One of the most common degenerative-dystrophic diseases today is arthrosis of the hip joint, otherwise known as coxarthrosis.This disease can affect one or both joints, but these processes take place gradually.In the initial stage of the disease, one joint is affected, and a little later - the other.
Patients over the age of 40-45 most often suffer from coxarthrosis, but this disease has many causes and, in principle, can occur in people of different age groups.In children, arthrosis of the hip joint is, fortunately, not a common occurrence.Congenital dysplasia of the hip joint leads to coxarthrosis in children.Its cause is the underdevelopment of the bone tissue and ligaments of this joint.Children born with this condition often experience hip subluxations and dislocations, when the head of the femur slips out of its socket.
Description and causes of the disease
The hip joint is located between the ilium and the femur.That is why inflammation and pathology are called arthrosis of the hip joint of the sacroiliac joints.
The space between them includes the synovial membrane and hyaline cartilage, together all these components ensure the normal functioning of the joint.All this is clearly visible in the photo of arthrosis of the hip joint.
The work of hyaline cartilage resembles the work of a sponge.When it contracts, depending on the load on the joint, it releases the required amount of fluid that has a lubricant.After the load stops, the pores of the cartilage fill again with fluid.One of the reasons for the development of diseases such as hip arthrosis is a change in the properties of the synovial fluid.
In addition to the work of hyaline cartilage, the causes of arthrosis of the hip joint can also be the slowing down of the metabolic process in the joint, which occurs as a result of poor circulation.These processes lead to atrophy of the muscles surrounding the joint.These muscles, during the normal operation of all mechanisms and processes, perform a protective function for the joint.In case of careless movements, falls or jumps, they reduce the risk of injury.
The causes of the development of the disease can also be the consequences of injuries, inflammatory processes and infections that occur in the body, as well as congenital hip dislocations or congenital disorders in the development of joints (dysplasia).
Degree and symptoms of arthrosis
There are four stages of this disease:
- Arthrosis of the hip joint, 1st degree.At this stage of the disease, the patient feels a certain discomfort, which is especially pronounced after physical exertion, as well as going down or climbing stairs.Pain in the first degree of hip arthrosis can occur in the hip and knee area.
- Arthrosis of the hip joint 2 degrees.This stage of the disease is characterized by the manifestation of pain of a more intense nature.In addition to physical activity, pain can also occur when the leg is at rest;even lameness is possible when walking for a long time.The nature of the pain is pronounced, radiating to the groin, back or knee.The function of the joint in this degree of arthrosis is already impaired.
- In hip arthrosis of the third degree, the pain is constant, it does not stop even at night.The patient can move only with the help of orthopedic aids (stick or crutches).Movements in the joint are very limited.
- Arthrosis of the hip joint of the 4th degree is expressed by large bony growths (visible on the X-ray), severe pain that is constantly increasing.This degree of arthrosis is also called expressed.Joint function is completely impaired, movement is limited or impossible.It can only be treated with surgery.
Symptoms of arthrosis of the hip joint vary depending on the degree of the disease:
- limping, reduced leg mobility in the hip area;
- stiffness of movements, both after exercise and at rest;
- atrophy of the thigh muscles and shortening of the affected limb.
The main symptom that causes a visit to the doctor is pain.A timely visit to the hospital plays a special role here, because most patients have complaints already during the active development of the second or even third degree of the disease.You should not wait for the pain to become pronounced, because this is fraught with irreversible processes that can occur in your body.
Disease diagnosis
This disease requires a combined diagnosis.In the first stage, the doctor talks to the patient, determines complaints about pain and other factors that cause anxiety.After that, the patient is examined to determine gait disturbances, the difference in the length of the healthy and diseased extremity, as well as the pain that occurs during palpation.In addition, the sensitivity of the diseased areas to its reduction is examined and the process of determining the functions of the adjacent joints is carried out.Already at this stage of diagnosis, the doctor can make a presumptive diagnosis: hip arthrosis in one or another stage.
After the interview and examination, it is time for laboratory and instrumental studies:
- First of all, the patient is sent for an X-ray.Plain and axial X-rays give the doctor the opportunity to see an almost complete picture of the disease.
- If the X-ray is not enough, the patient is sent for magnetic resonance or computed tomography.
- The essence of laboratory research is blood analysis to identify inflammatory processes in the body and collection of synovial fluid through puncture.Using the latter, you can see if the composition of the given liquid has changed, because these changes are often the cause of the development of coxarthrosis.
Treatment of hip arthrosis
Treatment of coxarthrosis, as well as its diagnosis, should be combined.There is an opinion that the only safe way to get rid of hip arthrosis is surgery.But often, for a number of individual reasons, such as general health or advanced age, surgery may be highly undesirable or impossible.In that case, coxarthrosis should be treated in other ways.Here, everything depends not only on the patient's condition, but also on the stage of the disease.
First degree arthrosis can be completely cured without surgery.Of course, this treatment is complex and requires a lot of effort that the patient must make for his recovery.A number of procedures performed for osteoarthritis of the hip include:
- treatment with drugs to relieve inflammation, reduce pain and improve metabolism in the joint area;
- the patient must regularly perform special sets of exercises prescribed by the doctor;
- Diet in arthrosis of the hip joint of the 1st degree also plays an important role, because the processes of circulation and metabolism in the body, and especially in the area of the hip joint, depend on proper nutrition.
In the case of the second stage of the disease, we cannot talk about a complete recovery, because the deformation of the bones has already occurred, however, with the help of a set of certain procedures, it is possible to postpone the operation for a longer period or avoid it completely.In addition to drug treatment with the use of the same painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, a set of exercises and a special diet, hip arthrosis of the second degree also requires hospital treatment 1-2 times a year.
The third stage of arthrosis requires surgery.The joint tissue is very exhausted, the deformation in the joint area is irreversible and there is probably no other way out.However, there are particularly persistent patients who, with incredible efforts and constant work on themselves, achieve significant improvements without surgical intervention.
Diet and folk remedies in the treatment of coxarthrosis
As mentioned above, an important part of hip osteoarthritis treatment is diet.The diet of patients 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 jelly meat.It is necessary to take into account the fact that the goal of the diet, in addition to saturating the body with essential microelements, is also weight loss.This is necessary to ease the load 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, any prescription of traditional medicine must be agreed with the doctor before use and used only with his approval.Here are some methods used for coxarthrosis:
- Cut a cabbage leaf with a knife, smear it with honey and apply it to the painful joint overnight, wrap it in cellophane and a woolen bandage.
- Rub the joint with celandine tincture in olive oil.To prepare, pour 7-8 tablespoons of plant stems with a liter of oil and leave for two weeks.
- Mix aloe juice with eucalyptus and mint leaves and apply this composition to the inflamed joint several times a day.
- It is common to treat arthrosis of the hip joint with salt, because dry heat has a beneficial effect on removing inflammation and pain.Pour salt, previously heated in a pan or in the oven, into a bag made of thick cloth and apply it to the painful area.