Thanks for sharing.  Here is my post on the website:  https://surfacehippy.info/two-year-results-of-ceramic-study-2024/

hi Ironman,
I am in a very simular situation to you. 43, extremely active (rode 24 hours straight on my 40th birthday a week beofre the accident that led eventually to my BHR on May 1 of this year.

i am also dealing with big time  hip flexor and groin issues every time I do anything beyond 8000 steps (any kind of hip hinge and flexion)

I don't have much to offer except i am right there with you and have my fingers crossed for both of us.

Hi Tobyskier. Yes so you’re about a week ahead of me.

Yes at the moment any fair amount of steps flares it up - it’s not too painful but it’s there! And yes any flextion really aggravates it.

I think hinging or flextion causes some type of impingement of the soft tissues because the implants are bigger than the natural stuff that was in there before! Hence why sooooo many can’t get their leg to their chest, feel a pinch and struggle bending deep into the operated side. Extension (leg straight out behind me) is super tight too.

A surgeon said to me also that the metal debris early doors can cause irritation in the groin and this settles over time….. I found that a little concerning.

Here we are, IRONMAN!  November 1st already!!  How are you doing?  Ready to start training for that marathon?  How are you doing with the emotional issues these days?

Wow you actually did come back on November the 1st!

I won’t try any impact for 12 months and to be honest I have been thinking about the risk vs benefit - is it actually worth it?

I’ve still be doing body weight exercises mainly and LOTS of walking. Sometimes I think is it too much?!? 

Pain at rest is pretty much zero but flexing can cause some pain and balancing on one leg - mainly when putting a pit of boxers on. It feels like painful pressure and then just eases off a few seconds later.

Loads of clunking - mainly when bending over, shifting around the house, balancing. When I’m bare foot on my wooden floor I seem the feel the implant more - I don’t have this really with trainers on only when bending over again etc.

It feels very wobbly in comparison but I know it can only get stronger right.

Emotionally I’m still struggling if I’m being honest. I’m only 39 and feel I could have put it off longer but I do understand it was on my mind a lot so it was a rock and a hard place. I worry about the future, revisions, my work etc.

I feel like maybe the implant is not set in the correct angle causing all the clunking and being MOM does make me paranoid. I am fully aware I have an artificial hip whilst other completely forget it’s there - good for them I say.

However when I walk there is no pain and I don’t have a limp when I have trainers on. I have an ever so slight limp bare foot around the house and a physio thinks the leg is slightly longer causing this. Measurements have been taken but at the 12 month review it will be confirmed by an x-ray.

I also have better flexibility in certain angles than before but knee to chest isn’t quite there and bringing my leg up and across my body can cause sharp pain which I think is some sort of impingement of soft tissue or my neck bone rubbing the cup. That seems to have stayed the same.

I don’t train no where near the same as I did pre-surgery because alot of my activities we high impact and as I said before the risk vs benefit just doesn’t seem worth it at the moment.

That being said an Ironman has crossed my mind but I feel I need to see where I am at 12 months.

How are you getting on? 5 months now?

5 months coming up November 10.  ROM actually a little better on the newer left than on the 3-year-old right!  Back to normal activity except bike riding and kayaking.  Long walks no problem - did 10 miles on our first afternoon in Washington DC, including the 57 steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  Feet were tired… hip wanted more!  Had some serious up-and-down workouts renovating our guest room last week.  The op side on those laminate floors was quite uncomfortable, but not unbearable.  Color of the scar has started to fade in the middle, but it’ll take about a year or more to fade completely.

The clunk will fade as your body adapts.  Takes a while.  Also, and I hope other Hippies will weigh in on this, I felt like my leg length was a little longer, a mil or two when walking, both for the first hip and now this one.  Took almost a year for me to feel like the right leg was actually the same length.  This time, it’s just starting to feel the same length around the 5 month mark.  Doc assured me that even though they don’t use the K-wire to mark leg length anymore and use the x-ray, leg length is the same.  I was wondering if there’s a “run-in period” for leg length?

Other than that weirdness, strength is getting better every day.  Haven’t been to the gym in several weeks, between Helene cleanup and room reno, I haven’t felt the need.

You’re doing well! Any niggles at rest?

I will have a 12 month review with an x-ray and that’ll be when they are measured. As you say it takes time for things and the body to settle so at 12 months that’ll be enough.

