One of the most common degenerative-dystrophic diseases today is arthropathy of the hip joint, otherwise known as coxarthrosis.This disease can affect either 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 over the age of 40-45 suffer from coxarthrosis, but this disease has many causes and, in principle, it can occur in people of different age groups.In children, arthropathy of the hip joint, fortunately, is not common.Congenital dysplasia of the hip joint leads to infantile coxarthrosis.Its cause is the underdevelopment of the bone tissue and ligaments of this joint.Children born with this condition often develop subluxation and dislocations of the hip, when the head of the femur moves out of its socket.
Description and causes of the disease
The hip joint is located between the ilium and the femur.That is why inflammation and pathology are called sacroiliac joint hip joints.
The space between them also includes the synovial membrane and the hyaline cartilage, together all these components ensure the normal functioning of the joint.All this is clearly visible in the photo of the articulation of the hip joint.
The work of hyaline cartilage is similar to the work of a sponge.When it contracts, depending on the load on the joint, it releases the required amount of fluid that has a lubricating effect.After the load is stopped, the pores of the cartilage fill again with fluid.One of the reasons for the development of a disease such as hip arthropathy is a change in the properties of synovial fluid.
In addition to the work of the hyaline cartilage, the causes of arthrosis of the hip joint can also be the slowing down of the metabolic process in the joint, which occurs as a result of 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 for 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 that occur in the body, as well as congenital dislocations of the hip or congenital disorders of joint development (dysplasia).
Arthritis grades and symptoms
There are four degrees of this disease:
- 1st degree hip joint arthropathy.At this stage of the disease, the patient feels some discomfort, this is especially pronounced after physical exertion, as well as going down or going up the stairs.Pain in the first degree of hip arthritis can occur in the area of both the hip and the knee.
- Arthropathy 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 intense, radiating to the groin, back or knee.The function of the joint with this degree of articulation is already impaired.
- With hip arthropathy of the third degree, the pain is constant, it does not stop even at night.The patient can move only with the help of orthopedic devices (cane or crutches).The movement of the joint is severely limited.
- Arthropathy of the hip joint of the 4th degree is expressed by large bone growths (visible on the X-ray), severe pain, which is constantly intensifying.This degree of articulation is also called severe.Joint function is completely impaired, movement is limited or impossible.It can only be treated with surgery.
The symptoms of arthrosis of the hip joint vary depending on the degree of the disease:
- lameness, reduced mobility of the legs in the hip area.
- stiffness of movement, both after exercise and at rest.
- atrophy of the thigh muscles and shortening of the affected limb.
The main symptom that causes a visit to a doctor is pain.Here, a timely trip to the hospital plays a special role, since most patients present complaints already during the active development of the second or even third degree of the disease.You should not wait until the pain becomes severe, as this is fraught with irreversible processes that may occur in your body.
Diagnosis of the disease
This disease requires a combined diagnosis.In its first stage, the doctor talks with the patient, determines complaints about pain and other factors that cause anxiety.After that, the patient is examined to identify gait disturbances, the difference in the length of a healthy and diseased limb, as well as the pain that occurs during palpation.In addition, the sensitivity of the diseased areas is examined in order to reduce it, and a procedure is carried out to determine the functions of the neighboring joints.Already at this stage of diagnosis, the doctor can make a possible diagnosis: hip arthropathy at one stage or another.
After discussion and examination, it is time for laboratory and instrumental studies:
- First of all, the patient is sent for an X-ray.Plain and axial x-rays 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 inflammatory processes in the body and the collection of synovial fluid by puncture.Using the latter, you can notice if the composition of a given liquid has changed, since these changes are often the cause of the development of coxarthrosis.
Treatment of hip arthropathy
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 arthropathy is surgery.But often, for various individual reasons, 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 arthropathy can be completely cured without surgery.Of course, this treatment is complex and requires a lot of effort, which the patient must make for his recovery.A number of procedures performed for hip arthritis include:
- drug therapy to relieve inflammation, reduce pain and improve metabolism in the joint area.
- the patient must regularly perform special sets of exercises prescribed by the doctor.
- The diet for arthropathy of the hip joint of the 1st degree also plays an important role, since the processes of blood circulation and metabolism in the body and especially in the area of the hip joint depend on proper nutrition.
In the second degree of the disease, we cannot talk about full recovery, since bone deformation 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 to avoid it altogether.In addition to drug treatment using the same painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, a set of exercises and a special diet, hip arthropathy of the second degree also requires hospitalization 1-2 times a year.
The third stage of arthropathy requires surgery.The joint tissue is severely depleted, the deformation in the joint area is irreversible and there is probably no other way out.However, there are particularly persistent patients who, with the help of incredible efforts and continuous work on themselves, achieve significant improvements without surgery.
Nutrition and folk remedies in the treatment of coxarthrosis
As mentioned above, an important part of treating hip arthritis is diet.The diet of a coxarthrosis patient must be balanced and include all the necessary micronutrients.The basis of any tissue in the human body is protein, so you need to eat dairy and legumes, as well as jelly and not too fatty jelly.It is necessary to take into account the fact that the goal of the diet, in addition to saturating the body with necessary trace elements, is weight loss.This is necessary to ease the load on the joint.Based on this, you should reduce the consumption of fatty, salty and other high-calorie foods.
Treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint with folk remedies can relieve pain and reduce some adverse processes associated with this disease.However, any prescriptions of traditional medicine must be agreed with a doctor before use and used only with his approval.Here are some methods used for coxarthrosis:
- Cut a cabbage leaf with a knife, smear it with honey and apply it to the painful joint overnight, wrapping it in cellophane and a woolen bandage.
- Rub the compound with tincture of felantine in olive oil.To prepare it, pour 7-8 tablespoons of plant stems with one liter of oil and leave it for two weeks.
- Mix aloe juice with eucalyptus leaves and mint and apply this composition to the painful joint several times a day.
- Treating hip arthritis with salt is also common, as dry heat has a beneficial effect on relieving inflammation and pain.Pour salt, previously heated in a pan or in the oven, into a thick cloth bag and spread it on the sore spot.