Complex treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint is necessary, and the help is to eliminate the provoking factors of the disease and relieve pain, as well as inflammation. In this way, it will be possible to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms associated with pain and dysfunction of the limb that appear in this disease. Therefore, the diagnosis of this pathology is important and consists in conducting an X-ray examination in several projections.
Causes and degrees of occurrence
Provocative factors that cause the development of arthritis include the following phenomena:
- hereditary predisposition;
- weakness of the musculo-articular corset;
- abnormalities in the structure of the skeleton;
- history of trauma;
- inflammation;
- autoimmune processes;
- purulent infections;
- heavy physical work or sports;
- old 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 correct 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 unbearable 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 osteophytes is characteristic of 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 appearance of such manifestations:
- pain syndrome provoked by physical activity;
- fever, while the body temperature varies from normal to subfebrile;
- atrophy of the musculo-ligamentous corset;
- lameness;
- limb deformity associated with massive edema and osteophyte formation;
- change in limb length;
- crunch when moving 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 entire leg hurts completely, 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. In addition, there is stiffness of movements, especially in the morning. This is due to the accumulation of intra-articular exudate around the neck and head.
The hyaline cartilage atrophies, so the joint gap is significantly narrowed, which provokes the appearance of a characteristic crisis during movement, shortening the length of the limb. In this case, the femur is destroyed and the density of its tissues is lost. Osteopathy has a progressive nature and is associated with tissue trophic disorders. The development of chronic inflammation is a provoking factor for the destruction of the hip joint. Because of this, foci of pathological ossification or osteophytes appear. This is typical for 2 3, and sometimes for the first degree of the course of the disease.
How is the diagnosis performed?
The 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 greatly 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 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 disrupt the nerve endings passing near the head of the femur, which leads to a violation of the tactile sensitivity of the limb.
The progression of the disease leads to the formation of cartilage defects, its erosion and cracking. Cartilage particles enter the joint cavity and cause aseptic or "sterile" inflammation, which occurs without the involvement of pathogens.
In addition, the inflammatory process spreads to the bone tissue, causing aseptic necrosis (necrosis) of the areas of the acetabulum and the head of the femur. Bone growths are formed - osteophytes, which damage the surrounding tissues, exacerbate the inflammatory process and cause severe pain.
In an advanced stage of the disease, there are signs of periarthritis when the surrounding 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 arthrosis of the hip joint
Therapy of joint diseases should be aimed at eliminating the cause of the process. It is necessary to treat with the help of drugs and, if necessary, resort to surgical intervention. The complex effect also includes folk remedies in the form of herbal medicines, which should complement the main therapy. When the exacerbation of the disease is overcome, physiotherapy is used. They will also help in the presence of an initial pathological process. Preventing osteoarthritis lies in proper nutrition. The diet should limit foods rich in salt.
With significant severity of the lesion, joint replacement is recommended, including the prosthesis of the pelvic part of the joint.
Preparations
Conservative treatment is able to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms that arthrosis of the hip joint causes in the early stages of development. It helps to anesthetize the soft tissues of the thigh and pelvis, as well as to eliminate 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 in the affected 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 exposure to the drug and 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:
- magnetic therapy;
- electrophoresis;
- paraffin applications;
- mud treatment;
- essential oil baths.
People's funds
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 leaves of mint and aloe with the addition of petroleum jelly to give viscosity and better application. Egg yolks that have been in olive oil for 2 weeks will be useful. Compresses with horseradish root or wraps with healing mud are also used.
In most cases, traditional methods of treating rheumatic pathology include the use of various medical ointments, creams and gels as local therapy. Traditional medicine also uses medicines 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 get rid 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. A course of 15 massage sessions is more often prescribed. Treatment at home includes the use of special gymnastic exercises that will help restore full functional activity of the joint.
Severe arthrosis cannot be treated with massages and exercises.
Prevention
Sufficient physical activity will help prevent arthrosis of the hip joint, but physical activity provokes the rapid wear of cartilage tissue, therefore it is not particularly recommended for people who are prone 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.