And now it’s 7 months! Time for an update:
Left hip is good. I still get a bit of that clicking sensation on occasion, but it isn’t particularly bothersome.
Left knee is fine for level walking. In this aspect I’m back to the standard of several years ago, before the OA pain started. So just in that regard, the op has paid off. I don’t think I am quite there yet with walking up or particularly down hill.
The left knee is still not doing stairs. I can alternate feet going up, if stairs are not too steep and there is a handrail. It is still strictly toddler style going downstairs. The right knee grumbles about the workload sometimes. I have had knee problems for 30 years so this may be nothing to do with the hip, but it is a limiting factor. I must admit to be very intermittent in doing my prescribed knee exercises - I need to make more effort.
Right hip continues pain free, touch wood, but rom is less than I now have on the new improved left.
I seem to be perpetually stiff all over. I don’t know if it is just what comes with age, rampaging OA (my finger joints for example are all lumpy, and I have to loosen them when I wake up each morning) or lifestyle. My lifestyle involves too much sitting in the car for long trips, and insane amounts of gardening.
This is all for the sake of keeping a record of progress, not in any way complaining. I am doing all the things I wanted to do and that had become restricted pre-op: ringing, gardening, walking. I sleep, sit, put on my socks etc without pain.
Life is good.