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 occur gradually.At 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, can occur among people of different age groups.In children, osteoarthritis of the hip joint, fortunately, is not common.Congenital dysplasia of the hip joint 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 slips out of the socket.
Description and causes of the disease.
The hip joint is located between the ilium and the femur.That is why the inflammation and pathology are called osteoarthritis 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 on the photograph of osteoarthritis 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 necessary amount of fluid that has a lubricating effect.Once the load stops, 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 synovinal fluid.
In addition to the work of hyaline cartilage, the cause of osteoarthritis of the hip joint can also be a slowdown in 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 functioning of all mechanisms and processes, perform a protective function of 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 dislocations of the hip or congenital disorders of joint development (dysplasia).
Degrees and symptoms of osteoarthritis.
There are four degrees of this disease:
- Osteoarthritis of the hip joint of the 1st degree.At this stage of the disease, the patient feels some discomfort, especially pronounced after physical exertion, as well as when going down or climbing stairs.Pain in the first degree of 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 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 lameness is possible.The nature of the pain is pronounced, it radiates to the groin, back or knee.The function of the joint with this degree of osteoarthritis is already altered.
- With third degree hip osteoarthritis, the pain is constant and does not stop even at night.The patient can move only with the help of orthopedic devices (cane or crutches).Joint movement is very limited.
- Osteoarthritis of the hip joint of the fourth degree is expressed by large bone growths (visible on an x-ray), severe, constantly intensifying pain.This degree of osteoarthritis is also called pronounced.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:
- lameness, reduced mobility of the legs 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.A timely visit to the hospital plays a special role here, since most patients present 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 its first stage, the doctor talks with the patient, determines pain complaints and other factors that cause anxiety.After this, the patient is examined to identify disturbances in gait, the difference in the length of a healthy and diseased limb, as well as pain that occurs during palpation.In addition, the sensitivity of the diseased areas is examined to reduce it and a process is carried out to determine the functions of neighboring joints.Already at this stage of diagnosis, the doctor can make a presumptive diagnosis: osteoarthritis of the hip at one stage or another.
After the conversation and examination, it is time for instrumental and laboratory 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 an MRI or CT scan.
- The essence of laboratory research is both a blood test to identify inflammatory processes in the body and the collection of synovinal fluid through a puncture.With the help of the latter, you can observe whether the composition of a certain fluid has changed, since these changes are usually the cause of the development of coxarthrosis.
Treatment of hip osteoarthritis.
The treatment of coxarthrosis and its diagnosis must be combined.There is an opinion that the only sure way to get rid of hip osteoarthritis is surgery.But often, for various individual reasons, such as general health or advanced age, surgery may be extremely undesirable or impossible.In this case, coxarthrosis must be treated in other ways.Here everything depends not only on the state in which the patient is, 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 great effort, which the patient must make for recovery.Various procedures performed for hip osteoarthritis include:
- drug treatment 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 osteoarthritis 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 hip joint area in particular depend on proper nutrition.
In the second degree of the disease, we cannot talk about a complete recovery, since 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 altogether.In addition to pharmacological treatment with the same analgesics and anti-inflammatories, a series of exercises and a special diet, second degree hip osteoarthritis also requires hospital treatment 1 or 2 times a year.
The third stage of osteoarthritis requires surgery.The joint tissue is very depleted, the deformation 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 home remedies in the treatment of coxarthrosis.
As mentioned above, an important part of treating hip osteoarthritis is diet.The diet of a patient with coxarthrosis must be balanced and include all the necessary microelements.The basis of any tissue in the human body is protein, so it is necessary to eat dairy products and legumes, as well as low-fat gelatins and jellied meats.It must be taken into account that the objective of the diet, in addition to saturating the body with essential microelements, is weight loss.This is necessary to relieve the load on the joint.Based on this, it is advisable to reduce the consumption of fatty, salty and other high-calorie foods.
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint with home remedies allows you to relieve pain and reduce some unfavorable processes associated with this disease.However, any prescription for traditional medicine must be agreed with a doctor before use and used only with his or her approval.Below are some methods used for coxarthrosis:
- Cut a cabbage leaf with a knife, spread it with honey and apply it to the sore joint overnight, wrapping it in cellophane and a wool bandage.
- Rub the joint with tincture of celandine in olive oil.To prepare it, pour 7-8 tablespoons of plant stems with a liter of oil and let it rest for two weeks.
- Mix aloe juice with eucalyptus and mint leaves and apply this composition to the sore joint several times a day.
- Treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint with salt is also common, since dry heat has a beneficial effect on eliminating inflammation and pain.Pour the salt, previously heated in a pan or in the oven, into a thick cloth bag and apply it to the painful area.