Time for an update on use of a cane: It is a permanent condition. There is no "fix" for the fact that the muscles supporting the opposite hip were not correctly reattached to solid bone but partly to a "floating" fragment, other than very complicated, difficult procedures with questionable results. I went through all the PT and muscle strengthening possible. I will never be able to hold my left foot up off of the ground more than VERY briefly (long enough to move the foot a bit) without the support of a cane or leaning onto something solid. Without such support, I am only able to limp by moving my foot at the most about 6 inches at a time. Fortunately, my balance is very good.
HOWEVER -- I am still having NO hip pain, now 2 1/2 years post-surgery, so that part of the procedure was a complete success!
I will just have to always use a cane (or walker). It does cause hand, wrist, and some shoulder pains with long use (arthritis) but last spring my daughter and I spent a week at the coast and walked many places, including on the beach (there is a "sand foot" which fits on the cane and allows walking in soft surfaces) and also climbed 78 steps back up from the beach so my mobility had not suffered as much as I feared. 5-mile walks do tire my left (cane) hand badly but I use either a wrist brace or a thumb spica on that hand. I only use a walker when I need to carry a lot of things as it tends to cause pains in both shoulders with extended use.
But at 82 years old, I am just hoping my left hand can stay "in action" and I'll "keep on truckin' "
Thanks for all the advice. Best of luck to all the THA recipients! Look forward to being pain-free!