First Physiotherapy Visit After Surgery in Brentwood Burnaby: What Should You Bring?

What should you confirm before booking?

Tell the clinic which procedure you had and when it took place. Share any instructions about when physiotherapy should begin. Ask which appointment type and practitioner are appropriate, and whether the clinic needs information from your surgical team before confirming the visit.

There is no single starting date that applies to every operation. A friend’s experience or a general recovery calendar should not replace the instructions for your procedure. If no one has explained the timing, contact your surgical team and let the clinic know that you are seeking clarification.

Evergreen’s post-operative rehabilitation information explains the service. This preparation guide helps you organise the information for an individual assessment. Confirm the appointment fee and any paperwork with the clinic separately.

Which documents should you gather?

Start with the information you already received. Fraser Health’s guidance on going home after surgery explains that patients receive discharge instructions and recommends sharing a current medication list with care providers. Use those documents as the starting point for your folder.

• Procedure details. Record the name of the operation, the date and the body area or side involved.
• Discharge instructions. Include all relevant pages, even if some wording is unclear.
• Rehabilitation instructions. Bring any protocol, exercise sheet or physiotherapy referral you were given.
• Restrictions. Include written limits on movement, lifting or weight bearing, if supplied.
• Medication information. Bring an up to date list and tell the physiotherapist about relevant changes.
• Follow up details. Note planned reviews and the surgical team’s contact information.

You do not need to obtain every possible record before asking for an appointment. Let the clinic know what you have and what is missing. Ask whether photographs, digital copies or paper documents are preferred. Keep your own copies and use the clinic’s agreed method for sharing health information.

Why should you bring the exact wording of restrictions?

A phrase remembered from a busy discharge conversation may leave out an important detail. Bring the written instruction rather than translating it into a rule yourself. Mark the date and who supplied it, particularly if the plan changed at a later review.

For example, you might remember being told to “take it easy” but have a separate sheet about using a brace. Bring both pieces of information and ask what they mean for the assessment. Do not test an unfamiliar movement just to see whether you can do it.

Island Health’s surgery preparation guidance encourages discussion of recovery needs, including equipment and activity restrictions. For your physiotherapy visit, turn those topics into specific questions: “Does this instruction still apply?” and “Who should clarify it if it is unclear?”

What if your instructions are missing or seem different?

Contact the surgical team or the service that supplied the instructions and ask for a copy or clarification. Tell the physiotherapy clinic what is unresolved before the appointment. Avoid substituting a generic protocol found online, even if its title sounds like your operation.

If two documents appear to disagree, keep both. Note their dates and highlight the passages you are unsure about. The difference may need to be checked with the treating team. Ask how that communication will happen and whether any part of the assessment or treatment needs to wait.

A useful message is: “My discharge sheet and exercise sheet seem to give different instructions. Could you clarify which applies now?” This identifies the problem without requiring you to choose a plan yourself.

What else helps you prepare for the visit?

Write a short update and two priority questions

Note what is difficult in everyday life, such as managing stairs, dressing or finding a comfortable position. Describe what you notice rather than trying to diagnose the cause. Choose two questions that matter most so they are easy to find during the appointment.

Ask your surgical team which symptoms require a call and what to do if they occur. Fraser Health highlights this discussion in its discharge guidance. Follow those instructions for a concern after surgery rather than waiting for a routine physiotherapy visit.

Ask about clothing, equipment and getting to the clinic

Ask what clothing will allow assessment while respecting your comfort and existing restrictions. Tell the clinic if you use a brace, sling, walker or crutches. Bring the instructions for that equipment, and ask what you should bring to the visit. Do not change prescribed settings just for the appointment.

Check the address on the Brentwood Burnaby location page. Explain any difficulty with walking, sitting, transfers or transport in advance so you can confirm practical arrangements. Ask whether a support person can attend if they would help you remember the discussion.

What should you leave the appointment understanding?

Before leaving, ask for a clear explanation of the next steps and any instructions you should follow at home. Say back what you understood. Ask whom to contact if you are uncertain and whether information still needs to be confirmed with the surgical team.

Keep new instructions with your existing documents and bring updates to later appointments. Fraser Health’s surgery questions and answers notes that the hospital team explains whether follow up with the surgeon or family doctor is needed. A physiotherapy visit does not replace those planned reviews.

Frequently asked questions

Sources checked September 29, 2026. This is general preparation information. Your surgical team and treating physiotherapist guide your individual care.