Range of movement in new hip (long)

[Guest guest]

I am a little concerned about the range of movement (ROM) in my

recently resurfaced hip. It's not that I expect to be fully flexible

at this time, but rather that it feels like much further movement may

not be possible. First a brief personal history:

I am a 56 year old male (UK) who for the past few years had what I

took to be a groin strain, or trapped nerve. I limped and did not like

bending. 15 months ago it got to the stage where I could not stand for

any length of time, or walk for more than a few hundred metres without

severe pain. At this stage I sought specialist help, and it was

revealed I had severe osteoarthritis with cysts and consequent joint

space narrowing. I was sceptical, since for most of my life I had been

active, playing squash, tennis and marathon running. This surely could

not happen to me! So, I took a crash course of physiotherapy, started

taking all the supplements and started on a course of exercise (for

the previous few years I had become sedentary), and stretching. First

I started walking around town increasing the distance until I could

happily walk 5 or 6 miles. Next I took to the hills. I started walking

with the local Rambler's group at weekends, walking 10 to 12 miles

each week, and often the same midweek. I still struggled at stiles,

but with the help of trekking poles I could apparently go anywhere. I

sought an appointment with a hip consultant since I was still in

denial about having osteoarthritis, but he confirmed I would probably

need a replacement hip some time in the next 10 years. I was still

sceptical, and prepared to accept the limited ROM in my left hip, and

if at all possible avoid surgery. And the consultant did not mention

resurfacing, merely saying I was too young for replacement.

I got very fit, and at one point walked 22 miles over the hills. But

there were warning signs. Occasionally I would feel a sharp twinge in

my hip. This grew more frequent until I had to start taking

painkillers and anti-inflammatories to continue walking. The sharp

pain did not go away, but appeared for more extended periods. Now I

could not put my full weight on my hip. I realised the game was up

when by bending my left hip I could produce a series of quite audible

clicks, and suspected I now had bone-on-bone contact. I had to give up

walking the hills. I could still walk for a mile or 2 on the flat

with increasing pain. By this time I had heard of resurfacing, so took

a second consultation with a resurfacing consultant. The result was as

I feared. My hip was now as good as it was ever going to be. I had 2

choices - to accept the pain (now occurring at night as well) and

limitations, or go for a resurfacing op. I was now walking around the

house hanging on to things for support, and had constant joint pain. I

was fortunate enough to be able to have a private operation, which was

arranged for 12th January this year.

The operation went well. I had no pain to speak of - the joint pain

was gone. The only discomfort was when I panicked getting back into

bed, and aggravated the hip joint. I was walking after 4 days with a

stick, and was discharged after a week using only a stick. At week 3 I

no longer needed pain killers, and at week 4 could walk without a

stick. At week 7 I could comfortably walk on the flat for 5+ miles

negotiating crowds, and at week 8 I walked 11 miles over the hills

(with poles) with no pain or discomfort afterwards, (but still

tentative on stiles.

In fact, everything seems wonderful (week 9) - almost too good to be

true. I do get occasional clunks (no pain) which others here have

described, and I have to say I do not like them. However, I still

cannot put on my left sock without using an aid. My problem (and I

realise that in the scale of things it is very, very small) is that I

feel I will not be able to recover much more movement in my left hip.

When I try to stretch past the 90 degree position I can just about

grasp my toes, but I feel that any more movement will *break*

something. It feels like there is just no more movement available - as

if I am up against some kind of stop. Should I just accept this

limitation? Have others experience a similar feeling? I am just

surprised that with my other progress I have (and may always have)

less ROM that a year ago.