Can be excellent, can be terrible. But you largely get to choose
There was a loud crack as I flew toward the floor. Clearly everyone else heard it too, as my sparring partner immediately knelt down and asked if I was alright, and our coach ran over from the side of the mat.
It’s a horrible feeling when you have an accident and first realise that you are actually hurt. Takes a while to sink in, then becomes all too horribly real.
I hobbled out of my jiu-jitsu school and booked an appointment at my regular 整形外科 (orthopedic clinic). They have an online booking system and (almost unheard of for 整形外科) actually stick to the times. I got to the clinic that afternoon five minutes before my appointment time and was seen almost immediately.
I described the situation, the doctor pressed several spots on my foot until finding a painful one, and did an ultrasound scan.
Turns out I had torn a ligament in my ankle. Just a partial tear, so I could still walk (slowly, in a brace) and it should heal in about six weeks’ time. My doctor explained that the ligament tore in order to protect the ankle, and that this was much better than a broken bone.
This unpleasant situation was hugely improved because I know which clinic to go to in order to get quick, professional attention.
I had to visit over a dozen orthopedic clinics in Sendai over a two year period before finding this one. Most of them were crowded, slow, old-fashioned and in some cases borderline incompetent.
I also did something similar with my dentist, 皮膚科 (skin clinic), and ENT clinic (I have seasonal allergies). Took a while, but I’m very happy with all four.
I don’t have any other regular clinics, those are the ones I need to visit semi regularly.
I’m quite a fan of Japan’s healthcare system. I think it strikes a good balance between being affordable and providing easy access to healthcare.
It’s not expensive like the US, and it is not rationed or restricted the way the UK system seems to be, with patients having to wait months or years for procedures.
However, I have found quality, particularly at local clinics, to be quite varied in Japan. If you are needing to see a doctor regularly it is very much worth shopping around to find a clinic that fits your needs.
This is one of the best aspects of healthcare here in my opinion. You can turn up at pretty much any clinic now and be seen on the spot (or at least fairly quickly). Do check the website or call in advance as more and more clinics now seem to be operating on a reservation system, and will turn away walk ins.
There may also be restrictions on when and how you can register as a new patient (only in the morning, or before a certain time, etc.).
To find good clinics look at Google reviews or ask friends and colleagues for recommendations.
It can take a while to find a local clinic that fits you, but it is very much worth the effort.
How about you? Do you have specific clinics you go to or are you lucky enough not to have medical issues yet?
It’s OK. There is a “for profit” elenement that can be heavy on the wallet such as “recommending” a CT scan or worse, an MRI for seemingly minor ailments. I had 4 CT scans over the course of 3 months after breaking my arm this summer. is that excessive?
Ouch! I can imagine that sound. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
I’m very satisfied with health care services in Japan but you are right-it takes some research and experience to find the best clinics. Just this week I found a new 皮膚科 which is excellent! The previous one I went to was like a Halloween ghost house tour.
I’m happy with our family clinic too.
Also, my daughter grew up with epilepsy so we received specialist care in a main Prefectural hospital. Excellent care and support. From emergency services to outpatient care.
Yeah it is crucial to get word of mouth recommendations. There are some excellent professionals here and like anywhere it takes a little digging to find them.
The legendary Donn Draeger said Judo is a “method of self- destruction”, and having done both myself think BJJ can be as well. Hope you heal up soon and thanks for the good advice on this blog.
It was a judo throw so there is that 😆
I love standup but might have to reconsider it a bit going forward…
Don’t forget this one! https://www.retirejapan.com/blog/surgery-and-disability-benefits-in-japan/
😉
It’s not in that blog post, but I also had two other surgeries following the heart valve.
The surgery in that link happened in later March. Along the way–at those CTs and tests–they noticed a worrying shadow in one lung, so in September I had the upper lobe of my right lung removed (and a bit more), along with some lymph nodes. What they took out was then tested, and the bottom line on this piece of it all was that it was lung cancer, caught early, nothing in the lymph nodes. Staged as Ia, and I forget the exact type, but it was not the aggressive type that kills quickly. I was in for about a week for this, and actually, this one hurt more, post-op, than the heart surgery.
Four months later (January), I had a prostatectomy–and if you read thru the comments on the above link, it was likely sepsis, as a result of a prostate biopsy, that led to the problem with the heart valve, and the valve replacement is the topic of the blog post. This prostate surgery (removal) was done with the Da Vinci machine, so a very fancy, ‘robot’-assisted, laparoscopic surgery.
This past September was the five year followup anniversary of the lung surgery. I’d been doing CTs every six months, and blood work every three. Since it has been five years, followup CTs (and cancer marker blood work) now go to yearly (for the next five years, and one is already scheduled for next September). Blood work continues, since my 循環器 doc wants to keep monitoring things–or that’s a part of the monitoring/prescription process here.
Generally, I’m pretty ‘genki’ for someone who is 73. I stopped riding due to something else late this summer, but got back into cycling after these surgeries. And tho not the zoomy racer I was before, I rode 2000km/120hrs up thru August of this year, about the same over all of 2023, but 5700km/309hrs in 2022. Winter is here, and I hope to be back at it come spring.
Concur with having foreknowledge about good local clinics. I suffered a minor injury a couple of weeks ago while I was visiting the US, which was similar to an injury I suffered in Japan a few years back. Instead of going to see a doctor there, I cut my stay short by a couple of days and returned to Japan sooner, so that I could get it seen by my local orthopedic clinic here in Yokohama. I knew they would get right to the problem without paying a lot and without a long wait. Things are going as expected, I’m following the doctor’s recommendations and well on the path to healing up, and over two visits only had to pay about 4,000 yen, including x-rays.
While my situation is simple and going well, I know someone here who has a complicated medical situation, and he regrettably seems to have gotten less than stellar treatment.
My best wishes that you get better quickly!
Thank you! Same to you ^-^
Knowing the guy/bad/ugly is so point on. I had a friend, young (20-ish) who had an appendicitis. He chose a clinic at random and the doctor told him, “you’re fine. Just take some rest.” He knew something was up, but luckily he had a girlfriend who was Japanese and he went to the family doctor and the problem, appendicitis, was recognized right away.
There are a lot of terrible dentist, doctors that would not fly in America. That said, I am happy with the Japanese doctor. My wife is Japanese and we take the kids to the local clinic all the time. There are many to choose from, and cheap. Also, you get a tax deduction the bill adds up. Still, having a social network to tap into for advice is so important.
Interesting to hear about others’ experiences with healthcare system.
I’m extremely satisfied with my healthcare here. I receive excellent care on demand; great service, high quality, low cost, very little wait time, affordable medicine, etc.
My teenager-looking cardiologist is too young to grow facial hair, but demonstrates all the best qualities anyone seeks; empathy and expertise in current best knowledge and skill. Proof being I’m still alive after multiple long surgeries. My youngish philosopher dentist doubles as my bereavement counselor (my younger son passed away last year). My dermatologist is 89 and still busy teaching me lots of important minor details to consider in life. My good friend and highly regarded ophthalmologist in Wester Japan gave me 20-year old eyes again. I feel lucky with the quality care here. I hope you all find such a team.
Btw, interesting info from my daughter (obstetrics doctor) I heard last night that I didn’t know… dialysis treatment is completely free in Japan. Not so in the US. Kidney transplant wait time is up to 10 years here compared to 2 years in the US.
Ben, keep it coming!
My dialysis treatment is not completely free, but I qualified for a subsidy program offered by Kyoto Prefecture. I have to pay the first ¥10,000 each month, then it’s free after that.