Is physical therapy a mistake?

I have arthritis in my R hip--very little pain, but very limited range of motion in several directions. I went for a PT session a few days ago. I only wanted to get exercizes I could do at home to keep me from ever having to get a hip replacement, but she said much of the range of motion issues are due to muscle inadequacies, so I would need in-clinic work. So she worked me around a bit, and I assume I will go back for more sessions if my insurance approves. I notice a slight difference already, for the better, but that got me to thinking... what if my muscles did what they did to protect me from the arthritic pain that I haven't been feeling (ie, they did a good job)? Am I in danger of starting to feel a lot of pain if I unkink my muscles and undo their protection? Will I end up sending myself into a replacement situation--the very thing I was trying to avoid--if I continue with PT?

[Dr Vinod]

If you have chronic arthritis which is progressive and cripples your day to day movements you need a knee replacement as final cure to improve the quality of life.
If you can avoid surgery as long as possible by other conservative procedures to relieve pain it is always good.
Always go to a good facility and consult an orthopaedician before you get started with anything.
Take care!