Unanswered3 years ago
Can I obtain a 1-year medical visa in Thailand for ACL rehabilitation?
Hi I’m in Thailand just now and my visa runs out on the 25th of march, last month I fell down stairs and twisted my knee and I’ve had to get an operation on my knee. ACL operation and I’m going to be in Chiangmai for minimum 9 months for my rehabilitation at hospital. Can I in anyway get a 1 year medical visa while I’m here? Thanks
Summary so far
The poster seeks advice about obtaining a 1-year medical visa in Thailand due to needing extensive rehabilitation after an ACL operation. Responses indicate that it's unlikely to secure such a long medical visa, with most extensions being granted for a maximum of 90 days and contingent on proving inability to travel. Additional comments highlight that typical recovery times for ACL surgeries do not necessitate a year-long stay, and experiences from other users suggest that medical visa extensions are difficult to obtain for non-emergency situations.
41 repliesnewest first
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Ace **********
After 3 botched left knee surgeries in Washington DC area, I flew to Thailand and had my knee operated on at Bumrungrad Hospital in BKK. Doctor at Bumrungrad fixed my knee and I was able to return to playing basketball until 62. Had to stay in Thailand for 6 weeks😊😊 as you are not supposed to fly for that length of time due to the risk of thrombosis.
John ********
Your going home so live with it 🤣
Karl ******
Why are people discussing the the injury and not the solution ffs
Michael *******
@Karl *****
he won’t find a solution on FB - doctors report and visit to immig which is probably the feedback he got from the hospital or doctor…. 🤔🤔Summer **************
@Karl *****
bc the solution is they don't need the medical visaKarl ******
@Summer *************
no summer I am talking about,oh I got an athlete back quicker than that or you don't need 9 months to recover or I had a 16 year old kid back walking within this amount of time.Karl ******
@Summer *************
it might help him communicate to his doctor actually, that could help. He might need a professional like you at his side. You know as I do they want to keep him here for $$$$. I was merely commenting to try and provide a solution and it sounds like you could.Summer **************
First of all, I'm not a doctor, just a certified/licensed athletic trainer with 16 years experience working with professional, collegiate, and high school athletes. But maybe I should be on their case if they think they need 9 months stay in Thailand to recover.
Karl ******
@Summer *************
so your his doctorSummer **************
@Karl *****
bc it's a detailed example of why this person doesn't need the medical visa
Cris ******
Usually those medical exemptions are for serious or emergency situations. Not knee rehabilitation. Also heard they are very hard to get
Galenus ******
You want to fool them?😳
Detlef ***********
Maybe your trying to play the system 🤔🤔? Recovery time is not that long mate👍!!! I doubt wether you can fool the medicos or immigration 🤔🤔🤣🤣🤣
Stuart ********
To give you perspective on this.
And to save you a wasted trip.
You have no chance.
I had cervical disc fusion on 3 levels of my spine, recovery time was lengthy to say the least.
I had receipts of how much was paid, letters from the surgeon, everything!
Immigration denied the medical extension and were very rude.
You need to be half dead or even plain dead to get that medical extension.
And to save you a wasted trip.
You have no chance.
I had cervical disc fusion on 3 levels of my spine, recovery time was lengthy to say the least.
I had receipts of how much was paid, letters from the surgeon, everything!
Immigration denied the medical extension and were very rude.
You need to be half dead or even plain dead to get that medical extension.
Charlie ********
I had my ACL replaced using a part of my hamstring in the UK in 2010. They had me up walking the next day and with physio / rehab twice a week I was running in a straight line in three months and playing rugby again 9 months after op. I doubt very much you can get a medical extension for a procedure which is an elective surgery not emergency or essential. If you can walk , you can travel and you can leave….
Steve *******
I doubt you'll get anywhere near a year for ACL reconstruction. You should be able to walk without crutches or pain in 2-3 weeks.
Summer **************
I work in sports medicine and rehab ACL reconstructions all the time. You absolutely do not need to be there for 9months lol. I can return a footballer back to competing in 9 months
Ace **********
I had 4 surgeries on my left knee and was told not to fly for at least 6 weeks due to the risk of thrombosis. But I think that all of us are missing that he just wants to be here in Thailand for that period. After my surgery at Bumrungrad in BKK, I wanted to stay as long as possible before returning to work in the Washington DC area. Needed to be here for follow-up visits with the Dr. that did my surgery. OK...weak excuse for staying in Thailand longer, but it worked😊. Keep up your good work with rehabbing people--- Great profession.
