General

Q. What are your business hours?

A. Our practice hours are from 8:30am to 5:30pm, Monday through Friday. Appointments can be made by telephoning our practice at 0207 9083619.

Q. How and what do I need to do to make an appointment?

A. When calling, have to hand your insurance details, who referred you (or if it’s a self-referral) and details of your current problem or injury. You may also want to bring whatever relevant films (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans) you may have with you.

Q. Where are you located and where do I go for my consultation?

A. We have several practice locations as detailed on this website. We will inform you of which location to go to for your specific appointment.

Q. Where do I go for surgery?

A. In the days before your scheduled procedure, the hospital will contact you and give you the information you need for the day of surgery.

Q. How much is an initial consultation?

A. The initial consultation fee varies based upon the complexity of the exam. Please ring 0207 9083619 for up-to-date fees. This fee can change at anytime, so please contact us for accurate consultation fees.

Q. What if I do not have insurance?

A. You can pay for your consultation, follow-ups and surgery (if needed) by cash or cheque if you are not insured. Please remember to bring your chequebook with you to your appointment. My office will invoice you directly after the appointment if you do not pay at the time of consultation. We expect you to settle your bills promptly with them. Please ring 0207 9083619 for up-to-date fees.

Q. How long is the consultation visit?

A. Generally, a new consultation visit is around 30-45 minutes, including X-ray and wait time. Mr. Pramod Achan will spend as much time with you as he determines necessary to appropriately diagnose and treat you.

Clinical

Q. What is arthroscopy?

A. Arthroscopy is a type of minimally invasive surgery that requires a tiny camera and instruments to repair damaged joints and/or tissue.

Q. Why is arthroscopy necessary?

A. Diagnosing injuries and disease begins with a thorough medical history, physical examination, and usually X-rays. Additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, may also be needed. Through the arthroscope, a final diagnosis is made which may be more accurate than through open surgery or from X-ray studies.

Q. How many surgeries has Mr. Pramod Achan done?

A. Mr. Pramod Achan has performed numerous procedures on all parts of the adult and child’s bones and joints, in particular, the lower limb, and has extensive experience with arthroscopic surgery, particularly of the knee and hip.

Q. When can I begin driving?

A. Each procedure varies in terms of returning to operating a car or equivalent. These are some general guidelines and will be confirmed after your procedure by Mr. Pramod Achan.

Q. How long will I be on crutches?

Each procedure varies and Mr. Pramod Achan will inform you after the procedure of exactly how long to expect to be on crutches. Generally:
Hip arthroscopy - 2-4 weeks
Knee arthroscopy – 1-2 weeks

Q. Will physical therapy be required after surgery?

A. Getting a full range of motion, strength and flexibility back after surgery usually takes time. That's where pre-operative exercise and education and post-operative physical therapy programs come in - to ensure you're physically and emotionally prepared for surgery and to maximize your recovery after surgery.

Q. What kind of pain medication is given? And how long will I need to take pain meds for?

A. Depending on your medical history the pain medication will be modified to best control your pain. Around the time of your procedure, the anaesthetist will discuss your pain relief requirements with you. Generally, we prescribe paracetomol or ibuprofen for immediate pain relief that you may be on for a few days or less. For longer-term pain control, we may prescribe Cocodamol or Diclofenac. Each patient differs and their needs vary, but we will do our best to help you control your pain and minimize the side effects.

Q. When should I schedule my follow up appointments after surgery?

A. The first postoperative appointment is scheduled for 10-14 days after surgery to have your sutures removed. Additional postoperative appointments will be at the discretion of Mr. Pramod Achan but usually are 4 to 6 weeks from your last appointment.

Q. What are some non-operative treatments for my condition?

A. Mr. Pramod Achan may prescribe a conservative approach to your rehabilitation such as physiotherapy, injections (local anaesthetic, steroid and/or joint fluid supplementation medications), painkillers and/or rest.