It is necessary to treat arthrosis of the hip joint comprehensively, and help is to eliminate the provoking factors of the disease and relieve pain, as well as inflammation. Thus, it will be possible to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms associated with pain and limb dysfunction that occur with this disease. Therefore, the diagnosis of this pathology is important and consists in conducting an X-ray examination in various projections.
Causes and degrees of flow.
Provoking factors that cause the development of arthritis include the following phenomena:
- hereditary predisposition;
- weakness of the musculoarticular corset;
- abnormalities 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 course of the pathological process. Thus, first-degree arthrosis 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 stage is characterized by constant pain, even at rest. X-ray examination shows joint space narrowing. Grades 1 and 2 with proper and timely treatment are reversible conditions, but in the absence of therapy, they rapidly develop into a more severe form. With further progression of arthrosis, the pain becomes unbearable and limits the mobility of the femur in the hip joint. The muscles of the lower limbs atrophy and do not perform their functions. Detection of osteophyte growths is typical for the third degree of severity of arthrosis of the hip joint.
Symptoms of the 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 musculo-ligamentous corset;
- limp;
- limb deformity associated with massive edema and osteophyte formation;
- change in the length of the limbs;
- creaking sounds when moving the TBS.
Deforming osteoarthritis develops more often in the region of the right hip joint than in the left.
The signs are expressed according to the stage of the process. Often the entire leg of the patient aches completely, which is associated with infringement or inflammation of the nerve endings that pass near the joint. At the same time, arthrosis of the hip joint of the second degree is characterized by the appearance of pain at rest. And there is also rigidity of movements, especially in the morning. This is caused by the accumulation of intra-articular exudate around the neck and head.
Hyaline cartilage atrophies, due to which the joint space narrows significantly, which causes the appearance of a characteristic crunch during movement, shortening the length of the limb. In this case, the thigh bone is destroyed and the density of its tissues is lost. Osteopathy is progressive in nature and is associated with tissue trophic disorders. The development of chronic inflammation is a provoking factor in the destruction of the hip joint. Therefore, foci of pathological ossification or osteophytes appear. This is typical for 2 3 and sometimes the first degree of the course of the disease.
How is the diagnosis made?
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint can be determined by a traumatologist during an external examination and interrogation about the course of the disease in a patient. X-ray examination is used to confirm the diagnosis. In the picture, the arthritis looks like a seal and a 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.
That is dangerous?
The hip joint is a component of the human musculoskeletal system. Thus, a violation of its functions leads to immobilization of the patient and, over time, provokes the appearance of disability. In addition, the inflammation spreads to the pelvic bones, causing dysfunction when urinating and defecating. It is possible to infringe on the nerve endings passing near the femoral head, which provokes a violation of the tactile sensitivity of the limb.
The progression of the disease leads to the formation of cartilage defects, their abrasion and cracking. Cartilage particles enter the joint cavity and cause aseptic or "sterile" inflammation that occurs without the participation of pathogens.
In addition, the inflammatory process spreads to the bone tissue, causing aseptic necrosis (necrosis) of the acetabulum and femoral head areas. Bone growths, osteophytes, are formed, which injure the surrounding tissues, exacerbate the inflammatory process and cause severe pain.
In the advanced stage of the disease, there are signs of periarthritis, when the periarticular soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, nerves, vessels) are affected. The end of the disease is the complete destruction of the joint, which leads to its immobilization - ankylosis of the hip joint.
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint
Therapy of joint disease should be aimed at eliminating the cause of the process. It is necessary to treat it with the use of medication and, if necessary, resort to surgical intervention. The complex effect also includes folk remedies in the form of medicinal herbs, which should complement the main therapy. When the exacerbation of the disease was overcome, physiotherapy is resorted to. They will also help if an incipient pathological process is present. The prevention of osteoarthritis lies in proper nutrition. The diet should limit foods rich in salt.
With a significant severity of the injury, it is recommended to replace the joint, including the prosthesis of the pelvic section of the joint.
Preparations
Conservative treatment is able to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms that hip osteoarthritis causes in the early stages of development. It helps to anesthetize the soft tissues of the thigh and pelvis, as well as eliminate some other unpleasant manifestations. For this, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs based on diclofenac or ibuprofen are used. They must be administered intramuscularly, taken orally, or rubbed on the affected area. Muscle relaxants are also used to reduce muscle spasm in the diseased limb. Drug treatment consists in prescribing a prolonged course of chondroprotectors and vitamin complexes.
Physiotherapy
It is possible to cure arthrosis of the hip joint in the initial stages of the course with the help of physiotherapy. It can also be used after prolonged exposure to the drug and the elimination of signs of the inflammatory process. This type of intervention can help reduce muscle spasm and restore functional activity in the joint.
If the patient has an initial stage of pathology, it will be useful to carry out the following types of physiotherapy:
- magnetotherapy;
- electrophoresis;
- paraffin applications;
- sludge treatment;
- Baths with essential oils.
Home 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 mint and aloe leaves with the addition of vaseline to give viscosity and better application. Celandine, which has been soaked in olive oil for 2 weeks, will come in handy. Horseradish root compresses or healing mud wraps are also used.
In most cases, traditional methods of treating rheumatic pathology include the use of various medicated ointments, creams, and gels as topical therapy. Traditional medicine also uses medicines in the form of ointments. Natural herbs are often used for its preparation.
Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies at home cannot completely eliminate the disease, but it is quite possible to reduce clinical symptoms such as pain, swelling and inflammation.
Exercise therapy and massage.
Mild hip osteoarthritis is treated with this type of exposure. Manual therapy is indicated after complete removal of inflammation and pain. The massage should be performed by a doctor after reviewing the patient's medical history. Most often, a course of 15 massage sessions is prescribed. Home treatment involves the use of special gymnastic exercises that will help restore full functional activity of the joint.
Severe osteoarthritis is not treated with massage and exercise therapy.
Prevention
Sufficient physical activity will help prevent osteoarthritis 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 occurrence of joint diseases. An untreated hip dislocation or other limb injury is also dangerous. Proper nutrition with a sufficient intake of vitamins and mineral complexes is also important.