Not really.  I was always crossing my legs at the knee to stretch pre-op.  Can’t tolerate not being able to do that.  Still watching out for the nocturnal leg cross and sleeping with a knee pillow.  On occasion, it happens accidentally, but the lingering pain from doing that seems to be disappearing faster and faster.  Something else to look forward to at 6 months besides bike riding, deep squats, and more extreme stretching.  I need to make a checklist!   :D

I do find it interesting as one surgeon can give advice on rehab that can be completely different to others. Conservative will always be the best approach and it seems Dr Gross’ is pretty much that.

So you get any pain when balancing on one leg to get socks or pants on? I have no bud but it disappears quickly after I put the other leg down.

Just to throw a data point in, because I know clunking is a concern for Ironman; I'm about 6.5 weeks out, just started walking without crutches 3 or 4 days ago.  I had a pretty bad limp the first day from weak control muscles, still limping but it's improving pretty quick.  Odd feeling when walking without crutches, it's the weak muscles but kind of feels like that pressure feeling you get with a joint injury, but not pain.  It's improving daily.  My lower back hurts since ditching the crutches, I think from the limp.  I still get some clunking, but I think it's improving.  Initially I was getting occasional clunking mid-step while walking without crutches, when the stabilizer muscles got tired, but that seems to be going away.  I definitely still get some clunking/moving feeling (no audible sound) when doing things other than walking.  My first post-surgery appointment is in 2 days.  I'm 6', 160#, 32" inseam, no idea what size ball and cup they used but it was the Smith & Nephew BHR.  No pain other than my lower back, which I also had before surgery.  Oddly it was gone when walking with crutches, so it must be related to my limp, which I had both before surgery and now.  Anyway, still clunking/movement feeling here and there, but I do think it's improving. Right now I think trying to balance on the new leg to put pants on is a bad idea, there's no stabilization really and feels like bad things might happen.  But if I hold on to something like the counter or a shelf with my opposite hand then I can stand on the new leg to put pants on OK.  I'll report back after the Dr. Apt on Tuesday.

Hi Matt.

Yeah at 6.5 weeks you’re so early into rehab at the moment - there’s loads of new gains to still happen!

I didn’t realise you were clunking at bit but if it’s getting better that’s good.

Mine seems to have stayed relatively the same. Some days I’ll do some certain movements and think oh it’s going. Then the next day I’m clunking like the tin man again!

I think I’d it’s like this at 2 years I’d be concerned of bad placement or something else.

Really wish it didn’t feel artificial - However I’m aware over time it’ll feel just normal as part of my life.

Just keep strenghtening those closest muscles next to artificial parts and they will support parts better and less clunking etc. Do exercises every day..

What do you suggest or have been told to strengthen those areas? Seems like I’m doing alot and it stays the same.

@Ironman, yeah at first I wasn't clunking at all really but in hindsight I think it's because I was being so careful with my movements, and walking with crutches makes a big difference.  But as I started moving around and doing more, it started happening more.  But is now starting to go away I think, it definitely comes and goes. 

If you're far enough in that you're allowed to do exercises, check out the squat university channel on youtube.  Ignore his thumbnails, he's got really good info on things to stabilize the core and hips.  I'm going to try some of his exercises when I'm allowed.  Also I'm expecting the doctor to give me some exercises when I see him tomorrow, I'll share whatever they suggest. 

Thanks Matt I’ll look into it.

Did you have a BHR device? What size head? I’m 52mm and 5ft 8.5

Quote from: IRONMAN on November 04, 2024, 07:47:36 AM
What do you suggest or have been told to strengthen those areas? Seems like I’m doing alot and it stays the same.

- Single leg deadlift has lately been my favourite and have progressed holding 12kg kettlebell in that. But otherwise all these: https://surfacehippy.info/hiptalk/index.php?topic=7141.0

How’re you getting on bilateralrecerf?

Quote from: IRONMAN on November 05, 2024, 04:05:43 AM
Thanks Matt I’ll look into it.

Did you have a BHR device? What size head? I’m 52mm and 5ft 8.5

Yes to the BHR.  52mm head 58mm socket.  I'm 6' and about 160#, 32" inseam. 

I think at 5ft 8.5 my 52mm is quite big and usually those my height are 50mm or less. Could explain why my leg is probably longer!

Quote from: IRONMAN on November 05, 2024, 05:59:22 PM
How’re you getting on bilateralrecerf?

Quite nice but still work to do. Now at 9 months. I think the progress will continue for 1.5 years at least. I am following some professional athletes who had bilateral and for them they could still improve a lot after one year post op.