Phychiatrist Questions Physical Therapist

Is physical therapy after hip replacement painful?

I will have physical therapy after hip replacement. Is physical therapy after hip replacement painful?

4 Answers

PhychiatristPhysicalTherapist
You may be a little sore, but it can definitely help you heal faster and walk better
Anytime you have surgery there is bleeding. Blood in tissue space is irritating to body and causes inflammatory reaction. This inflammatory reaction is not comfortable and is one of the reasons you don’t want to move. However, this causes another problem which is of stiffness. The more you don’t move the more stiff you get and more painful it will be to move. If you still don’t move, you start to form scar tissue. Scar tissue is very inflexible and it is very painful to try and break scar tissue. So in essence, yes moving after hip surgery hurts, but that is why you have pain medication prescribed to you, just so you can become active. It is very important to start moving as soon as it is safe and recommended after any surgery.
Usually not.Start easy
There will be some initial discomfort and stiffness however this is typically short-lived and will improve every day. You can expect to have occasional discomfort for 8-12 weeks with therapy