Recovery & Support for Hip & Pelvic Fractures

Recovery from a fractured hip or pelvis can take months. NYU Langone specialists are committed to helping you recover comfortably and return to your everyday routine as soon as possible.

Pain Relief

NYU Langone’s dedicated team of pain management specialists is available to assist you 24 hours a day.

Your doctor can refer you to a specialist to manage pain while you pursue nonsurgical treatment. If you’ve had surgery, a pain management specialist visits you immediately after the procedure. Pain relievers can help you feel well enough to begin physical therapy, which is a vital part of recovery from a fractured hip or pelvis.

Our doctors often recommend over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen. If pain is more intense, your doctor can prescribe a stronger medication.

Physical Therapy

Rehabilitation is an important part of recovery, whether you’ve had surgery or nonsurgical treatment. Physical therapy can help to speed recovery and strengthen the muscles surrounding your hip and pelvis, reducing the risk of another injury.

The highly trained team of physicians and therapists at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation has helped many people recover from hip and pelvic fractures. Therapies such as heat and ice, massage, acupressure, and acupuncture aid in relieving pain and reducing inflammation after an injury or surgery.

After pain has receded, our physical therapists can show you simple exercises that increase flexibility. These exercises can also strengthen leg, back, and abdominal muscles and rebuild range of motion in your hip.

Physical therapy can begin as soon as your doctor determines that your hip and pelvis can bear some of your body weight. This may be within days of an injury if the fracture doesn’t require surgery.

If you have surgery, gentle weight-bearing exercises typically begin when imaging studies, such as CT scans, indicate that the fracture has healed. Our specialists often recommend strengthening and range-of-motion exercises throughout recovery for the joints adjacent to the injured hip, such as the knee and ankle. This prevents these joints from weakening during the time you use crutches or another assistive device.

Physical therapy can take place at NYU Langone, or your doctor can refer you to a therapist closer to your home.

Tobacco Cessation

Research shows that the nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco products slows bone healing after a fracture. NYU Langone doctors understand how hard it can be to quit. Doctors and counselors can give you the support you need through our Tobacco Cessation Programs.