One of the most common degenerative-dystrophic diseases today is osteoarthritis of the hip joint, also known as coxarthrosis.This disease can affect one or both joints, but these processes are gradual.In the early stages of the disease, one joint is affected and a little later the second.
Most often, patients over 40-45 years old suffer from coxarthrosis, however, this disease has many causes and, in principle, can occur in people of different age groups.Fortunately, osteoarthritis of the hip joint is not common in children.Congenital dysplasia of the hip joint leads to coxarthrosis in childhood.The cause is underdevelopment of the bone tissue and ligaments of this joint.Children born with this condition often experience hip subluxations and dislocations when the femoral head protrudes from the socket.
Description and causes of the disease
The hip joint lies between the ilium and the femur.For this reason, inflammation and pathology is called arthrosis of the hip joint of the sacroiliac joints.
The space between them also includes the synovial membrane and hyaline cartilage.Together, all of these components ensure the normal function of the joint.All this can be clearly seen in the photo of arthrosis of the hip joint.
The work of hyaline cartilage is similar to that of a sponge.When contracting, depending on the load on the joint, the required amount of fluid is released, which has a lubricating effect.After the load has ended, the cartilage pores fill with fluid again.One of the reasons for the development of a disease such as hip osteoarthritis is a change in the properties of the synovial fluid.
In addition to the work of the hyaline cartilage, the causes of osteoarthritis of the hip joint can also be a slowdown in the metabolic process in the joint, which is caused by poor blood circulation.These processes lead to atrophy of the muscles surrounding the joint.These muscles perform a protective function for the joint during the normal operation of all mechanisms and processes.They reduce the risk of injury in the event of careless movements, falls or jumps.
Causes for the development of the disease can also be the consequences of injuries occurring in the body, inflammatory processes and infections as well as congenital hip dislocations or congenital disorders of joint development (dysplasia).
Extents and symptoms of osteoarthritis
There are four degrees of this disease:
- Osteoarthritis of the hip joint, grade 1.At this stage of the disease, the patient feels a certain discomfort, which is particularly pronounced after physical exertion and when climbing or climbing stairs.Pain from first-degree hip osteoarthritis can occur in both the hip and knee areas.
- Osteoarthritis of the hip joint 2 degrees.This degree of the disease is characterized by the manifestation of more intense pain.In addition to physical activity, pain can also occur when the leg is at rest;Even lameness is possible if you walk for a long time.The nature of the pain is pronounced, it radiates to the groin, back or knee.With this degree of osteoarthritis, the function of the joint is already impaired.
- With third-degree hip osteoarthritis, the pain is constant and doesn't stop even at night.The patient can only move with the help of orthopedic aids (cane or crutches).The mobility of the joint is severely limited.
- Osteoarthritis of the hip joint of the 4th degree is manifested by large bone growths (visible on the X-ray), severe pain that constantly increases.This degree of osteoarthritis is also referred to as severe.The function of the joint is completely impaired, movement is limited or impossible.It can only be treated through surgery.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip joint vary depending on the degree of the disease:
- Limping, limited leg mobility in the hip area;
- Stiffness of movement, both after exercise and at rest;
- Atrophy of the thigh muscles and shortening of the affected limb.
The main symptom that triggers a visit to the doctor is pain.A timely hospitalization plays a special role, as most patients present with symptoms during the active development of the second or even third degree of the disease.You should not wait until the pain becomes more pronounced, as this is fraught with irreversible processes that can occur in your body.
Diagnosis of the disease
This disease requires a combined diagnosis.In the first phase, the doctor talks to the patient and determines pain and other factors that cause the anxiety.The patient is then examined for gait disorders, the difference in length between healthy and diseased limbs, and pain when palpation.In addition, the sensitivity of diseased areas is examined for their reduction and a procedure is carried out to determine the functions of neighboring joints.Already at this stage of diagnosis, the doctor can make a suspected diagnosis: hip osteoarthritis in one stage or another.
After the conversation and examination, it is time for laboratory and instrumental studies:
- First, the patient is sent for an X-ray.Plain and axial x-rays give the doctor the opportunity to obtain an almost complete picture of the disease.
- If the X-ray is not sufficient, the patient is sent for magnetic resonance imaging or computer tomography.
- The essence of laboratory research is both a blood test to detect inflammatory processes in the body and the sampling of synovinal fluid through a puncture.The latter allows you to observe whether the composition of a particular fluid has changed, since these changes are often the cause of the development of coxarthrosis.
Treatment of hip osteoarthritis
The treatment of coxarthrosis and its diagnosis should be combined.There is an opinion that the only sure way to get rid of hip arthrosis is surgery.However, surgery can often be extremely undesirable or impossible for various individual reasons, such as general health or advanced age.In this case, coxarthrosis should be treated in another way.It doesn't just depend on the patient's condition, but also on the stage of the disease.
First degree osteoarthritis can be completely cured without surgery.Of course, this treatment is complex and requires a lot of effort from the patient to recover.A range of procedures for hip osteoarthritis include:
- drug treatment to relieve inflammation, relieve pain and improve metabolism in the joint area;
- the patient must regularly perform special exercises prescribed by the doctor;
- Nutrition also plays an important role in grade 1 osteoarthritis of the hip joint, as the processes of blood circulation and metabolism in the body and in the hip joint area in particular depend on proper nutrition.
In the second degree of the disease, complete recovery cannot be said, since deformations have already occurred in the bones.However, with the help of certain procedures, it is possible to postpone the operation for a longer period of time or avoid it altogether.In addition to drug treatment with the same painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, a set of exercises and a special diet, second-degree hip arthrosis also requires inpatient treatment 1-2 times a year.
The third stage of osteoarthritis requires surgery.The joint tissue is severely weakened, the deformation in the joint area is irreversible and there is probably no other way out.However, there are particularly stubborn patients who, with the help of incredible efforts and constant work on themselves, achieve significant improvements without surgical intervention.
Diet and folk remedies in the treatment of coxarthrosis
As already mentioned, diet is an important part of treating hip osteoarthritis.The diet of a patient with coxarthrosis must be balanced and contain all the necessary microelements.The basis of every tissue in the human body is protein, so you need to eat dairy products and legumes, as well as jelly and not very fatty jellied meat.It must be taken into account that the goal of the diet, in addition to saturating the body with essential microelements, is weight loss.This is necessary to relieve pressure on the joint.Based on this, you should reduce the consumption of fatty, salty and other high-calorie foods.
Treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint with folk remedies can relieve pain and reduce some unfavorable processes associated with this disease.However, all traditional medicine recipes must be agreed with a doctor before use and used only with his consent.Here are some methods of treating coxarthrosis:
- Cut a cabbage leaf with a knife, smear it with honey and apply to the sore joint overnight, wrapping it in cellophane and a wool bandage.
- Rub the joint with celandine tincture in olive oil.To prepare it, pour one liter of oil over 7-8 tablespoons of plant stems and leave to rest for two weeks.
- Mix aloe juice with eucalyptus and mint leaves and apply this composition to the painful joint several times a day.
- Treating osteoarthritis of the hip joint with salt is also common, as dry heat has a positive effect on relieving inflammation and pain.Pour the salt, previously heated in a pan or in the oven, into a bag made of thick fabric and apply to the sore spot.