So the title says it. I fancied a bit of exercise so I opted to put on the rollerblades I bought a few months ago but never used... and began what was to be multiple laps around Cuihu.

A quarter of the way around the park, I was quite happy with my decision. My music was on point, my hair

blowing in the wind, the sun on my skin... and I spied a little obstacle which I needed to swerve to avoid. There were people in my way, and I didn't want to hurt them, and blah blah blah doesn't matter, I fell.

I broke my leg right at the ankle joint and was brought to the hospital by my Chinese coworkers (I'm an English Teacher). The doctor was quick to recommend surgery and my Chinese coworkers were quick to discount his opinion, stating that the doctor would be profiting from the surgery and that's why he recommended it. They thought the best (and cheapest) course of action would be to go to a Chinese medicine place and have him set it. I opted for the set and cast in the hospital. It was done with very quickly, but I was

troubled that they didn't x ray it after "setting it" to make sure that it was in the right place.

Does anyone have any experience with this dilemma I find myself in? The money I'm not so concerned about, though it's 20,000 kaui... I just don't want my ankle permanently f*cked, and I also don't want to get an extraneous surgery.

At the moment, I'm in a cast and I should return to the hospital next week. When I do this... I can ask more questions about why I would need surgery and get details on how it may benefit me.

Thanks in advance!

probably don't need surgery but need it set properly, agreed. traditional hospitals are cheap and don't do xray, but to honest 20, 000 sounds too much for tcm. your school should have basic medical cover for you, required by law. go get xrays now it is set to see all is well.

I had a really bad break and was advised by my UK doctor against pins. He said they can cause really bad arthritis after about 10-15 years, which believe me is not that long; when that time comes around you will wonder how the years flew by. I would have an xray soonest, to see that things were set correctly. If not it can be broken and re-set easily before it heals.

Your friend is correct about the hospital wanting to chase fees for insurance work, and yes your employer is required to have emergency medical cover for you.

The cheapest and best ..
Those words rarely go together.

@sounder, see forum for international clinic. Western trained doctors are all experienced dealing with broken bones. If you need further treatment they will help you find a qualified specialist.

20Krmb for tcm w/o an X-Ray? Don't waste your time/money/health with quacks. Get yourself to a Western-trained professional doctor pronto! I strongly suggest someplace in Hong Kong or Bangkok. There is also the Eur Am Clinic in Guangzhou which many Westerners trust.

@Stratocaster no, 20,000 was for surgery. From having asked my friend's dad in the US, and from my research online, appears surgery really isn't usually necessary for this fracture. I've got a friend from the US visiting in a couple weeks so I'll get a second opinion from someone when we visit Thailand.

Thanks all for the responses. I'm sure I'll be back in good health soon!

If 20,000 was for the surgery you didn't have, how much did it cost you just to have it set & put in a cast? As for X-rays, I've had them twice in Kunming hospitals (knee in Kunming #2, lungs in the hospital on the corner of Jinhuapulu 2 blocks north of Renminxilu - both very cheap (100-200rmb or something), quick and with results within an hour. Neither for broken bones, but that shouldn't make any difference. My guess is that you could have your set ankle X-rayed if you just asked for it (and, of course, paid for it) - think you should try it, it won't cost much, and you can keep the X-ray photo to show to another doctor if you are not satisfied with the judgement of the doctor's reading of the X-ray.
As for doctors, or their hospitals, profiting from surgery: yes, I think this happens.
Granted that ankles can be tricky, but bonesetting has been around for a very long time.

@Alien it was a little less than 1000 kuai for x rays, ER visit, set, cast, and medication.