For my wrist, I did my rehab exercises at home probably 4-6 times per day. The therapist had instructed me to do them twice.
The doctor had suggested freezing the wrist. Another operation that would make it immobile, although my hand would work, I would not be able to rotate it. No thank you.
I endured pain. Tremendous pain. I had pins in the wrist, and several months later, a second procedure to remove them.
I also ignored the pain pills most of the time, and had the doctor write my prescriptions for 1/2 the mg he originally wrote. I did not want to live with oxycontin on a daily basis.
The only thing I can, and will swear too is that by "over doing" my rehab & therapy at home, plus 3x weekly visits to rehab, I now have reasonable mobility in that wrist. Still plenty of pain after all these years, but I've learned to live with it and don't often need any pain meds for it.
I can not emphasize enough that the more rehab and therapy you do, the better your long term results will be. Yes, you will endure a lot of pain. I did, but I also know it was well worth the effort.
If you choose to just go along, if you adapt a minimalistic attitude toward rehab and therapy, well, you will be crippled for the rest of your life.
I know people who have had hip replacements. One was up and walking within a day or so, and now leads a normal life, plays golf, etc. I also know someone who is in a scooter for years.
The choice is all yours.
Endure the pain, do therapy and rehab as much as possible, and thrive.
