It is impossible to imagine an active and healthy lifestyle without exercise. Joints are the most important elements of the musculoskeletal system that allow a person to move freely and feel full. With age, dystrophic changes occur in bone and cartilage tissue, a pain that indicates the onset of the disease.
The hip joint can withstand heavy loads for a lifetime, 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, the causes, consequences and treatment methods of coxarthrosis.
Characteristics and causes of occurrence
Coxarthrosis is a chronic inflammatory process of the hip joint in which premature destruction of cartilage tissue.
The development of the disease leads to an increase in osteophytes and joints of the head of the thigh, which narrows the acetabulum and joint space, loses joint function.
Let's clarify that coxarthrosis is the same as osteoarthritis and deforming osteoarthritis of the pelvic joint.
The disease can occur as a primary pathology or develop against the background of existing diseases.
Let's look at the main causes of coxarthrosis:
- during active or excessive physical force (trauma, microtrauma, overload);
- congenital anomalies (dysplasia, Perthes' disease, primary joint deformity);
- pelvic bone inflammation (ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis);
- severe stress (spasm of blood vessels and muscles, aseptic necrosis, hypothermia);
- hormonal diseases;
- ischemic heart disease;
- endocrine system diseases (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, and when several triggers are present, young people and even children are susceptible to coxarthrosis.
symptoms
In order to react in time to the development of pathology, it is important to pay attention to the characteristic symptoms that change as osteoarthritis develops.
The first and most important symptom is pain in the leg, which penetrates the groin, gluteal muscles, sacrum, thighs and knees. The pain increases with prolonged protection in the standing and sitting position after physical exertion.
Important! Initially, the pain may be minor and usually appears in the pelvis, not the knee. This fact complicates early diagnosis and correct diagnosis.
If the disease is not diagnosed in time, the patient will experience symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip joint:
- severe pain in the groin when walking or standing;
- a painful, rough crisis when moving the leg to the side and walking (not to be confused with the click, which is typical of most healthy people);
- joint stiffness, limitation of leg mobility;
- change in gait, lameness, duck gait;
- shortening or lengthening the joint;
- muscle atrophy;
- Fixation of the foot in one position (ankylosis).
An important diagnostic sign of coxarthrosis is physical limitation when the leg is tilted to the side when leaning forward.
A patient with this diagnosis has difficulty tying shoelaces on their own, sitting with their feet wide apart, and sitting deep.
There is grade 3 osteoarthritis of the acetabulum and femoral head, which is characterized by gradual destruction of the joint. Consider the following features.
Stage 1 coxarthrosis is characterized by mild destruction of cartilage, the joint space is slightly narrowed.
In stage 2, the destruction of cartilage tissue increases significantly, the first signs of the disease begin to worry: pain, stiffness.
More serious damage in the thigh occurs in 3 stages. It is characterized by deep destruction of cartilage, deformation of bones, pain at rest. The disease completely destroys the cartilage and deforms the femur.
The joint loses mobility, the foot stabilizes and acts as a support. In this case, conservative therapy is weak, and surgical treatment with joint replacement is required.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of the disease shows how badly the cartilage is affected and the arthrosis of the hip joint is cured.
The success of therapy depends on when treatment begins.
Note. The final stage of coxarthrosis does not respond to conservative therapy and requires surgery. Diagnosis and treatment of the disease at the beginning of 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, urine, feces, blood and joint fluid are taken in addition.
Disease Treatment
Coxarthrosis is a progressive disease. It is impossible to treat once as acute respiratory infections and forget about the condition of the joints.
Successful treatment of grade 1, 2, and 3 deformed osteoarthritis of the hip joint requires an integrated approach that combines therapeutic exercises, medications, physiotherapy, and lifestyle changes.
In extreme cases, the patient should seek surgical treatment for coxarthrosis. The method of therapy depends on the degree of the disease.
Medications
The first thing prescribed to a patient diagnosed with osteoarthritis is non-steroidal 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 causes side effects.
Vasodilators are also prescribed to treat coxarthrosis. It is necessary to increase blood flow in the diseased joint, to increase 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 activity of enzymes that destroy cartilage tissue.
Massage
Manual therapy or rehabilitation massage is passive gymnastics for the affected joints. Massage improves blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, strengthens muscles, ligaments and tendons become more elastic. This approach to treatment helps reduce pain, increase the effectiveness of medication, and reduce the need for medication.
Important! Massage should only be performed by a qualified professional. Careless movements will cause more pain and damage to the joint.
Physiotherapy exercises
Movement is the basis of life. Gymnastics for osteoarthritis of the hip bones is aimed at restoring cartilage nutrition and joint mobility, strengthening the muscle corset.
Regular performance of therapeutic gymnastics reduces discomfort in the legs during walking.
Gymnastics allows you to treat your thigh pain at home.
All actions are aimed at the treatment and prevention of stages 1 and 2 of osteoarthritis in the hip joints.
Before training, make sure there are no contraindications to training:
- hypertension;
- critical days;
- infectious diseases;
- increased body temperature;
- recovery period after abdominal and thoracic surgery;
- groin and umbilical hernia;
- herniated intervertebral discs;
- acute inflammatory processes of internal organs or exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- Severe diseases of the cardiovascular and circulatory systems.
If some exercises during exercise cause severe pain, it is most likely not suitable for you, so it is better not to do and remove from the complex.
Diet
Dietary treatment for osteoarthritis of the hip joints is aimed at reducing and maintaining a normal weight.
Excess weight increases stress on the spine and joints, which puts an additional risk of developing diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
The basis of the diet is to eat a food rich in vitamins and minerals. The food must be whole and contain the necessary blocks of cells: proteins, carbohydrates, fats.
Plant foods should be preferred: nuts, seeds, leafy vegetables, seasonal vegetables and fruits, lean meats and fish, medium-fat dairy products, legumes and cereals.
Cow's milk is best consumed.
Oily, spicy, smoked, canned, fried, pickled dishes, semi-finished products, alcohol, coffee should be excluded from the diet.
Bad habits (smoking, drug addiction, overeating) should also be removed from your lifestyle, because the body is old and prone to premature aging.
How to get rid of pain with folk remedies
Homeopathy for coxarthrosis of the hip joint is one of the alternative therapies. Based on natural components, homeopaths create drugs for the treatment of pathologies of the internal organs and the human skeleton. The peculiarity of homeopathic preparations for osteoarthritis is that they can restore the balance between the destruction of cartilage by enzymes and the renewal of tissues.
Attention! Before treating the hip joint at home, you should be diagnosed with 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 according to the physical conditions of the environment and the location of the disease.
You should consult a doctor before using any medication!
Prevention
People prone to this pathology should avoid stress, injury, timely treatment of infectious diseases, exercise regularly, eat well and get enough sleep.
If you feel discomfort in your feet, it is recommended that you contact an orthopedist immediately for diagnosis and treatment.
Result
Osteoarthritis of the hip joints most often affects people over 45 years of age, athletes and children with congenital limb pathology. The disease destroys and deforms the joint, the person experiences unbearable pain in the legs. Successful treatment of coxarthrosis requires therapeutic exercises, medications, adjustment of the patient's lifestyle and weight, and manual treatment.
Attention to health is the key to longevity together! Do not delay an visit to an orthopedist at the first symptoms of the disease.