times of Chinese's (in Ruijin (Guangci) hospital and Huashan). They may suggest you to go having the operation outside China like they did tell me. Hong Kong or Bangkok may be the best choice. But you need to check your package carefully whether it's covered and get the company approval first. There's also one French speaking Chinese doctor at Guangci hospital who may give you some advices on this before making a decision about the Arthroscopy. Sorry I can't remember his name but it's very easy to find coz only few doctors speak French in that place.

Dr Brcckwell is indeed an orthopedic surgeon who has chosen to specialise in Sports Medicine. Joint, ligament and mucsular injuries.

Thanks for the replies, but a tad late now. I'm off home soon for the annual jaunt and booked in for surgery there. Just don't feel comfortable letting a local medico in my knee.