Post-operative Rehabilitation
After your discharge from the hospital, you will be transferred to your apartment or hotel room in Athens. Most patients arre able to get in and out of a standard vehicle at this stage. One of our nurses will come with you and help you settle in your accommodation. Τhey will help you make arrangements for food, teach you toilet usage and cleaning services. You will have emergency contact numbers to get in touch with the surgeon, the hospital and the physio team, as needed
Rehabilitation
Dr Giotikas gives clear instructions about the operative details and the weight bearing status and, together with the head physiotherapist of the rehabilitation centre, formulate a personalized rehabilitation protocol with clearly defined goals and timings.
The generic goal of rehabilitation is the restoration of normal function of the limb. This includes:
- Management of postoperative pain and soft tissue swelling
- Restoration of range of movement of the affected joints
- Strengthening of the muscles
- Improvement of the proprioception of the limb.
This is where the patient, with the support and help of the physio team, becomes the primary factor for success as their determination and willingness to engage to the physio protocol will bring the best functional outcomes.
Follow-up Appointments
Depending on your condition and the type of surgery, there will be a specified schedule of follow-up consultations with your surgeon or a member of our team. On the day that you leave the hospital, you will be given a detailed diary with the date of your next follow-up appointment. If necessary, your doctor will see you anytime sooner.
The frequency of the follow-up consultations varies according toyour condition and type of surgery. Generally, the follow-up appointments are scheduled as follows:
- 7th postoperative day- We need to check that the surgical wound or wounds are healing normally
- 15th postoperative day – x-rays, clinical assessment and removal of stitches from wounds, where applicable (we usually use cosmetic absorbable suturing technique which does not require removal)
- 4th postoperative week after your operation. X-rays and functional assessment.
Emergencies
Dr Giotikas or a member of the team are always accessible over the phone or whatsapp/wechat, 24/7, in case you feel that you need urgent medical advice or treatment.
Mediterraneo hospital’s accident & Emergency Department is open 24/7 and has appropriate medical expertise and facilities available for the management of all post-operative emergencies.
Ambulance service for emergency cases is also provided by Mediterraneo hospital on a 24/7 basis.
Home Care Service
A personal assistant service is available at your request during your stay in Athens. Just let us know 48 hours in advance be emailing to info@athensbjr.com and we can sort it for you.
You can hire a certified nurse/personal assistant as often as you wish to help you with your shower and personal hygiene, to tidy up your accommodation, to do grocery shopping and cook for you. Halal meat is available in Athens. You can place food orders by phone or online apps and have the food delivered at your door.
Leisure
Recovery after surgery is a challenging period for both the body and the mind. The body requires increased amounts of energy as it heals the wounds from the surgical interventions and gradually regains its functionality. At the same time, the mind is challenged by the disturbance of the usual daily routine, the difficulty in moving, the loss of independence, the pain and the obligation to follow a strict rehabilitation program, day in-day out.
Filling the hours of the day that you are not exercising with pleasant leisure activities amplifies any discomfort from physiotherapy, destructs your mind from the difficulties of recovery and helps maintain a pleasant mood and a positive feeling for each day.
Some leisure activities may also be part of your rehabilitation program (i.e. light walking, swimming) making the whole recovery process even easier. Dr Dimitrios Giotikas will advise you on which leisure activities are allowed or might even be helpful for your condition at each recovery phase.
During your stay in Greece, our trusted third-party vendors are always willing to help you organize a personalized plan of leisure activities, including:
- Guided tours (walking or wheeled) to historical places.
- Shopping and leisure activities in Athens and in the Greek islands.
- Yacht Cruises
- Tickets, reservations for museums, art or cultural events
- Beauty and wellness treatments for patients and/or family
With appropriately tailored leisure activities the post-surgery period becomes an amazing opportunity for relaxation, rejuvenation and self-reflection, which in turn, helps the body to recover better.
Repatriation
When your treatment plan in Greece is completed you will have a final consultation with Dr Giotikas. After this consultation you will be provided with:
- A medical report in English stating your diagnosis, treatments given, type and sizes of implants used, any adverse events and treatments given. Further instructions on physiotherapy, weight bearing status, return to work and daily activities and driving ability. This report is to be used by your family doctor or any other health professional or committee might continue your care or need to assess your condition.
- A schedule of any further online consultations with the doctors of Giotikas Clinic. For some conditions (i.e. limb lengthening), further online consultations with Dr Giotikas are necessary at regular intervals. For other conditions (i.e. knee surgery) we only collect a questionnaire of patient-reported outcome measurements (PROM’s) at annual intervals.
- Giotikas Clinic contact details, to be used by you and by any health professional or insurance company who would like to contact us directly.