Oh my gosh, isn't it wonderful when that achy bone pain starts to leave? I still get a hint of it now, but it no longer is bad enough for me to take a pain pill, or wake (and keep) me up at night anymore! You are right about where I was when the 'grip' started letting up occasionally - very rarely all at once, but it would feel like it was moving around - upper lateral one day, then lower medial the next day. All very interesting feelings, but it was comforting to know it was moving around and that it *could* at least let up!
I've not had any trouble sleeping on my side (and I pretty much have to bend my legs) - except that if I lift one of my legs up like that, (for instance, if I need to turn) I sometimes will have enough laxity in my ligaments that when I put it back down, I can hear the metal implant click against the plastic insert as it comes back together. It freaks me out a little, but I know my joints are pretty lax, and I figure it's probably just how I function. For all I know, it was normal for me before, but I just couldn't tell b/c of cartilage being soft!
I have had days where my straightening isn't as great, and my flexion is more difficult - they seem to vary, and do not seem to be progressive, so I just do what I do with everything that 'pops up' now - wait to see if it will change
So glad you are making progress and beginning to see and feel it tangibly. It really is quite encouraging! Hopefully with this much progress, your horse will no longer feel the need to show you it's backside!