Recovery After an Operation
The first six weeks after an operation set a ceiling on your result, and they are exactly when getting to a clinic is hardest.
Common symptoms
- , Swelling around the operated joint
- , Stiffness and restricted movement
- , Weakness in the operated limb
- , Pain limiting walking or daily tasks
- , Difficulty with stairs
Common causes
- , Normal post-surgical healing
- , Scar tissue maturing
- , Muscle wasting from disuse
- , Protective guarding and fear of loading
The window
After surgery, scar tissue matures, joints stiffen in whatever position they are held, and muscle around an operated limb wastes quickly. What happens in the first six weeks sets a ceiling that is hard to raise afterwards, knees especially, which stiffen readily and resist being freed later.
Which is exactly when travel is hardest
You cannot drive, sitting in traffic is genuinely painful, and every appointment is an ordeal. That combination is why so many people fall behind precisely when being on schedule matters most, and it is why we run this as a home-visit service by default.
Following the surgeon
Protocols differ between surgeons and between techniques, and the restrictions reflect what the repair can safely take at each stage. Bring whatever you were given. We work within it, and we explain why a restriction exists, patients who understand when a graft is most vulnerable respect the limits far better than patients who were simply told no.
How we treat it
- , Swelling and pain management
- , Restoring range of movement to protocol
- , Progressive strengthening of both limbs
- , Gait retraining and stair practice
- , Return-to-activity planning
Typical recovery: 3–6 months for comfortable daily function; up to 12 months for the final result
See a doctor urgently if you have
- !Fever, or a wound that is hot, red or discharging
- !Calf pain, swelling or redness
- !Sudden shortness of breath or chest pain
- !Sudden severe pain or a joint giving way
- !Wound edges separating
These are not physiotherapy problems. Go to a doctor or hospital rather than booking with us.
Treatments that help
Common questions
How soon after surgery should physiotherapy start?
Usually within days, and for joint replacements often before you leave hospital. Early movement prevents the stiffness that is difficult to reverse later.
Can you come to my home while I cannot drive?
Yes, and this is exactly when it matters most. The weeks when travel is hardest are the weeks when consistent rehabilitation makes the biggest difference to your final result.
I am behind the protocol. Is that a problem?
Common, and usually fixable. We reassess and work out what is limiting you (swelling, pain, or fear of loading) and address that specifically rather than pushing harder against it.
Book a physiotherapist in Nairobi
Clinic appointments in Westlands, or a physiotherapist at your door anywhere in Nairobi. Same-week slots.