It is necessary to treat arthrosis of the hip joint comprehensively, and help is to eliminate the triggering 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 dysfunction of the limb that occur with this disease. Therefore, the diagnosis of this pathology is important and consists in carrying out 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 musculo-articular 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 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, with no other symptoms of the disease. The next stage is characterized by constant pain, including at rest. X-ray examination shows joint space narrowing. 1st and 2nd grades with adequate and timely treatment are reversible conditions, but in the absence of therapy, they quickly evolve into a more severe form. With the progression of arthrosis, the pain becomes unbearable and limits the mobility of the femur in the hip joint. Lower limb muscles atrophy and do not perform their functions. Detection of osteophytic 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 body temperature ranges from normal to subfebrile;
- musculoskeletal corset atrophy;
- lameness;
- limb deformity associated with massive edema and osteophyte formation;
- change in limb length;
- crunching sounds when moving the TBS.
Arthritis deformans develops more often in the region of the right hip joint than in the left.
Signs are expressed depending on the stage of the process. Often, the patient's entire leg completely hurts, which is associated with a violation 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 there is also stiffness of movements, especially in the morning. This is caused by the accumulation of intra-articular exudate around the neck and head.
The hyaline cartilage atrophies, so that the joint space is significantly reduced, which provokes 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?
A traumatologist can determine arthrosis of the hip joint during an external examination and inquire about the course of the disease in a patient. X-ray examination is used to confirm the diagnosis. In the photo, 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 by this method.
What is dangerous?
The hip joint is a component of the human musculoskeletal system. Therefore, the violation of its functions causes the immobilization of the patient and, over time, provokes the appearance of disability. In addition, the 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 defects in the cartilage, its abrasion and cracks. 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 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 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 for osteoarthritis 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 drugs and, if necessary, 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 has been 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 high 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 arthrosis causes in the early stages of development. It helps to numb 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 given intramuscularly, taken by mouth or spread on the affected area. Muscle relaxants are also used to reduce muscle spasm in the diseased limb. Drug treatment consists of prescribing a long course of chondroprotectors and vitamin complexes.
Physiotherapy
It is possible to cure arthrosis of the hip joint in the early stages of the course with the help of physiotherapy. It can also be used after prolonged exposure to the drug and elimination of signs of the inflammatory process. This type of intervention can help reduce muscle spasm and restore functional joint activity.
If the patient has an early stage of pathology, 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 by non-traditional methods involves the use of various means. For this, you can also use crushed mint and aloe leaves with the addition of vaseline to give viscosity and better application. Celandine, 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 medicinal ointments, creams and gels as topical therapy. Traditional medicine also uses drugs in the form of ointments. Natural herbs are generally used for its preparation.
Treatment of arthrosis with folk remedies at home is not able to completely get rid of the disease, but it is quite possible to reduce such clinical symptoms as pain, swelling and inflammation.
Exercise and massage therapy
Hip arthrosis with a mild course is treated with these types of exposure. Manual therapy is indicated after complete elimination of inflammation and pain. Massage should be performed by a physician after reviewing the patient's medical history. More 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
Enough physical activity will help prevent arthrosis of the hip joint, but physical activity provokes rapid wear of cartilaginous tissue, therefore, it is mainly not recommended for people with a predisposition to the appearance 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.