It is impossible to imagine an active and healthy lifestyle without exercise. The joints are the most important elements of the musculoskeletal system, which allow a person to move freely and feel full. With age, dystrophic changes occur in bone and cartilage tissues, pain appears, which signals the onset of the disease.
The hip joint can withstand enormous loads throughout life, so it is not surprising that the most common pathology of ODA is osteoarthritis of the hip joint. In this article you will learn what it is, as well as the causes, consequences and methods of treatment of coxarthrosis.
Characteristics and causes
Coxarthrosis is a chronic inflammatory process of the hip joint in which cartilage tissue undergoes premature destruction.
The development of the disease provokes the growth of osteophytes and the fusion of the acetabulum and the head of the femur, which narrows the joint space, the joint loses its functionality.
Let's clarify that coxarthrosis is the same as osteoarthritis and deforming osteoarthritis of the pelvic joint.
The disease can occur as an underlying pathology or develop against the background of existing diseases.
Let's look at the main causes of coxarthrosis:
- during active or excessive physical activity (trauma, microtrauma, overload); congenital anomalies (dysplasia, Perthes' disease, primary joint deformity);
- inflammation of the pelvis (ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis);
- severe stress (spasm of blood vessels and muscles, aseptic necrosis, hypothermia);
- hormonal disorders;
- ischemic heart disease;
- diseases of the endocrine system (obesity, diabetes).
A complex of health problems leads to the development of coxarthrosis. The disease is most often diagnosed in middle-aged and elderly people, but if there are several provoking factors simultaneously, young people and even children are susceptible to coxarthrosis.
Symptoms
In order to respond to the development of pathology in time, it is important to notice the characteristic symptoms that change with the progression of osteoarthritis.
The first and most important symptom is pain in the leg, which penetrates the groin, glutes, sacrum, thigh and knee. The pain increases after exercise, with prolonged maintenance of standing and sitting.
Important! At first, the pain may be minor and may not appear at all in the pelvis, but in the knee, for example. This fact complicates early diagnosis and correct diagnosis.
If the disease is not diagnosed in time, the patient will experience such symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip as:
- severe pain in the groin when walking or resting the legs;
- painful, rough crisis when moving the thigh to the side and walking (not to be confused with the click, which is typical of most healthy people);
- joint stiffness, limited mobility of the legs;
- change in gait, lameness, duck;
- shortening or lengthening the limbs;
- muscle atrophy;
- fixation of the leg in one position (ankylosis).
An important diagnostic sign of coxarthrosis is the physical limitations of bending forward, the abduction of the thigh.
A patient with this diagnosis finds it difficult to tie shoelaces on his own, to sit with his legs wide apart, and to sit deeply.
There are 3 degrees of osteoarthritis of the acetabulum and the head of the femur, which are characterized by gradual destruction of the joint. Let's look at their characteristics below.
Stage 1 of coxarthrosis is characterized by slight destruction of cartilage, the joint space is slightly narrowed.
By stage 2, the destruction of cartilage tissue increases significantly, the first signs of the disease begin to break down: pain, stiffness.
More serious damage to the hip joint occurs in 3 stages. It is characterized by deep destruction of cartilage, bone deformation, pain at rest. The disease completely destroys cartilage and deforms the femur.
The joint loses its mobility, the leg is fixed and serves as a support. In this case, conservative therapy is powerless; surgical treatment with joint replacement is required.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of the disease shows how severely the cartilage is affected and whether osteoarthritis of the hip can be cured.The success of therapy depends on the start of treatment.
Note. The last stage of coxarthrosis does not respond to conservative therapy and requires surgery. Diagnosing and treating the disease early in the disease increases the chances of recovery.
To make a diagnosis, an external examination is performed, the degree of mobility of the hip joint, changes in gait and leg length are assessed. X-rays, CT and MRI are prescribed to confirm primary coxarthrosis. If the patient needs surgical treatment, additional urine, stool, blood and joint fluid are taken.
Treatment of diseases
Coxarthrosis is a progressive disease. It is impossible to cure it once, such as acute respiratory infections, and forget about the condition of your joints.
Successful treatment of grade 1, 2, and 3 hip deformity requires an integrated approach that combines therapeutic exercise, medication, physiotherapy, and patient lifestyle changes.
