Hi Chris,
Firstly, it sounds as though you're doing really well and ultimately it will be a very good result, but I do sympathise with your feeling that progress is slower than you hoped for. I'm now 6 weeks post op and feel exactly the same. I went back to work on Tuesday. I have an essentially sedentary job but have a fair bit of walking up and down corridors. The first 2 days were ok but my hip's been really sore today and I've started using a stick almost all the time again. With it, I'm nearly pain free.
I'm afraid I think 3 months will probably be about right for you, given your job. I would say, don't push it. But just keep being nice to your wife! Reassure her, you're really looking forward to getting back to helping with the housework but at the moment, it's just not possible.
I'm fascinated by this concept of people saying they were pain free after the op. Do you really mean that? Did the pain, start, then, after you started mobilising? I've been taken to task by several people for disputing this claim, but I find it hard to believe. My beef is that it's a bit depressing for those of us that still aren't pain free even after 6 weeks. Given the amount of soft tissue trauma involved in the op, I don't see how it can conceivably not hurt. Having said which I'm very aware my pain threshold seems to be much lower than average!
Incidentally, sleeping on my side with a pillow between my legs, I still don't get more than a couple of hourse sleep a night. Luckily, I don't need more than 4 or 5 hours, but it's a bit wearing.
But it genuinely does improve bit by bit although some days are worse than others, so one can't expect to wake up feeling better absolutely every day.
Keep it up and don't get despondent.
Best wishes.
Andy