twix38

I have had knee pain for about 2 months now mainly in left knee. It started one morning when I awoke with it and it was worst then. Now it is variable. My knee internally clicks in full extension and back 90 degrees and the inner bone is often tender to feel. I know of no reason it started.

Brief history so far regarding treatment. 1st Hospital Doctor at Memorial suspected Gout and I took some tablets for 24 hours that I didn't like the sound of researching on internet (forgotten name for now). Only 5 tablets given and taken and no change. Subsequent Uric Acid result was normal and as I had expected this was a wrong guess and blood test result supported that, I did not continue.

2nd Hospital Doctor today at BKK/Pattaya. Checked knee and diagnosed Patellofemoral Arthritis.
Mentioned having an X-RAY and then later an MRI, but cost made me wait and so went down medication route only. Although I asked 3 times what medicine he was prescribing, I got no answer. I finally found out at the Hospital pharmacy. It was 20mg/day Omeprazole - I refused this as I already take it daily. Idarac 200mg x 1 tablet only. and Celebrex 400mg/day for 15 days and a return follow-up appointment.

These were both Orthopedic specialists.

I have rested my knee, cold compress, but the pain/discomfort refuses to go away completely for some 2 months now. I did doubt the Gout diagnosis from the start, but can accept that osteoarthritis or the Patellofemoral arthritis may well be right, but how does anyone yet know to be giving me tablets and what must I get done and what (like the Gout) is wrong/unnecessary?

My other questions are:
Is there any Hospital recommended in/around Pattaya or specific Orthopedic Doctor and I assume I should get an MRI? - where? I balked at the cost at BKK/Pattaya as told by nurse around 19,000 Baht plus all the add ons - doctors fee/nursing fee etc.

I am not sure I should be taking this Celebrex as first port of call and strength etc?

What is the way to deal with Patellofemoral Arthritis and am I going to get back to a normal pain free knee again - if so, How???

I am taking from my own research - Glucosamine Sulphate x 1500mg/day, Omega 3 x 2,000mg/day and plan to get some Chrondroitin Sulphate or mixed in with Glucosamine. Knee strengthening excersise.

I was expecting this problem to eventually disappear of its own accord and it does improve and then come back, but never as bad as the night it started. What tests/checks/remidies/medication or plain advice has anyone got please?

There are a few long running examples of Thai racism to foreigners in law and in personal experience.

I'd like to know what people think about it?

My view is we should adopt workable policies in our own home countries to address and target outright racism which is endemic here and when applied to us consistently abroad.

Let me give just one current example.


You can pick up a King's Cup Asian Pattaya Marathon leaflet (at Central) for this coming weekend's Marathon on Sunday 17th July. There is a full Marathon, Half Marathon and Quarter Marathon.

Two points


1. the prices to enter are over 100% more expensive for foreigners.
Full Marathon - Foreigner 1,080: Asian 500
Half Marathon - Foreigner 900: Asian 400
Quarter Marathon - Foreigner 720: Asian 300

This is normal for Thailand and known as dual pricing.
For countries who apply this I think we should reciprocate in some manner. Just treat us fairly and we will do the same.

2. more importantly though, it's compounded by condition number 1 on the leaflet which states...
"Cash reward in overall age group rewards presented to Thai and Asian nationality only"

So in this instance we can pay more than double to enter and be excluded from the overall age group rewards if a Foreigner were to win.

To me it's abhorrent that this type of racism should exist without addressing it. This is Thailand, so they can do what they like here and we have to accept it or leave, but our home countries could start to charge/penalise Thai's in a similar manner or perhaps find a workable response to this sort of victimisation and racism.

Where there's a will there's a way. Possibly addressing Thai student and tourist visa fees when not supported by a home country national - clearly if sponsored then it's the foreigner who gets penalised and who pays anyway, but if not sponsored then stuff them, as just loosing Thai nationals wouldn't have a significant effect and would send a message that the on-going and escalating xenophobia here is becoming totally unacceptable!!!  

I'm sure there's a more appropriate response to this issue, but some response is warranted imho and rather overdue.

Do we just accept it and watch it grow because that's what it seems to be doing year on year and we do nothing in our home countries to show the Thais that it's unacceptable or what it feels like when a group is identified, singled out and taken advantage of in this way. This Marathon leaflet would not be seen in my country because it would be deemed offensive, racist and illegal and doesn't every foreigner object to paying more than double to enter whilst being excluded from at least a proportion of the potential prize money which is reserved for an Asian winner even if he/she didn't win!!!!

Planning to get a website up and running for business in Pattaya.

Want a good quality one, but no website experience, knowledge or contacts.

So, any help with the following would be much appreciated....

tech specifications
requirements
useful ideas/things to check
Website Company recommendations (Pattaya)
do's/do nots
anything to avoid
Other

Many thanks in advance to anyone able to offer advice/help/ideas

Thinking of getting a website up and running for business in Pattaya.

Want a good quality one, but no website experience, knowledge or contacts and wish to know what to check for.

So, any help with the following would be much appreciated....

tech specifications
requirements
useful ideas
Website Company recommendations (Pattaya)
do's/Do nots
Other

Many thanks in advance to anyone able to offer help/ideas

I turned 50 and got a retirement visa and my re-entry permit in March, before heading off to UK.

Now in UK and I am ready to return to Thailand. In the past I have only ever bought a return ticket to BKK, but I assume that I can buy a single ticket to BKK as I have already converted my non immigrant "O" visa to a retirement visa and got my re-entry permit - So, I shouldn't get any problems at all arriving at BKK immigration without a return ticket?

p.s.
Common sense (I know) says it should be fine, but my common sense also told me that I had a full 90 days from obtaining my retirement visa before signing in again and that was wrong as it goes from my last date of leaving country. Nearly messed that up and don't want to make any more incorrect assumptions.

TIA