Osteoarthritis of the hip joint today is considered one of the most common diseases in the musculoskeletal system.The symptoms cause severe discomfort to the patient and limit physical activity, and the treatment is long.
In severe cases, the disease leads to disability.Arthrosis of this localization is also known as coxarthrosis.With this disorder, the hip joint experiences chronic inflammation.The cartilage is destroyed, and the joint space narrows, which leads to a significant decrease in the mobility of the foot.
The disease most often develops in older patients, but sometimes it is diagnosed in young people.
The essence of the disease
The hip joint is the largest joint in the human body.It is located at the junction of the femur bone with the pelvis, so it bears a significant daily load.The joint itself looks like a ball-and-socket joint: the rounded head of the femur sits in the acetabulum of the pelvic hemisphere.The surface of bone tissue is covered with durable and highly elastic cartilage.It plays the role of a shock absorber and also ensures the smooth sliding of the bones.Cartilage prevents destruction of the femur and pelvis.
With coxarthrosis, the cartilage begins to thin and collapse, and therefore, bone tissues come into contact with each other.Sliding becomes difficult and painful.Movement becomes limited.The further development of the disease leads to more significant destructive changes: the surface of the bone is covered with growths (it arises as a result of constant injuries), which further complicates movement in the joints.
The reasons
There are many known factors that can cause coxarthrosis.This disease can occur as a result of:
- congenital joint pathology (dysplasia), which may remain undiagnosed for many years of life;
- premature wear of the joint mechanism, which is explained by excessive load (during intense sports or excess weight);
- previous injuries;
- infectious processes that affect the function of the musculoskeletal system;
- improper blood supply to the joints (for example, due to atherosclerosis);
- spinal disease;
- hormonal disorders;
- rheumatic process, etc.
Identifying the cause of hip joint arthrosis makes it possible to prevent the further development of the disease, choose the most comprehensive treatment and relieve unpleasant symptoms.
symptoms
The signs of coxarthrosis directly depend on the degree of the degenerative process in the articular body.Overall, doctors distinguish 3 main stages of the disease:
- Stage 1. With this condition, the patient is disturbed by periodic pain in the groin area.They are provoked by physical activity, prolonged walking and static standing.Once you relax, the discomfort will go away.Therefore, patients do not consider it as a reason to consult a doctor.And the disease progressed further.
- Stage 2. At this stage of development, coxarthrosis causes more significant pain.Pain occurs even after a small effort.The patient begins to suffocate, and the discomfort radiates to the inner thigh area.The affected joint may crack.Often, arthrosis at this stage limits motor activity and leads to a decrease in muscle strength.
- Stage 3. At this stage, coxarthrosis reaches such a level of development that it makes the patient's life almost unbearable.The pain becomes constant and intensifies due to the slightest load.A person with the third stage of arthrosis of the hip joint has to use crutches.In this case, the problematic leg is often shortened, which is explained by the distortion of the pelvis and spine.Muscle atrophy.The third stage of the disease leads to a significant deterioration of the general condition.Constant pain disrupts sleep and causes depression.
Some doctors separately distinguish stage 4 coxarthrosis, in which the affected joint becomes completely immobile.
You can see the development of arthrosis of the hip joint on a regular x-ray.When the new pathological process begins to develop, the joint space narrows slightly, and small and isolated protrusions can be found on the bone tissue.At this stage of development, the disease can be managed using conservative methods.If coxarthrosis leads to deep deformation of the joint and bone surface contact (which is typical for the third stage of the disease), then normal conditions can only be restored with the help of surgery.
Treatment is not medicine
Patients with hip joint arthrosis are advised to relieve the affected joint as much as possible.For this purpose you need:
- avoid running, long walks, jumping, lifting weights, and staying in one position for a long time;
- wear special shoes with well-cushioned soles;
- additionally leaning on a cane or stick (it must be taken with the hand opposite the affected joint).
To reduce pain and improve the function of the joint system, it is recommended to regularly do physical therapy exercises.Simple exercises help strengthen muscle tissue, which gives excellent results in the long run.If you are overweight, you need to stick to a diet and get rid of those extra pounds.
Drug treatment
Conservative drug treatment for hip joint arthrosis is selected individually;therapy largely depends on the symptoms of the disease and the results of diagnostic procedures.As a rule, patients are prescribed:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They help relieve pain in affected joints;
- Steroid drugs (hormones).It is used when non-steroidal drugs are not effective enough;
- A muscle relaxant that reduces muscle tone and helps relieve pain;
- Vasodilators.May be needed if there is insufficient blood circulation in the joints;
- Chondroprotectors that promote joint recovery and prevent further destruction.
Conservative treatment of joints can be supplemented with the use of the latest medical techniques.Patients may be offered plasma lifting procedures, physiotherapeutic treatments and balneotherapy.All these methods of influence are practiced only after the acute inflammatory process has been eliminated.
Balneotherapy for coxarthrosis
Patients with coxarthrosis may benefit from a course of balneotherapy, especially mud baths.Such procedures can be carried out in regular clinics, private clinics, rehabilitation centers and sanatorium resort institutions.Mud baths are widely used in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.For hip joint arthrosis, mud treatment helps to reduce the inflammatory process, relieve unpleasant symptoms and slow down the degenerative process.The effectiveness of such a procedure is confirmed by research by German scientists.In their article published in 2019, experts state that a course of mud baths for coxarthrosis helps:
- improve joint motor function;
- significantly reduces the severity of pain (the effect continues for 3 months after the end of therapy);
- slow the progression of the disease.
However, it should be considered that all physiotherapeutic and balneological procedures for coxarthrosis can only be carried out after the approval of the attending physician.Treatment of such joints must be combined with taking prescribed medications and following all strict recommendations.