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 occur gradually.In the initial stage of the disease, one joint is affected, and a little later - the second.
Most often, patients over 40-45 years old suffer from coxarthrosis, but this disease has many causes and in principle it can appear in people of different age groups.In children, arthrosis of the hip joint, fortunately, is not common.Congenital hip dysplasia leads to childhood coxarthrosis.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 protrudes from the 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 picture 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 lubricating effect.After the load stops, the cartilage pores fill with fluid again.One of the reasons for the development of a disease 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 dislocations of the hip or congenital disorders of joint development (dysplasia).
Degrees and symptoms of arthrosis
There are four degrees of this disease:
- Osteoarthritis of the hip joint of the first degree.At this stage of the disease, the patient feels discomfort, this is especially pronounced after physical exertion, as well as going down or climbing stairs.Pain in the first degree of arthrosis of the hip can occur both in the hip and in the knee.
- Arthrosis of the hip joint 2 degrees.This degree of the disease is characterized by the manifestation of pain of a more intense nature.In addition to physical activity, pain can also appear when the leg is at rest;with prolonged walking, even limping is possible.The nature of the pain is pronounced, it radiates to the hip, back or knee.The function of the joint with this degree of arthrosis is already impaired.
- With hip arthrosis of the third degree, the pain is constant, it does not stop even at night.The patient is able to move only with the help of orthopedic devices (cane or crutches).Movement of the joint is very limited.
- Arthrosis of the hip joint of the 4th degree is expressed by large bone growths (visible on x-rays), severe pain, which constantly intensifies.This degree of arthrosis is also called pronounced.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:
- lameness, 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 diseased limb.
The main symptom that causes a visit to the doctor is pain.Here, a timely trip to the hospital plays a special role, since most patients present with 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.In its first stage, the doctor talks with the patient, determines complaints about pain and other factors that are the cause of anxiety.After that, the patient is examined to identify disturbances in walking, the difference in the length of a healthy and diseased limb, as well as the pain that appears during palpation.In addition, the sensitivity of the diseased areas is examined for its reduction and a process is carried out to determine the functions of the neighboring nodes.Already at this stage of diagnosis, the doctor can make a presumptive diagnosis: arthrosis of the hip at one stage or another.
After the conversation and examination, it is time for laboratory and instrumental studies:
- First of all, the patient is sent for an X-ray.Plain and axial radiography 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 also a blood test to identify inflammatory processes in the body and the collection of synovial fluid through a needle.Using the latter, you can observe whether the composition of a certain fluid 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, should be combined.There is an opinion that the only safe way to get rid of hip arthrosis is surgery.But often, for a variety 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 in which the patient is, 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 great efforts, which the patient must make for his recovery.A number of procedures performed for osteoarthritis of the hip include:
- drug treatment to relieve inflammation, reduce pain and improve metabolism in the joint area;
- the patient must regularly perform special groups of exercises prescribed by the doctor;
- Diet for arthrosis of the hip joint of the first degree also plays an important role, since the processes of blood circulation and metabolism in the body and in the area of the hip joint in particular depend on proper nutrition.
In the second degree of the disease, we cannot talk about a complete recovery, since deformation has already occurred in the bones, however, with the help of a number of certain procedures, it is possible to postpone the operation for a longer period or to avoid it altogether.In addition to drug treatment using the same sedatives and anti-inflammatories, a set of exercises and a special diet, arthrosis of the second degree of the hip 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 extraordinary efforts and continuous 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 arthrosis treatment is diet.The diet of a patient with coxarthrosis should be balanced and include all the necessary micronutrients.The basis of every tissue in the human body is protein, so you need to eat milk and legumes, as well as jelly and not too fatty jelly meat.It is necessary to take into account the fact that the purpose of the diet, in addition to saturating the body with essential microelements, is weight loss.This is necessary to ease the load on the joints.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 a 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 sore joint all night, wrapping it in cellophane and a woolen bandage.
- Rub the joint with a solution of celandine in olive oil.To prepare it, 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 injured 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 removing inflammation and pain.Pour the salt previously heated in a pan or in the oven, into a thick cloth bag and apply to the injured area.