It is necessary to treat arthrosis of the hip joint comprehensively, and it helps to remove the factors that cause the disease and relieve pain, as well as inflammation. Thus, it will be possible to remove the unpleasant symptoms associated with pain and dysfunction of the extremities that occur with this disease. Therefore, the diagnosis of this pathology is important and consists in conducting an X-ray examination in several projections.
Causes and degrees of flow
Provocative factors that cause the development of arthritis include the following phenomena:
- hereditary predisposition;
- weakness of the muscle-joint corset;
- anomalies in the structure of the skeleton;
- history of trauma;
- inflammation;
- autoimmune processes;
- purulent infections;
- heavy physical work or sports;
- advanced age.
There are 3 stages of the pathological process. Therefore, arthrosis of the 1st degree of the hip joint is characterized by the appearance of pain only after physical exertion, and there are no other symptoms of the disease. The next phase is characterized by constant pain, including at rest. X-ray examination shows narrowing of the joint space. Grades 1 and 2 with proper and timely treatment are reversible conditions, but in the absence of therapy, they quickly turn into a more severe form. As arthrosis progresses further, the pain becomes indescribable and limits the mobility of the femur in the hip joint. The muscles of the lower extremities atrophy and do not perform their functions. Detection of osteophyte growths is typical for the 3rd degree of severity of arthrosis of the hip joint.
Symptoms of pathology
The first symptom of the disease is severe pain in the thigh when moving.
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is characterized by the appearance of such manifestations:
- pain syndrome caused by physical activity;
- fever, while the body temperature ranges from normal to subfebrile;
- atrophy of the muscular-ligamentous corset;
- lameness;
- limb deformation associated with massive edema and osteophyte formation;
- change in limb length;
- crunching sounds when moving the TBS.
Deforming arthrosis develops more often in the area of the right than the left hip joint.
Signs are expressed depending on the stage of the process. Often, the patient's entire leg hurts completely, which is associated with damage or inflammation of the nerve endings that pass near the joint. At the same time, hip joint arthrosis of the 2nd degree is characterized by pain at rest. There is also stiffness of movement, especially in the morning. This is caused by the accumulation of intra-articular exudate around the neck and head.
The hyaline cartilage atrophies, so the joint space is significantly narrowed, which causes the appearance of a characteristic crunch when moving, shortening the length of the limb. In this case, the femur is destroyed and the density of its tissues is lost. Osteopathy is progressive in nature and is associated with disorders of tissue trophy. The development of chronic inflammation is a provoking factor in the destruction of the hip joint. Therefore, foci of pathological ossification or osteophytes appear. It is typical for 2 3, and sometimes for the first stage of the course of the disease.
How is the diagnosis made?
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint can be determined by a traumatologist through an external examination and examination of the course of the patient's disease. An X-ray examination is used to confirm the diagnosis. In the picture, arthritis looks like a stamp and deformation of the pelvic ends of the thigh. This significantly increases the size of the head. An important symptom of the disease is the formation of osteophytes, which is also well detected by this method.
What is dangerous?
The hip joint is an integral part of the human musculoskeletal system. Therefore, the violation of its functions causes immobilization of the patient and eventually causes disability. In addition, the inflammation spreads to the pelvic bones, causing dysfunction of urination and defecation. It is possible to affect the nerve endings that pass near the head of the femur, which causes a violation of the tactile sensitivity of the extremities.
The progression of the disease leads to the creation of cartilage defects, its wear and tear. Cartilage particles enter the joint cavity and cause aseptic or "sterile" inflammation that occurs without the participation of pathogens.
Furthermore, the inflammatory process spreads to the bone tissue, causing aseptic necrosis (necrosis) of the area of the acetabulum and femoral head. Bone growths - osteophytes - are formed, which injure the surrounding tissues, worsen the inflammatory process and cause intense pain.
In the advanced stage of the disease, signs of periarthritis appear, when periarticular soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, nerves, vessels) are affected. The final outcome of the disease is the complete destruction of the joint, which leads to its immobilization - ankylosis of the hip joint.
Treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint
Treatment of joint diseases should be aimed at eliminating the cause of the process. It is necessary to treat with the use of medicines, and if necessary, surgical intervention is also resorted to. The complex effect also includes folk remedies in the form of herbal medicine, which should complement the main therapy. When the exacerbation of the disease is overcome, physiotherapy is used. They will also help if the initial pathological process is present. Prevention of osteoarthritis lies in proper nutrition. Food rich in salt should be limited in the diet.
With significant severity of the lesion, joint replacement is recommended, including a prosthesis of the pelvic part of the joint.
Preparations
Conservative treatment is capable of removing unpleasant symptoms caused by hip arthrosis in the early stages of development. It helps in anesthetizing the soft tissues of the thighs and pelvis, as well as eliminating some other unpleasant manifestations. For this purpose, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs based on diclofenac or ibuprofen are used. They must be given intramuscularly, taken orally or smeared on the affected area. Muscle relaxants are also used to reduce muscle spasm of the affected limb. Drug treatment consists in prescribing a long course of chondroprotectors and vitamin complexes.
Physiotherapy
Arthrosis of the hip joint can be cured in the initial stages of the course with the help of physiotherapy. It can also be used after prolonged exposure to drugs and removal of signs of the inflammatory process. This type of intervention can help reduce muscle spasm and restore the functional activity of the joint.
If the patient has the initial stage of the pathology, then it will be useful to do the following types of physiotherapy:
- magnetotherapy;
- electrophoresis;
- paraffin applications;
- mud treatment;
- baths with essential oils.
Folk remedies
Treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint with non-traditional methods involves the use of various means. For this purpose, you can also use crushed leaves of mint and aloe with the addition of petroleum jelly to give viscosity and better application. Celandine, which has been soaked in olive oil for 2 weeks, will be useful. Horseradish root poultices or medicinal mud poultices are also used.
In most cases, traditional methods of treating rheumatic pathology include the use of various medicinal ointments, creams and gels as local therapy. Traditional medicine also uses medicines in the form of ointments. Natural herbs are usually used for their preparation.
Treatment of arthrosis with folk remedies at home cannot completely get rid of the disease, but it is quite possible to reduce clinical symptoms such as pain, swelling and inflammation.
Exercise therapy and massage
Osteoarthritis of the hip with a mild course is treated with these types of exposure. Manual therapy is indicated after complete removal of inflammation and pain. Massage should be performed by a doctor after reviewing the patient's medical history. A course of 15 massage sessions is more often prescribed. Treatment at home includes the use of special gymnastic exercises that will help restore full functional activity of the joint.
Severe arthrosis is not treated with massage and exercise therapy.
Prevention
Sufficient physical activity will help prevent arthrosis of the hip joint, but physical activity causes rapid wear of cartilage tissue, therefore it is not recommended especially for people who are predisposed to the onset of joint disease. An untreated hip dislocation or other limb injury is also dangerous. Proper nutrition with sufficient intake of vitamins and mineral complexes is also important.