New Zealanders with back pain, disc problems and sciatica travel to Bangkok for regenerative treatment such as stem cell and PRP injections because access at home can be limited, slow or costly. The first step is free: send your MRI or scan report through the form on this page and a doctor tells you whether treatment could fit your case, before you book anything.
Why patients from New Zealand look abroad
- Public waiting times for specialist assessment and surgery can be long, and regenerative injections are usually self-funded.
- Few clinics in New Zealand offer stem cell treatment.
- Bangkok is one of Asia's main medical-travel hubs, with private hospitals and English-speaking medical staff.
Back or leg pain for more than 6 weeks? Get the free guide and a doctor review of your scan.
Getting to Bangkok
- Flight time: about 11 to 12 hours direct from Auckland.
- Visa: many passports, including from New Zealand, can enter Thailand visa-free for a short stay. Rules change, so check the current length with the Royal Thai Embassy before you travel. A medical treatment visa exists for longer stays.
- Time needed: most people plan 5 to 7 days in Bangkok, including rest before flying home.
How it works
- Send your MRI or scan report (a photo of the report is fine)
- A doctor reviews it and tells you which options could fit
- Personal plan and quote, based on your case, not a price list
- Treatment in Bangkok, then follow-up check-ins when you are home
Questions to ask first
- Which cells or preparation, from where, and how much?
- What results are realistic for my condition and stage?
- What does follow-up look like once I am back in New Zealand?
- What should I tell my own doctor at home?
Regenerative treatment is not right for every spine. Red-flag symptoms such as loss of bladder control need emergency care, and some disc problems do need surgery: see when disc surgery is needed. Read what studies show and how the MRI review works.
