Hip osteoarthritis is now considered one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system.Symptoms can cause severe discomfort and limit physical activity, and treatment can take a long time.
In severe cases, the disease can cause disability.Arthropathy of this localization is also called coxarthrosis.With this disease, the hip joint suffers chronic inflammation.The cartilage tissue is destroyed and the joint space is narrowed, resulting in a significant decrease in leg mobility.
The disease most commonly occurs in older patients, but is sometimes diagnosed in younger people.
nature of disease
The hip joint is the largest joint in the human body.It is located at the junction of the femur and pelvis, so it bears a lot of load every day.The joint itself looks like a ball-and-socket joint: the rounded head of the femur sits in the hemispherical acetabulum of the pelvis.The surface of bone tissue is covered with durable and highly elastic cartilage.It acts as a shock absorber and ensures trouble-free sliding of the bones.Cartilaginous tissue prevents destruction of the femur and pelvis.
With hip joint disease, the cartilage begins to thin and collapse, so the bone tissue comes into contact with each other.Sliding becomes difficult and painful.Movement is restricted.Further progression of the disease leads to more pronounced destructive changes: the bone surface is covered with growths (they arise as a result of ongoing damage), which further complicates the movement of the joints.
reason
There are many factors known to cause hip arthropathy.This disease may occur due to:
- Congenital joint pathology (dysplasia) that may go undiagnosed for years;
- Premature wear and tear of joint mechanisms due to excessive loads (strenuous exercise or excess weight);
- previous injury;
- Infectious processes affecting the function of the musculoskeletal system;
- Improper blood supply to the joints (for example, due to atherosclerosis);
- spinal disorders;
- hormonal imbalance;
- Rheumatic disease process, etc.
Determining the cause of hip arthritis can prevent further progression of the disease, select the most comprehensive treatment and relieve uncomfortable symptoms.
symptom
The symptoms of hip arthrosis directly depend on the extent of the degenerative process of the joint body.In general, doctors distinguish 3 main stages of the disease:
- Stage one.In this condition, patients suffer from periodic pain in the groin area.They are caused by physical activity, prolonged walking, and static standing.Once you rest, the discomfort will disappear.Therefore, patients do not see this as a reason to consult their doctor.And the condition progresses further.
- Stage 2.At this stage of development, hip arthrosis can cause more significant pain.Pain may occur after even slight exertion.The patient began to limp and the discomfort spread to the inner thigh area.The affected joint may rupture.Typically, this stage of arthropathy limits motor activity and results in decreased muscle strength.
- The third stage.At this stage, the hip joint has progressed to the point where the patient's life is almost unbearable.Even with a small load, the pain can become constant and intensify.People with stage III hip disease are forced to use crutches.In this condition, the leg in question is usually shortened, which is caused by distortion of the pelvis and spine.Muscle atrophy.The third stage of the disease results in significant impairment of general condition.Ongoing pain can interfere with sleep and lead to depression.
Some doctors separately distinguish a fourth stage of hip joint disease, in which the affected joint is completely immobile.
You can see the progression of hip arthritis with regular X-rays.When the pathological process first begins to develop, the joint space narrows slightly and small, isolated protrusions may appear on the bone tissue.At this stage of development, conservative approaches can be used to control the disease.If hip arthritis causes deep deformation of the joint and contact of the bone surfaces (a typical symptom of the third stage of the disease), then surgery can only be used to restore normalcy.
non-pharmacological treatment
Patients suffering from hip arthritis are advised to provide as much relief as possible to the affected joint.To do this you need:
- Avoid running, walking for long periods of time, jumping, lifting heavy objects, and staying in one position for long periods of time;
- Wear special shoes with well-cushioned soles;
- Also rely on a cane or crutches (must be held with the hand opposite the affected joint).
In order to reduce pain and improve the function of the joint system, regular physical therapy exercises are recommended.Simple exercises help strengthen muscle tissue and yield good results in the long run.If you are overweight, you need to stick to your diet and lose the extra pounds.
drug treatment
Conservative medical treatment of hip arthritis is chosen on an individual basis; treatment depends largely on the symptoms of the disease and the results of diagnostic procedures.Typically, patients will be prescribed:
- NSAIDs.They help relieve pain in affected joints;
- Steroid (hormone) medicines.They are used when nonsteroidal medications are insufficiently effective;
- Muscle relaxants reduce muscle tone and help relieve pain;
- Vasodilators.It may be necessary if there is insufficient blood circulation to the joint;
- Chondroprotectants promote joint recovery and prevent further destruction.
Conservative treatment of joints can be supplemented by the use of the latest medical technology.Patients may undergo plasma lift surgery, physical therapy, and balneotherapy.All these influencing methods can be implemented only after the acute inflammatory process has been eliminated.
Bath therapy for hip joint disease
People with hip problems may benefit from a balneotherapy session, especially a mud bath.This type of surgery can be performed in regular clinics, private clinics, rehabilitation centers and health resorts.Mud baths are widely used to treat disorders of the musculoskeletal system.For arthropathy of the hip joint, mud therapy helps reduce the inflammatory process, relieve uncomfortable symptoms and slow down the degenerative process.Research by German scientists confirms the effectiveness of such procedures.Experts noted in a 2019 article that mud baths for hip arthritis can help:
- Improve joint movement function;
- Significantly reduces the severity of pain (effects last 3 months after the end of treatment);
- Slow the progression of the disease.
However, it is worth considering that all physiotherapy and balneotherapy procedures for hip joint disease can only be carried out with the approval of the attending physician.This joint treatment must be combined with taking prescribed medications and following all restrictive recommendations.