Thank you so much for your insight. You make common sense points. It took me, I'd say, a couple of years before I decided to go for my first consultation with an orthopedic surgeon.
But, my pain was minimal to moderate - and, always in flux. It would come and go. I would go months (2 to 3) feeling zero discomfort. Things really started (2 years ago) with mild intermittent discomfort in the groin area. I was always thinking that I must have pulled something. Tore something. Up until about 4 months before surgery, I was walking 20 to 30 minutes at a time with no discomfort or limping. About 2 months before surgery I started noticing the slight achiness in the groin while out cycling around my neighborhood.
And all the while, I was scouring YouTube for various exercises, moves, etc for sciatica, periformus (sp?), hip, etc issues. Looking for ways to shore up and strengthen musculature surrounding joints in the pelvic region. For a little while these things worked. I was having less discomfort but it would still wax and wane. Would never disappear completely.
At my first surgeon consult I was shown my X-rays. Bone on bone osteoarthritis in the left hip. Right hip, perfect. (Go figure. How did that happen?). I was flabbergasted. Never in a million years thought it might be what it was. Said thank you and got a second opinion.
The surgeon that wound up doing the surgery, took their own X-rays. Said it wasn't the worst case of b-o-b osteoarthritis he'd ever seen but would, with time, most likely get worse. That is what made me agree to surgery.
I know I'm very early post op (7 weeks Tuesday). Just a little frustrated that there is still no way I can walk without a walker or holding onto something, like a countertop... without severe limping. Seated, I am more flexible and have a decent amount of strength in the surgery leg. I can even put on both socks without having to get into contorted positions. It's just the pain in the leg when putting weight on it (standing or walking) that gets me questioning things.
Thanks for listening to my diatribe folks.