One of the most common degenerative-dystrophic diseases today is arthrosis of the hip joint, also known as coxarthrosis.This disease can affect both one and both joints, but these processes occur gradually.In the initial stage of the disease, one joint is affected, and a little later - the second.
Most often, patients over the age of 40-45 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, fortunately, is not common.Congenital hip dysplasia leads to childhood coxarthrosis.The reason for this is the insufficient development of the bone tissue and the connections of this joint.Children born with this condition often experience subluxations and dislocations of the hip when the head of the femur comes 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 also 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 contracting, depending on the load on the joint, it releases the necessary amount of liquid, which has a lubricating effect.After the load stops, the pores of the cartilage fill with fluid again.One of the reasons for the development of a disease such as arthrosis of the hip joint 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 a slowing down of the metabolic process in the joint, which occurs as a result of poor blood circulation.These processes lead to atrophy of the muscles around 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 occurring in the body, as well as congenital luxations of the hip joint or congenital disorders of joint development (dysplasia).
Degrees and symptoms of arthrosis
There are four degrees of this disease:
- Osteoarthritis of the hip joint 1 degree.At this stage of the disease, the patient experiences some discomfort, especially pronounced after physical exertion, as well as going down or going up the stairs.Pain in the first degree of hip arthrosis can appear in the area of both the hip joint and the knee.
- Osteoarthritis of the hip joint 2nd degree.This degree of the disease is characterized by the manifestation of pain of a more intense nature.In addition to physical activity, pain can occur even when the leg is at rest;with prolonged walking, even limping is possible.The nature of the pain is pronounced, radiates to the groin, back or knee.The function of the joint in this degree of arthrosis is already impaired.
- With arthrosis of the hip joint 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 devices (cane or crutches).Movement of the joint is severely limited.
- Osteoarthritis of the hip joint of the 4th degree is expressed by large bone growths (visible on an X-ray), severe pain that is constantly increasing.This degree of arthrosis is also called expressed.The function of the joint is completely impaired, movement is limited or impossible.It can only be treated by surgery.
Symptoms of arthrosis of the hip joint vary depending on the degree of the disease:
- limping, impaired 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 prompts a visit to the doctor is pain.Here, a timely trip to the hospital plays a special role, since most patients have complaints already during the active development of the second or even third degree of the disease.You should not wait until the pain becomes pronounced, as this is fraught with irreversible processes that can occur in your body.
Diagnosis of the disease
This disease requires a combined diagnosis.At the first stage, the doctor talks with the patient, determines complaints of pain and other factors that cause anxiety.After that, the patient is examined to identify gait disorders, the difference in the length of the healthy and diseased limb, as well as the pain that appears during palpation.In addition, the sensitivity of the diseased areas for its reduction is examined and a process is carried out to determine the functions of adjacent joints.Already at this stage of the diagnosis, the doctor can make a presumptive diagnosis: arthrosis of the hip joint at one stage or another.
After the conversation and examination, it is time for laboratory and instrumental tests:
- First, the patient is sent for an X-ray.Plain and axial radiographs allow the doctor to see an almost complete picture of the disease.
- If the X-ray is not sufficient, the patient is sent for magnetic resonance or computed tomography.
- The essence of the laboratory examination is both a blood test to identify inflammatory processes in the body and the collection of synovial fluid by puncture.With the help of the latter, you can monitor whether the composition of a certain liquid has changed, since these changes are often the cause of the development of coxarthrosis.
Treatment of hip arthrosis
Treatment of coxarthrosis, as well as its diagnosis, must be combined.There is an opinion that the only sure way to get rid of hip arthrosis is surgery.But often, due to a number of individual reasons, such as general health or advanced age, surgery may be extremely undesirable or impossible.In this case, coxarthrosis should be treated in other ways.Here, everything depends not only on the condition of the patient, but also on the stage of the disease.
Osteoarthritis of the first degree can be completely cured without surgery.Of course, this treatment is complex and requires great efforts that the patient must make for his recovery.A number of procedures performed for hip osteoarthritis 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;
- The diet for hip arthrosis of the 1st degree also plays an important role, since the processes of blood circulation and metabolism in the body, and in particular in the area of the hip joint, depend on proper nutrition.
In the second degree of the disease, we cannot talk about complete recovery, since deformation has already occurred in the bones, but with the help of a set of certain procedures, it is possible to postpone the operation for a longer period or to avoid it completely.In addition to drug treatment using the same pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory drugs, a set of exercises and a special diet, arthrosis of the hip joint of the second degree also requires hospital treatment 1-2 times a year.
The third stage of arthrosis requires surgery.The joint tissue is severely depleted, the deformity in the joint area is irreversible and there is probably no other way out.However, there are particularly persistent patients who, with the help of incredible efforts and constant work on themselves, achieve significant improvements without surgical intervention.
Diet and folk remedies for the treatment of coxarthrosis
As mentioned above, an important part of hip osteoarthritis treatment is diet.The diet of a patient with coxarthrosis should be balanced and include all the necessary trace elements.The basis of every tissue in the human body is protein, so you should eat dairy products and legumes, as well as jelly and not very fatty jellied meat.It is necessary to take into account the fact that the goal of the diet, in addition to saturating the body with essential trace elements, is weight loss.This is necessary to relieve 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 adverse processes associated with this disease.However, all recipes of traditional medicine must be agreed with a doctor before use and used only with his approval.Here are some methods used in coxarthrosis:
- Cut a cabbage leaf with a knife, smear it with honey and apply it to the affected joint overnight, wrapping it with cellophane and a woolen bandage.
- Rub the joint with a tincture of celandine in olive oil.To prepare it, pour 7-8 tablespoons of stalks of the plant with a liter of oil and leave for two weeks.
- Mix aloe juice with eucalyptus and mint leaves and apply this composition on the inflamed joint several times a day.
- Treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint with salt is also common, as dry heat has a beneficial effect on the removal of inflammation and pain.Pour salt, preheated in a pan or in the oven, into a thick cloth bag and apply it to the sore spot.