Well, it seems I'm certainly his man!

First of all, I couldn't agree with you more. And this is for anyone who has had a surgery that is life-changing out there.....it really does give you your life back. It put me on a bike....I found a sport I can once again enjoy....it helped me again become active....eat better....weigh less....and be in overall better shape than prior to the surgery.

1. You ask about symptoms that come and go. About the only thing I experience is a feeling of the hip muscles being tired or sore after heavy workouts, but even that is mostly only in the off season when on the trainer.

2. I know nothing about the CP condition you describe, so I won't pretend to dispense any info there. As you said, maybe the doc is in order if it doesn't go away.

3. I understand about that X-ray trip you want to avoid. I was supposed to go in for a five-year followup X-ray in November. I blew it off. It's just more medical bills and he'll tell me it looks OK but is wearing out. Sure it is. It's a moving part that now has almost 12,000 miles on it after five seasons of riding. The day will come when it starts to hurt me again because it is loosening up. At some point down the road they'll have to go in and pop in a new sleeve again. So be it. THAT'S why I got the thing...to USE it.

3. I CAN tell you from experience that the things are pretty tough. I've crashed three times, and two of the three landed me on that hip. Take a look below. Looks nasty, but an X-ray after that one showed all was fine, despite having a ceramic ball in the joint.



Best of luck.
Bottom line--Keep riding my friend.