Paul, It’s been 2 3/4 years since I had bilateral THR. Similar to you I have the titanium stem and ceramic ball. I have gotten back into running on a limited basis, mostly trail runs in the 10k distance, but the majority of what I do is ride my mountain bike, although I did a 3,000 mile bike packing trip last year on a touring bike. I’m also a big alpine skier and ski bumps and powder quite a bit.
Similar to you my hip joints pop, particularly if I’m bending over, like when I tie my shoes. The surgeon had told me before my surgery that ceramic balls had a tendency to pop, particularly if your doing something similar to yoga positions, so I’ve never worried about the popping noise when I’m bending over, and it doesn’t happen every time. With that being said, they never pop when I’m just walking or riding, only when I put them under stress by bending over. I do get soreness, but not really any pain. My flexibility isn’t very good anymore, it never was great, but I have to usually tie my shoes from one side as I can’t bend over enough when I try to tie them by bending straight down.
I just know one thing with my hips, if it hurts I back off, I don’t worry about getting sore, but I won’t push it to the point of hurting. Have you done permanent damage, I seriously doubt it, the pain is probably from something else. If in doubt I would go back to the surgeon and get a couple X-rays. I actually got a letter from my surgeon at 2 years requesting I come in for x-rays jut to check things out, I never went in.
Best of luck fellow hipster,
Todd