In extreme cases, the patient will need to resort to surgical treatment of coxarthrosis. The method of therapy depends on the degree of the disease.
Medicines
The first thing that is prescribed to a patient diagnosed with osteoarthritis are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers. They act directly on the site of inflammation and provide symptomatic treatment.
Note! It is important to follow the dosage and duration of the course prescribed by your doctor. Uncontrolled use of NSAIDs leads to side effects.
Vasodilators are also prescribed to treat coxarthrosis. They are needed to increase blood flow to the diseased joint, to enhance the nutrition of cartilage.
Chondroprotectors are used to restore cartilage tissue and joint mobility. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are substances that stimulate the production of new building cells and inhibit the action of enzymes that destroy cartilage tissue.
Massage
Manual therapy or rehabilitation massage is passive gymnastics for the affected joints. Thanks to the massage movements, the blood circulation and lymphatic drainage are improved, the muscles are strengthened, the ligaments and tendons become more elastic. This approach to treatment helps to reduce pain, enhance the effect of drug therapy and reduce the need for medication.
Important! The massage should be performed only by a qualified specialist. Careless movements will cause even more pain and injury to the joint.
Physiotherapy exercises
Movement is the basis of life. Gymnastics in osteoarthritis of the hip bones is aimed at restoring the nutrition of cartilage and joint mobility, strengthening the muscular corset.
Regular performance of therapeutic gymnastics leads to a reduction in discomfort in the legs when walking.
Gymnastics allows you to treat hip pain at home.
All movements are aimed at the treatment and prevention of stages 1 and 2 of osteoarthritis of the hip joints.
Before starting the exercises, make sure that there are no contraindications to the exercises:
- hypertension;
- critical days;
- infectious diseases;
- fever;
- recovery period after abdominal and thoracic surgery;
- inguinal and umbilical hernia;
- herniated intervertebral discs;
- acute inflammatory processes of the internal organs or exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- severe diseases of the cardiovascular and circulatory system.
If any movement causes sharp pain during exercise, it probably doesn't suit you, so it's better not to do it and to exclude it from the complex.
Diet
Diet therapy for osteoarthritis of the hip is aimed at reducing and maintaining a normal weight.
Excess weight increases the load on the spine and joints, creating an additional risk of developing diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
The basis of the diet is a moderate intake of foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Food must be complete and contain the necessary building blocks of cells: proteins, carbohydrates, fats.
Plant foods should be preferred: nuts, seeds, leafy vegetables, seasonal vegetables and fruits, lean meat and fish, fermented dairy products with medium fat content, legumes and cereals.
Cow's milk is best consumed in moderation.
Fatty, spicy, smoked, canned, fried, marinated dishes, semi-finished products, alcohol, coffee will have to be excluded from the diet.
Bad habits (smoking, drug addiction, overeating) will also need to be eliminated from your lifestyle as they wear out the body, exposing it to premature aging.
How to get rid of pain with folk remedies
Homeopathy for coxarthrosis of the hip joint is one of the methods of alternative therapy. Based on natural components, homeopaths create medicines aimed at treating pathologies of the internal organs and the human skeleton. The peculiarity of homeopathic preparations for osteoarthritis is that they are able to restore the balance between the destruction of cartilage by enzymes and the renewal of its tissues.
Attention! Before treating the hip joint at home, you must undergo a diagnosis of the disease. It is important not to allow the pathology to worsen, as this can cost a person the ability to walk.
Homeopathic medicines, injections and ointments for the treatment of joints are selected based on the physical conditions of the environment and the location of the disease.
Before using any medicine, you should consult a doctor!
Prevention
People with a predisposition to this pathology should avoid stress, injuries, treat infectious diseases in time, exercise regularly, eat well and get enough sleep.
If you experience discomfort in your legs, it is recommended that you contact an orthopedist immediately for diagnosis and treatment.
Conclusion
Osteoarthritis of the hip joints most often affects people over 45, athletes and children with congenital pathologies of the limbs. The disease destroys and deforms the joint, a person experiences excruciating pain in the legs. Successful treatment of coxarthrosis requires the inclusion of therapeutic exercises, medications, lifestyle and weight adjustment of the patient and manual therapy.
Attention to health is the key to longevity of the joints! Do not delay the visit to the orthopedist at the first symptoms of the disease.