One of the most common degenerative-dystrophic diseases today is arthrosis of the hip joint, otherwise known as coxarthrosis.This disease can affect either one or both joints, but this process occurs gradually.In the early stages 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, it can occur among people of different age groups.In children, hip joint arthrosis is, fortunately, uncommon.Congenital dysplasia of the hip joint leads to childhood coxarthrosis.The reason is the lack of development of bone tissue and ligaments of this joint.Children born with this condition often have hip subluxations and dislocations, when the head of the femur comes out of its socket.
Description and cause of disease
The hip joint is located between the ilium and the femur.This is why the inflammation and pathology is called hip joint arthrosis of the sacroiliac joint.
The space between them also includes a synovial membrane and hyaline cartilage, together with 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 necessary 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 diseases such as hip arthrosis is a change in the nature of the synovial fluid.
In addition to the work of hyaline cartilage, the cause of arthrosis of the hip joint can also be a slowdown in metabolic processes in the joint, which occurs due to poor circulation.This process leads 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 joints.In case of careless movement, falling or jumping, it reduces the risk of injury.
The causes of the development of this disease can also be the result of injuries, inflammatory processes and infections that occur in the body, as well as congenital dislocation of the hip or congenital disorders of joint development (dysplasia).
Stages and symptoms of arthrosis
There are four stages of this disease:
- Arthrosis of the hip joint degree 1. At this stage of the disease, the patient feels some discomfort, this is especially noticeable after doing physical exercise, as well as going down or going up the stairs.Pain in the first stage of hip arthrosis can occur in the area of both hips and knees.
- Arthrosis of the hip joint 2 degrees.This stage of the disease is characterized by the manifestation of more intense pain.In addition to physical activity, pain can occur even when the leg is resting;with prolonged walking, lameness is possible.The nature of the pain is pronounced, it radiates to the groin, back or knee.Joint function with this level of arthrosis is already affected.
- With hip arthrosis of the third degree, the pain is constant, does not stop even at night.The patient can move only with the help of orthopedic devices (sticks or crutches).Joint movement is very limited.
- Arthrosis of the hip joint of the 4th degree is expressed by large bone growth (visible on x-ray), severe pain, which is constantly increasing.This level of arthrosis is also called pronounced.Joint function is completely affected, 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 movement in the hip area;
- stiffness of movements, 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 present with complaints already during the active development of the second or even third stage of the disease.You should not wait until the pain becomes noticeable, because this is full of irreversible processes that can occur in your body.
Disease diagnosis
This disease requires a combined diagnosis.In the first stage, the doctor talks with the patient, determines the pain complaint and other factors that are the cause of concern.After this, the patient is examined to identify disturbances in gait, the difference in the length of healthy and diseased limbs, as well as the pain that occurs during palpation.In addition, the sensitivity of the diseased area is checked for its reduction and the process is carried out to determine the function of the neighboring joints.Already at this stage of diagnosis, the doctor can make a presumptive diagnosis: hip arthrosis at one stage or another.
After the conversation and exam, it's time for laboratory and instrumental studies:
- First of all, the patient is sent for an x-ray.Plain and axial radiographs 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 both a blood test to identify the inflammatory process in the body and the collection of synovial fluid through a puncture.Using the latter, you can see if the composition of certain fluids 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 sure way to get rid of hip arthrosis is surgery.But often, for some individual reason, such as general health or advanced age, surgery may be highly 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 a lot of effort, which the patient must do for his recovery.Some of the procedures performed for hip arthrosis include:
- drug treatment to relieve inflammation, reduce pain and improve metabolism in the joint area;
- the patient must regularly perform a set of special exercises prescribed by the doctor;
- Diet for arthrosis of the hip joint stage 1 also plays an important role, because 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 stage of the disease, we cannot talk about complete recovery, because deformation has occurred in the bones, however, with the help of a certain set of procedures, it is possible to postpone the operation for a longer period 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 arthrosis requires surgery.The joint tissue is severely depleted, the deformation in the joint area is irreversible and there may be no other way out.However, there are very persistent patients who, with the help of extraordinary efforts and continuous work on themselves, achieve significant improvement without surgical intervention.
Diet and folk remedies in the treatment of coxarthrosis
As mentioned above, an important part of the treatment of hip arthrosis is diet.The diet of patients with coxarthrosis must 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 and legumes, as well as jelly and jelly meat that is not too fatty.It is necessary to take into account the fact that the goal of the diet, in addition to filling the body with essential microelements, is weight loss.This is necessary to lighten the load on the joints.Based on this, you should reduce your intake of fatty, salty and other high-calorie foods.
Treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint with folk remedies can relieve pain and reduce some of the unfavorable processes associated with this disease.However, any traditional medicine recipe 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, apply it with honey and apply it to the sore joint overnight, wrapping it in cellophane and a woolen bandage.
- Rub the joints with tincture of celandine in olive oil.To prepare it, pour 7-8 tablespoons of plant stems with one liter of oil and leave for two weeks.
- Mix aloe juice with eucalyptus and mint leaves and apply this composition to the painful joints several times a day.
- Treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint with salt is also common, because dry heat has a good effect on removing inflammation and pain.Pour the salt, previously heated in a pan or in the oven, into a bag made of thick cloth and apply it to the sore spot.