First Assessment
Free
45 minutes, at home
- Full clinical examination at the patient's home
- The likely cause explained in plain language
- A realistic recovery plan and what it will cost
- No obligation to book any further sessions
The surgeon's work finishes in the theatre; the result depends on what happens over the following weeks. For people in Dhankawadi that stretch is spent in a flat, often with a relative taking leave from work to help, and with a staircase, a toilet seat and a bed that nobody has yet adjusted.
Our guide to post-surgery rehabilitation explains the general stages. This page deals with how it is done at home in Dhankawadi.
Preparing the flat before the patient comes back
If you can, ask for a physiotherapy visit in the days before discharge, or on the first day home. A short list of preparations makes the early weeks safer:
- Move the bed or a chair so the patient can get in and out on the side the surgeon prefers.
- Raise a low toilet seat or arrange a commode, and keep a stool in the bathroom.
- Take away loose rugs, trailing wires and low furniture from the walking route.
- Put regular items, such as water, glasses, medicines and the phone, at arm height.
- Find out whether the lift will take a wheelchair or a walker, and who will help on the stairs if it does not.
The physiotherapist checks these on the first visit and adjusts what is needed for your type of operation.
What rehabilitation looks like after common operations
- Knee or hip replacement. Early weight-bearing as advised, bending and straightening exercises, strengthening and gait training with a walker or sticks. See also our guides to knee replacement rehabilitation and hip replacement rehabilitation.
- Spine surgery. Safe ways to roll, sit and stand, gentle core activation and a gradual walking programme, within the surgeon's limits.
- Fracture fixation. Restoring movement and strength around the fixed bone, in line with the surgeon's weight-bearing instructions. A related guide is post-fracture rehabilitation.
- Abdominal or chest surgery. Breathing exercises, supported coughing and gentle walking to reduce stiffness and lung complications, as the doctor advises.
Satara Road, the flat and the journey back to the surgeon
Two practical problems recur in this part of South Pune. One is the stairs: some blocks around Dhankawadi and Balaji Nagar may be walk-ups, and a patient who cannot yet climb is effectively housebound. The other is the return trip for stitch removal or a review. With metro work on Satara Road and long queues at Katraj Chowk, even a short ride takes longer than expected. Plan the trip for a quieter hour, practise getting in and out of the vehicle at home first, and ask for a short stool or a chair to be kept for resting at the destination.
A first home visit can include the practice of both: the physiotherapist goes through the steps at your entrance and how to move from door to car seat.
What you can do in between sessions
- Do the exercises on the schedule you were given, and stop if pain becomes sharp or the wound feels strained.
- Walk a little more each day inside the flat, resting before you tire.
- Use ice or elevation only as the surgeon advised.
- Keep the wound clean and dry as instructed, and do not allow anyone to massage near it.
Signs that need the surgeon or an emergency department
Contact the surgical team or go to an emergency department for fever, wound redness or discharge, a calf that is swollen, hot or painful, new breathlessness or chest pain, or a leg or arm that is suddenly numb, pale or cold. A fall in the first weeks, followed by a new deformity or inability to bear weight, also needs urgent review.
Patients who have lost strength more widely may benefit from the elderly physiotherapy in Dhankawadi programme as well. To arrange a visit, book an appointment or read how home physiotherapy in Dhankawadi works.