Philip *******
From experience I have had, and have seen many Australian Rugby players sidelined for in excess of a year even with hyperbaric chamber usage post surgery. A partial tear is stitching a fully torn out of femur usually repaired with hamstring graft unless there is new technology in this in last 10 years
Summer **************
@Philip ******
new ACL treatment that I haven't had the opportunity to work with yet**********************************************************************************************************
%2Denhanced%20ACL%20repair%20(BEAR)%20is%20a%20new%20FDA,another%20part%20of%20the%20bodySummer **************
@Philip ******
this is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. First of all, if you think any medicine doesn't greatly change in 10 years, you're an idiot. Of course medicine changes in 10 years. Secondly, some of the fittest athletes return in as quickly as 4 months. 9 months is the standard for general population. And we are talking 9 months until the person is back to 100%. No one needs a medical visa to get back to 100%. They need to be able to safely travel. That can be done wants sutures are fully healed and swelling has reduced.Summer **************
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it must be a duck 🦆🙄
Summer **************
THE OLD TECH IS STILL 9 MONTHS
Philip *******
@Summer *************
as I stated if there has been no new tech in last 10 years. Oh I don't appreciate being called so keep it CivilPhilip *******
@Summer *************
usually footballers just do a minor tear. Some people in accidents completely snap ACL. This takes longer than 9 months and is age dependent. Most football players are at peak physical conditions and young.Summer **************
@Philip ******
also, I literally am working with an American football player w a torn ACL right now. Torn on Feb 26th. He's a small kid, 16yo. Not a star player. Hardly any muscles. He was walking without assistance a week after the injury. His surgery is this Thursday.Philip *******
@Summer *************
yes walking is easy post surgerySummer **************
@Philip ******
if surgically reconstructed, a partial or fully torn ACL is done the same way. If surgery is not done, the recovery to walking is even faster. What are you even talking about?!
Robert *****
From my experience immigration is not very accommodating. Wife and I did the Thai Pass to get into Thailand during Covid. Getting ready to fly out on time we failed the Covid test before the flight. We were rounded up and transported to Pragam 9 hospital and locked inside for a MANDATORY 10 days. We finally got out but we were now 6 days past our visa stamp. At the airport we presented our hospital papers but still had to pay a 6,000 baht fine. No excuses worked. Good luck sir. 🙏
Brandon ************
@Robert ****
the hospital would have had to file for your extension. Taking papers to the airport wouldn't do anything. They don't even have the ability to do anything for you at the airport.Robert *****
@Brandon ***********
I agree. They were focused on us paying $310,000.00 baht and quite disorganized. We just wanted to get to Tokyo. ..and home to Los Angeles….lucky we had travel insurance to get reimbursed.Stuart ********
@Robert ****
unbelievable, immigration are ruthless 😡Brandon ************
Your hospital needs to apply for your medical extension. They are only maximum 90 days at a time and they have to prove that you're not able to travel.
Kingtravel *********
OP@Brandon ***********
ok thanks I’m going to go to immigration office in next few days and see what can be done. 90 days is better than every 30 days and having to do a border run.
Chris ***********
@Kingtravel ********
Border limp surely? Not run. Try that joke on immigration.Kingtravel *********
OP@Brandon ***********
I was going to get a letter from the doctor to confirm that I’m needing treatment at the hospital for next 6 months minimum.
Daniel *****
@Kingtravel ********
I think the letter would need to state that you are unfit to fly back to your own country to finish your treatment there.
John ******
@Kingtravel ********
not A doctor but THE doctor in the hospital who is going to treat you !
Kool *******
@Kingtravel ********
as far as immigration is concerned if you are released by your doctor to fly, you can do your rehab in your home country. That is the only thing immigration considers after your operation in extending that visa, are you cleared to fly home. They view it as if you can visit immigration yourself, then, with wheelchair assistance if needed, you can fly home.
Lynnette *******
@Kingtravel ********
you can go home for that surely? You aren't physically unable to travel, which is probably the point.Brandon ************
@Kingtravel ********
if you can go to the immigration office, chances are they're not going to approve a medical extension for you.Activity
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