Osteoarthritis of the hip joint - symptoms and complex treatment

Osteoarthritis of the hip joint (coxarthrosis) is a chronic, gradually progressive disease, in the absence of timely and correct treatment, it can lead to complete loss of movement. The ending suggests that it is not an inflammatory, but a degenerative process that prevails.

Symptoms of this disease vary depending on the stage. At the very beginning, it is a barely noticeable discomfort that occurs when walking and exercising. Perhaps manifestation in the form of slight pain in the thigh area, which disappears with rest. In this case, the pain can be felt not only in the thigh, but also in the groin or knee.

As a rule, hip osteoarthritis is a process that has lasted for many years, characterized by a gradual change in the cartilage with subsequent deformation of the bones and loss of joint functionality. It mainly affects people after 40 years, but there are also very young patients.

Causes of occurrence

Why does osteoarthritis of the hip joint occur and what is it? The causes of coxarthrosis may be different, but the picture of the disease is always the same. It all starts with a change in the articular cartilage, which thins and loses its capacity to absorb loads. The body compensates for the layering of cartilage tissue by the formation of bone growths along the edge of the joint surfaces, resulting in deformity of the joints and bones to varying degrees.

The main causes of this joint disease:

1. Injuries. Such a cause may not be a major injury, but in many cases the development of the disease is influenced by chronic microtraumas that contribute to cracking and thinning of the cartilage. They also affect the tear of the joint capsule, resulting in the accumulation of many injuries. Often repetitive strain injuries are a precursor to the onset of such a disease.
2. Excessive loads, resulting in systematic strain injuries, as well as joint injuries. Most often it occurs in people involved in heavy physical labor or in professional athletes. In this case, treatment without a lifestyle change or exercise limitation is also ineffective and is often accompanied by relapses.
3. Hereditary predisposition. These include abnormalities in the development of the femoral head itself, the underdevelopment of the elements of the joint, etc. In this case, the so-called dysplastic osteoarthritis of the hip joint occurs.
4. Diseases. For example, arthritis, if not treated properly, can progress to osteoarthritis over time. This is due to the fact that during arthritis the properties of the cartilage tissue change, and blood circulation is impaired. This gradually leads to the development of a degenerative process.
5. Overweight. Excess body weight, even when walking, puts a load on the joints that exceeds their physiological strength limits.

Depending on the cause of the disease and its pathogenesis, there are 2 main types of osteoarthritis of the hip joint.

1. Primary coxarthrosis. In this case, the disease develops very slowly and begins with a violation of the blood supply to the tissues. The reasons for the development of this type of osteoarthritis are rooted in metabolic disorders, which are more common in people over 50 years old. Primary osteoarthritis of the hip joint is the most commonly diagnosed.
2. Secondary coxarthrosis. In this case, the disease develops against the background of systemic inflammatory lesions of many joints of the body. Inflammation can be both infectious and autoimmune.

In the initial stage of hip osteoarthritis, patients are only concerned with minor pain or discomfort in the joint area. Often, these signs are ignored, causing the disease to progress.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip joint

Coxarthrosis of the hip joint, the symptoms of which cannot be ignored, can have serious consequences. There are several main signs of the disease, which depend on the stage of the disease:

1. Pain in the joint area is the most obvious symptom by which any hip disease can be assumed. The intensity and nature of the sensations generally depend on the stage.
2. Limitation of limb mobility is also a symptom of hip osteoarthritis. The early stage is characterized by a feeling of "stiffness" in the joint, which passes after some effort.
3. Weakening of the thigh muscles can be observed from the second stage of the disease, reaching in the third stage complete atrophy.
4. Changes in leg length due to pelvic deformity are characteristic of "advanced" osteoarthritis.
5. Lameness or change of gait is a very likely sign of bone deformity.
6. A distinct tightening of the joint is not always a sign of osteoarthritis. Usually taken into account when other symptoms are present.

The main symptom of hip osteoarthritis is pain, the nature, duration, location and intensity of which depend on the stage of the disease.

Osteoarthritis of the hip joint 1 degree

This stage of the disease is characterized by pain in the joint and hip, sometimes in the knee, which occurs after physical exertion and subsides after rest. Joint mobility is not limited and there are no walking disturbances.

Coxarthrosis of the 1st degree is the initial stage of the disease, starting with treatment, it is still possible to stop the process of destruction and deformation of the joint and to fully preserve its functions. But, unfortunately, many do not consider it necessary to see a doctor due to mild pain in the joint, while the disease progresses in the meantime.

Osteoarthritis of the hip joint 2nd degree

This manifests itself more clearly - the intensity of pain increases, it occurs not only after exercise, but also at rest, there is a limitation in motor functions. In particular, coxarthrosis is characterized by difficulty in pronation (inner rotation of the hip) and abduction, and contracture is formed.

X-ray examination

shows narrowing of the joint space and the appearance of bone growths on the surfaces. The acetabulum and the femoral head are deformed. The thigh muscles begin to atrophy on the affected side and the pain syndrome spreads lower, capturing both the knee joint and the groin area (it is important to understand that this will not be accompanieddegenerative changes in the knee joint).

Grade 3 osteoarthritis of the hip

The signs of the disease are pronounced and permanent. Pain syndrome catches up at night. When walking, the patient uses a support. The muscles of the leg and thigh gradually atrophy, and a sick leg of a sick person becomes much shorter.

Often in the 3rd degree the joint space completely disappears and the joints grow together into a single bone structure, this is shown by photography. As a result, complete immobility of the joint occurs.

