How can we help my mother with pain from a broken hip?
It is certainly best to get a personalized assessement from a physical therapist so she can talk to you about your mom's specific situation. Generally, therapists try to get patients up as much as possible (raising the head of the bed, spending time up in a chair etc)--this is helpful to their overall health and wellbeing. The guidelines for mobility are based on medical issues involved and the patient's tolerance. If your mom is primarily limited by pain, then it would be helpful to talk to the doctor and nurses about better pain management. Their are lots of options in this area. You can also talk to a physical or occupational therapist about different positions to help your mom be more comfortable in bed. She may also enjoy some massage from an experienced massage therapist on certain body parts--such as her hands and feet. The long term outlook is difficult for me to say from this vantage point. In general, when a frail elderly person's mobility is further compromised it can be detrimental to their long term prognosis. Your mother's comfort is the most important. Make sure you utilize the resources around you --like social workers, hospice nurses etc. to help you support your mom. I wish you the very best.
