So, I started outpatient today.  I'm 6 1/2 weeks post op and my recovery thus far has been great.  We ran thru a bunch of the exercises and some were quite difficult.  We did some light stretching and when the PT was stretching my leg there was a small clunk.  I didn't think anything of it but he stopped and said that can be really bad.  I told him it's completely normal and it's the muscles around the hip capsule because they aren't strong enough.  He said that I really need to have caution and stop doing anything that causes this as it could weaken the muscles around the capsule.  OK, no big deal.  However, now after the therapy I'm getting clunking like crazy when I'm walking. 

Is this normal and should I just ignore what he says or should I try to do things so it won't clunk?

Pete, when I got my clunking I contacted my surgeon. He diagnosed it exactly how you said it to the PT - muscles not strong enough yet around hip capsule. He said avoid exercises that make you click (he calls it clicking) until it goes. So your PT was right in saying that, but saying it's "bad" might be an over reaction? Your issue is that you have the 'clunking' when walking. You need to walk, but I'd take it very easy for a day or two & let it settle. Maybe get to the pool to relax the muscles if anything. I've also found heat packs help relax the muscles too.

So I had to drop several exercises out to avoid the clicking. It has slowly got better & now there's only a couple of movements that currently make it click - and the click less pronounced. I'm a couple of weeks behind you so I'm still doing the very basic exercises, but the clicking has subsided.

One thing my PT did when I was in the other day was interesting. I showed her one of the exercises that made me click and she asked me to do the exercise again, but this time engage certain muscles (can't remember what they were called, might have been the pelvic floor muscles), anyway the clicking stopped! So then she said, back off engagement from 100% to 75%, still no click, then tried 50% engagement, I got the click back. My PT said continue doing the exercise with just enough engagement so that click does not occur - in my case about 75%. I thought that was pretty cool, I can now do that particular exercise and clicking isn't there.

As I said, I think your exercises will be more advanced than mine but thought that part was worth a mention.

Great advice Kiwi, managing the clicks and clunks.. with awareness of what triggers them

Personally, I have experienced both, and they are different. My clunks were first couple of years.. deep clunky feeling (and sound to PT or doc listening)- The clicks "feel" closer to the front area
Weird to any one but me, maybe.

My clunks are much much less but my clicks happened during certain moves in my gym, the other day. Which made me aware to adjust my moves

I am a BHR person, nearly 5 years, with high ion levels (under 100 but around 50), with a perfect cup ar 40% and no other obvious problems

Adjust the clicks and clunks (they are different), by how you move
I agree
Etc

Best thing, I think, is to not worry as much as I used to. Listen pay attention but keep moving with confidence.. little steps turn in to bigger strides

I'm 6 weeks post op today and i haven't  has a clunk for a few weeks now. I had them extensively for the first 2weeks or so then they seem to have subsided. That being said pete from what I've read you have recovered far faster than I have thus far.
Danny

It is def. clicking and not clunking so I guess that's better.  I slept like crap last night and had to ice for the entire night.  I was getting some muscle spasms in my foot so I wasn't excited about that.  I'm just going to take it really easy today.  I'm not sure if I should even do my home PT exercises today as I don't want to aggrivate things.  I'm thinking if I just rest and ice I will recover faster and then go back to PT again tomorow.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Pete,
       If it were me I'd take it easy for a day or so. Remember it's a marathon not a sprint. Allow your body to heal.

I think cwg, Kiwi and Danny have it right, Pete.

Chill out for a day, you know you'll be back at it soon enough. I also remember how much the first few PT sessions took out of me, then things tightened up and I could do a lot more. Rest is a big part of the equation, as you know.

I was getting the clunking at the PT the other day, doing the adducter exercise, but moving the unoperated leg, putting the full weight on the operated leg.  The PT said it was the probaly the IT band moving across the trochanter.  I have been having IT band problems all along so it made sense.   Seems to bother me only when I have full or almost full weight on the operated leg, but it does feel wierd.

I've been taking it really easy today but the clicking is still there when I'm walking and esp. when going up stairs.  I'm not going up stairs 1 step at a time instead of foot over foot so it doesn't click.  I've decided not to do the PT exercises at home today and will see what the PT says tomorrow morning when I go.  Hopefully the feeling will be gone and so will the pain.

        Cantab, the feeling of supporting weight on my operated leg only is my biggest phobia.  Putting on pants, or anything that balances on the operated leg gives me a verrrrry weak feeling.  I have narrowed it down to the fact that when I'm balancing, the foot is clearly underneath my center and not underneath the hip.  With the leg angled that way, I'm definitely weaker.  Been trying to do crossover walking in the pool to strengthen that move, but it may take a while.
Curt

I had my 2nd PT session today and feel better than I did on Wed.  The PT I have is great as opposed to others I have had with a previous injury.  He said the clicking was most likely from the stretches and not the strengthening so he said we will wait a few weeks to do the stretching again.  We did some different stability exercises today and some band exercises as well.  Great session over-all.

Nice one pete. It makes sense it's the stretches that caused it. Stretching caused it in me. I've just seen mr treacy and he really doesn't advice stretching for atleast 6-8 weeks. And he says when recovering after the op, when you start to return to your activitys a gradual return is essential.