Hip arthropathy, or coxarthrosis, is a degenerative dystrophic disease that causes the loss of elasticity and destruction of cartilage tissue and premature wear and tear of the joints of the same name.Arthropathy is considered an age-related problem, and world statistics confirm this: after 40 years, one in every two people is diagnosed, and approaching the age of 70, pathology is detected in 80% of cases.Structural changes in the buttock area are 2.5 times more common in women than in men.
disease cause
The hip joint is formed by the acetabulum, which contains the head of the femur.The greater trochanter is attached to the joint head and is surrounded by a synovial sac, which contains thick mucus-like material.The synovial membrane nourishes the hip cartilage and ensures they glide easily between each other without noise or pain.Age-related decreases in synovial fluid production and changes in its viscosity are major causes of hip arthritis.
Hip arthritis of the mobile joints of the hip occurs when:
- Perthes disease.
- Hip dysplasia.
- Reactive or infectious hipitis.
- Metabolic disorders.Diabetes and gout can cause joint disease.
- Articular chondromatosis.The disease is characterized by the formation of loose intraarticular bodies and damage to hyaline cartilage.
- Mechanical damage.This includes hip fractures or dislocations (including congenital), joint capsule tears, and frequent microtrauma to the joints.
People who are overweight and have bad habits are at risk.In a professional runner or weightlifter, connective tissue wears down quickly, and athletes are not immune to displaced joint cartilage and torn hip muscles.Arthritis of the hip itself is not hereditary, but structural characteristics of the bone tissue or slow metabolism are genetically determined.
Course of disease
First, arthropathy affects the large joints of the pelvis and knees (knee joints); it is these that bear huge loads when moving.Acute arthropathy occurs during the attack, accompanied by pain when palpating joints and hip tissues.If the femur fuses incompletely or incorrectly after an injury, a new joint or pseudoarthrosis will form, which is filled not with callus but with connective tissue.
Arthropathy of the hip joint is divided into 1st degree, 2nd degree, and 3rd degree. Each stage of the disease has its own characteristics:
- Degree 1 joints develop slowly, without affecting the mobility of joint structures, and muscle tone is normal.In the early stages of hip joint disease, the disease can only be detected through X-rays.
- Second-degree hip osteoarthritis is accompanied by severe hip pain and sometimes a crunching sound in the joint.With arthrosis, it is difficult to rotate the hip and move it to one side, the joint space narrows, and the tone of the hip muscles weakens.Contractures begin to form.
- With third-degree coxarthrosis, a pain syndrome is evident.The legs become shorter due to atrophy of the hip muscles and expansion of the femoral neck.When walking, patients need support.Due to arthrosis, the joint space may be completely lost, in which case they call it ankylosis.
In clinical practice, physicians frequently encounter regressive hip arthropathy (typical of the elderly) and postinfectious hip arthropathy.Patients taking corticosteroids and antidepressants are at risk for hormonal hip arthritis; this type of arthropathy can also affect the joints in menopausal women.As with arthritis in the hip joint, it is primarily an inflammatory process rather than a degenerative one.
If the cause of the disease has not yet been determined, we are talking about primary or idiopathic hip arthropathy.Typically, this disease affects the joints of people over the age of 50.Secondary arthropathy occurs at a young age; usually, arthropathy of the left or right hip is diagnosed (unilateral hip arthropathy).
symptom
Symptoms of hip arthritis do not bother patients at first, and only the occasional prolonged load or awkward movement on the affected area alerts the patient that something is wrong.
Hip arthritis of the hip joint manifests as:
- Pain in hip area.The intensity and nature of joint pain depend on the stage of arthrosis and weather conditions.
- Increased body temperature.In arthritis of one or both hip joints, coldness and swelling of the joints may be observed.
- The buttock muscles weaken and subsequently atrophy.
- There is a noticeable crunching sound at the joints.May be a sign of hip joint disease, but is not mandatory.
- limp.An uncertain "duck" gait develops due to joint damage to the hip bone.
People with hip disease often experience pain that radiates to the kneecap, so an inexperienced doctor listening to the patient may make the wrong diagnosis and delay the recovery process for months.
diagnosis
Arthropathy is diagnosed by a rheumatologist, traumatologist, or orthopedic surgeon.After interviewing the patient, the doctor will perform an external examination of the hip area, study leg mobility, and evaluate the gait of people with hip arthritis.
The most effective methods for diagnosing joint disease include:
- General and biochemical blood tests.
- Plain X-ray of the hip area.
- Ultrasound and MRI.
If infected hip joint is suspected, the synovial fluid volume is measured and its cellular composition is examined.In order to rule out the presence of auto-aggressive antibodies in the body, the patient was sent for RF analysis in the serum.
How to Treat Hip Arthritis?
The choice of hip treatment takes into account the stage of hip arthropathy, the patient's age, and concomitant diagnoses.Degree 1 and 2 joint disease can be treated with a comprehensive approach: taking medications combined with physical therapy methods, massage, and a special diet.
After the acute phase of the hip joint is over, aerobic training without running or jumping can be performed to treat the hip joint.
After the acute phase of the hip joint is over, choose gentle gymnastics with a limited range of motion and aerobic training without running or jumping to treat the hip joint.In the final stage, the treatment of the hip joint is carried out in a health resort.
drug treatment
Conservative treatment of the disease aims to relieve pain in the hip area and preserve the function of the joint.The primary goal is complete recovery or stable remission of hip arthritis.
