For almost two months now, I've felt "normal." I don't think about which is the "new" hip or the "bad" hip. When I swing onto my bike, I don't think about being careful when I kick into gear. I can power walk again and summer activities have been remarkably "as they used to be."
Actually, the "new" hip feels better than the "old/real" hip. This concerns me because I'm not prepared to go through this anytime soon again. My doc tells me that it's typical to notice this. As the strength of the replaced hip develops and advances, the weakness and deterioration in the other hip becomes more apparent.
Occasionally, I feel some minor pain in the prosthesis. It doesn't happen often but was unsettling at first. My doc says the prosthesis will continue to grow into and absorb bone for as long as a year. Hmmph. A new kind of growing pains at such an advanced age.
We are planning a family ski trip -- the first in several years. I'm looking forward to it tremendously.
