Hip osteoarthritis, also known as coxarthrosis, is one of the most common degenerative-dystrophic diseases.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 aged over 40-45 years suffer from coxarthrosis, but this disease has many causes and, in principle, it can occur in people of different age groups.Fortunately, hip osteoarthritis is not common in children.Congenital dysplasia of the hip joint leads to infantile coxarthrosis.Its cause is the underdevelopment of bone tissue and ligaments of this joint.Children born with this condition often suffer from hip subluxations and dislocations when the head of the femur moves out of the socket.
Description and causes of the disease
The hip joint is located between the ilium and the femur.This is why the inflammation and pathology is called hip osteoarthritis 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 osteoarthritis of the hip.
The work of hyaline cartilage resembles that of a sponge.When it contracts, depending on the load exerted on the joint, it releases the required amount of fluid having a lubricating effect.Once the loading is complete, the cartilage pores fill with fluid again.One of the reasons for the development of a disease such as arthrosis of the hip is a change in the properties of the synovinal fluid.
In addition to the work of hyaline cartilage, the causes of osteoarthritis of the hip joint can also be a slowdown in the metabolic process in the joint, resulting from 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 1st degree.At this stage of the disease, the patient experiences some discomfort, especially pronounced after physical exertion, as well as when going down or up the stairs.First-degree pain from hip osteoarthritis can occur in both the hip and knee.
- 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 impaired.
- With third degree osteoarthritis of the hip, the pain is constant and does not stop even at night.The patient can only move around using orthopedic devices (cane or crutches).Joint movement is severely limited.
- Osteoarthritis of the hip joint of the 4th degree is expressed by large bony growths (visible on an x-ray), severe pain, which constantly intensifies.This degree of osteoarthritis is also called pronounced.The function of the joint is completely impaired, movements are limited or even impossible.It can only be treated with surgery.
The symptoms of hip osteoarthritis vary depending on the degree of the disease:
- lameness, reduced leg mobility at the hip;
- 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, because most patients complain already during the active development of the second or even third degree of the disease.You should not wait for the pain to get worse, as it leads to many irreversible processes that can occur in your body.
Diagnosis of the disease
This disease requires a combined diagnosis.Initially, the doctor discusses with the patient, determines complaints of pain and other factors causing anxiety.After that, the patient is examined to identify gait disorders, the difference in the length of a healthy and diseased limb, as well as pain appearing during palpation.Additionally, the sensitivity of diseased areas is examined for reduction and a process is carried out to determine the functions of neighboring joints.Already at this stage of the diagnosis, the doctor can make a presumptive diagnosis: osteoarthritis of the hip at one stage or another.
After the conversation and the examination, time for laboratory and instrumental studies:
- First, the patient is sent for an x-ray.Plain and axial radiographs give the doctor the opportunity to have 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 both a blood test to identify inflammatory processes in the body and the collection of synovinal fluid by puncture.Thanks to the latter, you can observe whether the composition of a given fluid has changed, since these changes are often the cause of the development of coxarthrosis.
Treatment of hip osteoarthritis
The 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, for various individual reasons, such as general health or advanced age, surgery may be extremely undesirable or even impossible.In this case, coxarthrosis must be treated differently.Here everything depends not only on the condition in which the patient is found, 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 deploy for his recovery.A number of procedures performed for hip osteoarthritis include:
- drug treatment to relieve inflammation, reduce pain and improve metabolism in the joints;
- the patient must regularly perform special sets of exercises prescribed by the doctor;
- The diet for 1st degree hip arthrosis also plays an important role, because the blood circulation and metabolism processes in the body and at the hip joint in particular depend on proper nutrition.
At the second degree of the disease, one cannot speak of a complete cure, 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 time or avoid it altogether.In addition to drug treatment using the same painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, a set of exercises and a special diet, second-degree hip arthrosis also requires hospital treatment 1-2 times a year.
The third stage of osteoarthritis requires surgery.The joint tissue is severely depleted, the deformation of the joint area is irreversible and there is probably no other way out.However, there are particularly persistent patients who, thanks to 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, diet is an important part of treating hip osteoarthritis.The diet of a patient with coxarthrosis should be balanced and include all the necessary microelements.The basis of any tissue in the human body is protein, so you need to eat dairy products and legumes, as well as low-fat jelly and jellied meat.It should 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 lighten the load on the joint.Based on this, you should reduce your consumption of fatty, salty and other high-calorie foods.
Treatment of hip arthrosis with folk remedies can relieve pain and reduce some adverse processes associated with this disease.However, any traditional medicine recipe should be agreed with a doctor before use and used only with his approval.Here are some methods used for hip osteoarthritis:
- 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 woolen 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 leave for two weeks.
- Mix aloe juice with eucalyptus and mint leaves and apply this composition to the painful joint several times a day.
- Treatment of hip osteoarthritis with salt is also common, as 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 sore spot.