Treatment of arthropathy is incomplete without the following:
- NSAIDs.Nonsteroidal medications can relieve pain and inflammation in moving joints, but pills do nothing to restore the structure of the hyaline cartilage in the hip joint.
- Vasodilators.These medications ensure the delivery of nutrients to the affected joints and eliminate congestion in the hip area.
- Chondroprotectant.Fill joint tissue with water and improve its lubrication properties.Prevents damage to joint structures in the hip area.Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are part of many chondroprotective agents.
- Anti-arthritis gels and ointments.They have a warming, stimulating or distracting effect.These drugs successfully cured arthritis of the hip joint.
- In the acute stage of hip arthritis, steroid drugs should be injected into the joint cavity to eliminate pain.
Compressing with medical bile can increase the effectiveness of the listed joint disease treatments.Therapeutic bandages cannot be used in the buttock area if the lymphatic system is affected and there is a fever (infectious hip joint disease).
physical therapy
Despite the deep location of the hip joint, physical therapy methods can provide relief from hip arthrosis.Popular physical therapy procedures include electrophoresis, laser therapy, and warmed paraffin applications.Acupuncture improves the innervation of cartilage tissue and the function of internal organs.Hydrocortisone phonophoresis for the treatment of arthropathy combines the advantages of ultrasound with a pharmacological effect on the hip area.
diet and nutrition
Special diets for hip disease include low-fat foods and high levels of vitamins B, C, and E as well as calcium, potassium, and magnesium.It is recommended to start the day with a glass of freshly squeezed juice.Give priority to boiled or steamed dishes.
The daily menu for arthrosis should include:
- Dairy products.
- Fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Low-fat fish and meat.
- Whole wheat bread.
- Boil porridge with water.
Eliminate salty and spicy foods, nightshades, baked goods, smoked foods and carbonated drinks from your diet.When treating hip joint disease, it is not advisable to buy ready-made foods or semi-finished products from supermarkets.
endoprosthesis
In the final stages of hip arthrosis, the affected joint needs to be replaced with an artificial joint.Before surgery, patients must undergo general blood and urine tests, an ultrasound of the hip, and an electrocardiogram.
Main stages of the process:
- The surgeon cuts away the femoral head and inserts a pin inside to connect to the titanium femoral head implant.
- Part of the pelvic surface was removed and in its place a polymer bed was installed, which was attached to a titanium head.
The best way to secure dentures is with bone cement.If the joint is affected at a young age, cementless fastening methods are sometimes used.
massage
Massage can relieve muscle spasms and strengthen the ligamentous apparatus to prevent hip joint disease.Patients with joint disease should assume a comfortable position and relax during the procedure.First we massage the back (10 minutes), then the sacro-gluteal area.By bending the fingers in a circular motion, we knead the problematic thigh in the direction of lymph flow (from bottom to top).To slow down the progression of arthrosis, the procedure is performed three times a day.
Exercise and movement therapy
The level of loading on the hip joint during joint treatment is determined by the physical therapy physician.It is recommended that physiotherapy be carried out in a room specially equipped for this purpose.Swimming in a pool or skiing will speed the recovery of joints suffering from hip arthritis.
The method of combating joint disease proposed by practicing rheumatologist P. V. Evdokimenko is gaining popularity.Evdokimenko's gymnastics consists of static exercises to strengthen the gluteal muscles, stretching them with minimal pressure on the affected area.For example, if you lie on your left side, bend your left leg at the knee and straighten your right leg, and then hold the elevated position for about 30 seconds, your muscles will begin to contract.For hip joint disease, perform this task 5 ways per leg.
folk remedies
The traditional approach to treating hip joint disease is based on basic concepts regarding the properties of herbs.Before the development of the pharmaceutical industry, eucalyptus oil, cloves and fresh aloe vera juice were rubbed into sore joints to treat joint disease.Chelidonium ointment relaxes the gluteal muscles and tendons.
Effective Alternative Medicine Recipes:
- Grate 200 grams of white leg root and add lard (300-400 grams).Put it on a low fire, and after 5-7 minutes, the medicine for treating hip joint disease will be ready.Apply the cooled substance to the affected joint at night for two weeks.
- Beat egg whites with 1 tbsp.lake flour.For arthropathy, the drug mixture should be applied to the buttock area before going to bed.Don’t forget to wrap aching joints with parchment paper and a woolen scarf.
Shilajit has strong restorative properties and improves hip joint mobility.For arthritis and joint disease, dissolve 5 grams of mumiyo in 10-20 ml of water and pour 45 grams of heated petroleum jelly.Use gentle movements to rub the product into the skin of your thighs.
prevention
Preventing hip arthritis requires giving up bad habits, a sedentary lifestyle, and bearing extra weight on the hip area that exceeds the physiological limits of joint strength.Follow the daily routine and principles of hip PN and pay attention to posture.Annual joint exams starting at age 30 will help prevent irreversible changes in the body of people with joint disease.
Among the pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, arthropathy of the hip joint predominates.The disease reduces patients' quality of life and is a leading cause of disability at a young age.Even if you can't protect yourself from hip disease, don't despair - take action!