On Tue, 6 Dec 2011 06:24:40 -0800 (PST), Ivan Vegvary
wrote:

Kind of metal related. Getting a new hip (metal) on Thursday. Been bothering me for over 25 years.
Funny about pain. Can come on very sloooowly. You kind of don't feel it but people around you sense it. My doctor convinced me to take a shot in the hip and see if my lifestyle changes. I didn't notice any change, but my SWMBO said I became much more active. Instead of one trip to the shop (100 ft., carrying as much as I can) I made 20-30 trips, thoughtlessly. Also lost 10 lbs. in about 2 weeks time. Shot lasted exactly 4 weeks and then I realized that I had been in pain all along (prior to the shot).
Most significantly SWMBO said I was no longer crabby during that period!

If any of you have “been there, done that” I would like to hear from you.

Thanks,
Ivan Vegvary
Greetings Ivan,
I have not had a hip replacement myself but I do knoe several men who
have had either hip or knee replacements. In every case they have been
very happy with the new joints. Chronic pain is indeed something that
can have a really strong negative effect on your quality of life. If
artificial wrist joints were made that can stand up to the typical
loads that metalworking and land maintenance put on them I would get
them installed asap. So good luck and enjoy! And after the
installation be sure to do all the physical therapy. I learned that
physical therapy done right can make a huge difference in the outcome.
After several reconstructive surgeries and the therapy required
subsequent to the surgeries I witnessed people who would not do what
they were told who ended up having limited range of motion. People who
had lesser injuries than mine but outcomes worse than mine. I saw this
several times, enough to know it wasn't that I was just healing
better. So get the hip, do the exercises, and you'll get all the
benefits.
Eric