The x-rays show large bony growths from the roof of the acetabulum and the femoral head, a sudden narrowing of the joint space. The femoral neck is considerably widened and shortened.

Diagnostics

Before determining how to treat osteoarthritis of the hip joint, it is necessary to make a correct diagnosis. If coxarthrosis is suspected, a person will be referred for a biochemical blood test - in the presence of disease, patients have a slight increase in ESR, globulins, immunoglobulins, and seromucoids.

The next step in detecting osteoarthritis is an X-ray photo. It will reveal:

• ossification of the cartilage,
• bony growths at the edge of the cartilage,
• reduction of the distance between the joints,
• thickening of the bone tissue under the cartilage.

Unfortunately, the x-ray photo does not show the joint capsule and cartilage themselves, if it is necessary to obtain information on these soft tissues, the patient will be referred for a tomography.

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint

When diagnosing osteoarthritis of the hip joint, treatment will depend directly on the stage of the disease. The general treatment regimen provides for the achievement of the following objectives:

• eliminate pain and discomfort in the painful joint area;
• adjust the nutrition of the intra-articular cartilage and start the process of its restoration;
• eliminate intra-articular fluid deficiency;
• activate microcirculation in the tissues of the joint;
• eliminate the increased load on the hip joint;
• strengthens the muscles that surround, protect and support the joint;
• to avoid deformities and increase mobility of the hip joint.

All this can be achieved only with the help of an integrated approach, which should include not only drug therapy, but also lifestyle changes in order to get rid of risk factors for coxarthrosis.

• In the third stage of the disease, treatment involves surgery, during which the joint is replaced with a stent, while part of the prosthesis is implanted in the femur andpart - in the pelvic bone. The operation is quite complicated, takes a long time and requires a long period of rehabilitation.
• With degrees of osteoarthritis I and II of the hip joint, the treatment is carried out without surgery. Used: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxers, chondroprotectors, vasodilators, hormonal steroids, topical drugs - ointments, lotions, compresses.

All these medicines are prescribed exclusively by the attending physician. Some are effective by injecting directly into the affected joint area. Such injections can only be performed by qualified medical personnel. Therefore, self-medication is strictly not recommended.

Non-drug methods

In addition to the use of drugs, doctors also recommend non-drug methods to combat the disease. These include the following treatments for this disease:

physiotherapy
• ;
massage
• ;
• joint breeding;
Diet
• .

Physiotherapy for osteoarthritis includes the following treatments:

magnetic therapy
• ;
• UHF and ultrasound therapy;
• aeroionics and electrotherapy;
Inductothermy
• ;
• light therapy;
• application of laser technology.

All of these methods can only be used to improve blood supply to the joints and relieve spasms.

Drug treatment

Combined treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip involves the appointment of the following groups of drugs:

1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, they all relieve pain, relieve inflammation, but do not restore cartilage tissue.
2. Chondroprotectors. Nutritional preparations of cartilage. Speed ​​up its recovery. Important in phase 1. 2 of osteoarthritis treatment. In grade 3 of the disease, the cartilage is already destroyed, these drugs will be unnecessary. It takes a long time to take medication, take several courses.
3. muscle relaxantseliminate muscle spasms in the area of ​​diseased joints, improve blood supply to tissues.
4. Ointments and creams. Healing ointments are a means of alleviating the condition of a sick person, but they do not contribute to a full recovery. Heated ointments work well. They irritate the skin receptors and thus reduce pain. Warming ointments also work to restore increased blood flow to the tissues and muscles around the affected joint.
5. Steroid injections into the joint cavity, injections of these drugs are prescribed to relieve exacerbation of the disease and eliminate severe pain.
6. Vasodilatorsdilate the vessels in and around the joint cavity, thus improving the supply of nutrients necessary for tissue repair.

You don't have to rely on folk remedies. But some healers recommend the tincture of lemon, garlic, or celery root for the treatment of joints and bones.

Massage for the treatment of coxarthrosis

In the event of deforming osteoarthritis of the hip joint, massage gives good results. Massage for coxarthrosis is a very effective and useful method. It is advisable that the massage be performed by a good specialist and as often as possible.

Its action is aimed at improving blood circulation, strengthening muscles, relieving painful spasms, swelling and muscle tension, as well as increasing the diastasis between the articulating elements of the joint.

In the absence of professional masseur, the massage can be done by yourself. Massage for osteoarthritis can be performed both manually and with the help of various massage devices and even a water jet (hydrokinesia therapy).

Gymnastics

The treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint through physical education consists of achieving two goals: increasing the mobility of the legs and preventing muscle atrophy. All standard complexes of exercise therapy for coxarthrosis also have a general strengthening character and a positive effect on the whole body.

The complex of gymnastic exercises is prescribed by a specialist. The first two physiotherapy sessions should be supervised by a doctor. He will show you how to perform each movement correctly and also monitor the appropriate load on the hip joints.

Diet

Main recommendations:

1. Give preference to porridge over water.
2. Eat enough animal protein: fish (except salted), poultry, beef.
3. Eat at least 5 servings of vegetables per day (one serving is 100 grams, can be used as a side dish).
4. Dairy products are mandatory: cottage cheese, yogurt, fermented baked milk.
5. Eliminate alcohol, coffee, strong black tea.
6. Eliminate sugary and starchy foods.
7. Eat small but frequent meals.

The diet will reduce stress on the hip joints and provide them with everything needed for tissue repair.