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 that are associated with pain and dysfunction of the limb that occur with this disease. Therefore, the diagnosis of this pathology is important and it consists in conducting an x-ray examination in several projections.
Causes and degrees of flow
The provoking factors that cause the development of arthritis include the following phenomena:
- hereditary predisposition;
- weakness of the muscular-articular corset;
- anomalies in the structure of the skeleton;
- history of trauma;
- inflammation;
- autoimmune processes;
- purulent infections;
- heavy physical labor or sports;
- advanced age.
There are 3 stages of the course of the pathological process. Thus, 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 stage is characterized by constant pain, including at rest. X-ray examination shows narrowing of the joint space. 1 and 2 degrees with proper and timely treatment are reversible conditions, but in the absence of therapy, they quickly develop into a more severe form. With further progression of arthrosis, the pain becomes excruciating and limits the mobility of the femur in the hip joint. The muscles of the lower limb atrophy and do not perform their functions. The 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 occurrence of such manifestations:
- pain syndrome provoked by physical activity;
- fever, while the body temperature ranges from normal to subfebrile;
- atrophy of the muscular-ligamentous corset;
- lameness;
- limb deformity associated with massive edema and the formation of osteophytes;
- change in limb length;
- crunching sounds when moving the TBS.
Deforming arthrosis develops more often in the region of the right than the left hip joint.
Signs are expressed depending on the stage of the process. Often the patient's whole leg hurts completely, which is associated with infringement or inflammation of the nerve endings passing near the joint. At the same time, arthrosis of the hip joint of the 2nd degree is characterized by the appearance of pain at rest. And also there is stiffness of movements, especially in the morning. This is caused by the accumulation of intra-articular exudate around the neck and head.
Hyaline cartilage atrophies, so the joint space is significantly narrowed, which provokes the appearance of a characteristic crunch during movement, shortening of 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 carried out?
A traumatologist can determine arthrosis of the hip joint during an external examination and questioning about the course of the disease in a patient. X-ray examination is used to confirm the diagnosis. In the picture, arthritis looks like a seal 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 using this method.
What is dangerous?
The hip joint is a component of the human musculoskeletal system. Therefore, a violation of its functions causes immobilization of the patient, and over time provokes the onset of disability. In addition, inflammation spreads to the pelvic bones, causing dysfunction of urination and defecation. It is possible to infringe on the nerve endings passing near the femoral head, which causes a violation of the tactile sensitivity of the limb.
The progression of the disease leads to the formation of cartilage defects, its abrasion and cracking. Cartilage particles enter the joint cavity and cause aseptic or "sterile" inflammation that occurs without the participation of pathogens.
Further, the inflammatory process spreads to the bone tissue, causing aseptic necrosis (necrosis) of the areas of the acetabulum and the femoral head. Bone growths are formed - osteophytes - which injure the surrounding tissues, exacerbate the inflammatory process and cause intense pain.
In the advanced stage of the disease, there are signs of periarthritis, when periarticular soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, nerves, vessels) are affected. The final of the disease is the complete destruction of the joint, which leads to its immobilization - ankylosis of the hip joint.
Treatment for arthrosis of the hip joint
Therapy of joint disease should be aimed at eliminating the cause of the process. It is necessary to be treated with the use of medications, and if necessary, they resort to surgical intervention. 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 was overcome, physiotherapy is used. They will also help if an incipient pathological process is present. Prevention of osteoarthritis lies in proper nutrition. The diet should limit foods rich in salt.
With a significant severity of the lesion, it is recommended to replace the joint, including the prosthesis of the pelvic section of the joint.
Preparations
Conservative treatment is capable of removing the unpleasant symptoms that hip arthrosis causes in the early stages of development. It helps to anesthetize the soft tissues of the thigh and pelvis, as well as remove some other unpleasant manifestations. For this purpose, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs based on Diclofenac or Ibuprofen are used. They must be administered intramuscularly, taken orally or smeared on the affected area. Muscle relaxants are also used to reduce muscle spasm of the diseased limb. Drug treatment consists in prescribing a long 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 drug exposure and the elimination 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 an initial stage of 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 using 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 petroleum jelly to give viscosity and better application. Celandine, which has been soaked in olive oil for 2 weeks, will be useful. Horseradish root compresses or healing mud wraps are also used.
In most cases, traditional methods of treating rheumatic pathology include the use of various medicinal ointments, creams and gels as topical therapy. Traditional medicine also uses drugs in the form of ointments. Natural herbs are usually used for their preparation.
Treatment of arthrosis with folk remedies at home is not able to completely rid you of the disease, but it is quite possible to reduce clinical symptoms such as pain, swelling and inflammation.
Exercise therapy and massage
Hip arthrosis with a mild course is treated with these types of exposure. Manual therapy is indicated after the complete elimination of inflammation and pain. Massage should be performed by a doctor after reviewing the patient's medical history. More often, a course of 15 massage sessions is prescribed. Treatment at home involves the use of special gymnastic exercises that will help restore the 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 provokes 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 sufficient intake of vitamins and mineral complexes is also important.