An oldie checking in....and a question

June 30, 2004

Hi everyone. I am just one month shy of one year post-op, and like

to check in every once in awhile when my very busy schedule

allows. Like all of you waiting for your op, and those of you

in the recovery period, I had my jitters, but I knew there was a

better life for me out there, and I couldn't wait to get there. Now

I'm here, and there hasn't been a minute of regret. It's like a

miracle - and perhaps it really is.

As 's Law would have it, removing the greater pain of that hip

allowed all the other littler pains to surface, that had been

perviously masked. Growing old is not for sissies!!! Now the other

hip is showing signs of degradation, so I've got another resurfacing

to consider somewhere in my future. I certainly won't wait as long

next time. That's for damn sure. Knowing how fast recovery is

compared to the pain I'd been in previously - no contest.

I do have a symptom that I'm finding curious, on the edge of

concern. The resurfaced hip clunks - alot, and the frequency is

growing rapidly. Just shifting my weight from side to side can do

it, taking slightly longer steps, shifting in a chair. If I really

want to give a thrill to someone who wants to listen, I can do hip

swivels that create a very audible clunk, or series of them, kinda

like a ratchet wrench. But louder and lower frequency. Has anyone

heard of anyone doing this at this stage of recovery? I'm going to

call my doctor, but wanted to check with the board, since the overall

cumulative experience of the board reaches far beyond what the doctor

has. My leg and hip muscles are like steel, so it can't be loose

muscles that allowing the joint to flap about - I continued the gym

work that I had started while I was crippled with the arthritis to

maintain flexibilty. The strength I had then really helped in my

recovery, so I highly recommend to the pre-op folks to work out

despite the pain. (and I'm far from body builder - I'm a 51 year old

middle aged frumpy housewife, 30 pounds overweight who HATES exercise)

Could the muscles be TOO strong? I also do alot of stretching and

flexibility work, adductors, abductors, etc. I don't get it. If

anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks!

Lois S

Dr Gross 8/6/03

June 30, 2004

Dear Lois,

Clunks-yes, I had kind of stopped clunking, but now I seem to have

started again (at 7 months)-but then I'm the one that is having the pain

problems, which you are not having. Will be most interested to hear

what your doctor says, and if anyone else experiences this late on. I

see my OS in a week and a half when I will find out if I have an

infection and ask other questions.

As for your feet-poor you. Mine are ok-so far..

Eleanor