Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is considered today one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system.Its symptoms cause serious discomfort to the patient and limit physical activity, and treatment is prolonged.
In severe cases, the disease leads to disability.Osteoarthritis of this location is also known as coxarthrosis.In this disorder, the hip joint suffers from chronic inflammation.Their cartilage tissue is destroyed and the joint space narrows, leading to a significant decrease in leg mobility.
The disease most often develops in older patients, but is sometimes diagnosed in young people.
The essence of the disease
The hip joint is the largest joint in the human body.It is located at the junction of the femur bones with the pelvis, which is why it supports a significant daily load.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 the bone tissue is covered by durable and highly elastic cartilage.It plays the role of a shock absorber and also ensures smooth sliding of the bones.Cartilage tissue prevents destruction of the femurs and pelvis.
With coxarthrosis, the cartilage begins to thin and collapse, and, consequently, the bone tissues come into contact with each other.Sliding becomes difficult and painful.Movements become restricted.Further progression of the disease leads to more pronounced destructive changes: bone surfaces are covered with growths (they arise due to constant injuries), which further complicates movements in the joint.
Reasons
There are many known factors that can cause coxarthrosis.This disease can occur as a result of:
- congenital joint pathologies (dysplasia), which can remain undiagnosed for many years of life;
- premature wear of joint mechanisms, which is explained by excessive loads (during intense sports or excess body weight);
- previous injuries;
- infectious processes that affect the functions of the musculoskeletal system;
- inadequate blood supply to the joint (for example, due to atherosclerosis);
- spinal diseases;
- hormonal disorders;
- rheumatic processes, etc.
Identifying the causes of osteoarthritis of the hip joint makes it possible to prevent further development of the disease, select the most comprehensive treatment and relieve unpleasant symptoms.
Symptoms
Signs of coxarthrosis directly depend on the degree of degenerative processes in the joint body.In total, doctors distinguish 3 main stages of the disease:
- Stage 1. With this condition, the patient is bothered by periodic pains in the groin area.They are caused by physical activity, prolonged walking and static position.Once you rest, the discomfort disappears.Therefore, patients do not perceive them as a reason to consult a doctor.And the disease develops further.
- Stage 2. At this stage of development, coxarthrosis causes more pronounced pain.The pain appears even after minor exertion.The patient begins to limp and the discomfort radiates to the inner thigh area.The affected joint may crack.Most often, osteoarthritis at this stage limits motor activity and leads to a decrease in muscle strength.
- Stage 3. At this stage, coxarthrosis reaches such a stage of development that it makes the patient's life almost unbearable.The pain becomes constant and intensifies even with small loads.A person with the third stage of osteoarthritis of the hip joint is forced to use a cane.In this case, the problem leg is often shortened, which is explained by distortion of the pelvis and spine.The muscles atrophy.The third stage of the disease leads to a significant deterioration in the general condition.Constant pain interferes with sleep and causes depression.
Some doctors separately distinguish stage 4 of coxarthrosis, in which the affected joint becomes completely immobile.
The development of osteoarthritis of the hip joint can be seen on a normal x-ray.When the pathological process is just beginning to develop, the joint space narrows slightly and small, isolated protrusions can be found in the bone tissue.At this stage of development, the disease can be treated conservatively.If coxarthrosis causes deep deformation of the joint and contact of bone surfaces (which is typical for the third stage of the disease), then the normal state can only be restored with the help of surgery.
Non-pharmacological treatment
Patients with osteoarthritis of the hip joint are recommended to relieve the affected joint as much as possible.For this you need:
- avoid running, walking a lot, jumping, lifting heavy objects and staying in one position for a long time;
- wear special shoes with well-cushioned soles;
- Additionally, lean on a cane or crutch (it should be held in the hand opposite the affected joint).
To reduce pain and improve the functioning of the joint system, it is recommended to perform regular physiotherapy exercises.Simple exercises help strengthen muscle tissue, which gives excellent long-term results.If you are overweight, you should follow a diet and get rid of those extra kilos.
Pharmacological treatment
Conservative drug treatment for osteoarthritis of the hip joint is selected individually;Therapy largely depends on the symptoms of the disease and the results of diagnostic procedures.As a rule, patients are prescribed:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They help relieve pain in the affected joint;
- Steroid (hormonal) medications.They are used when non-steroidal drugs are not effective enough;
- Muscle relaxants that reduce muscle tone and help eliminate pain;
- Vasodilators.It may be necessary if blood circulation in the joint is insufficient;
- Chondroprotectors that promote the restoration of joints and prevent further destruction.
Conservative treatment of the joint can be complemented by the use of the latest medical techniques.Patients may be offered plasma lifting procedures, physiotherapy treatments and balneotherapy.All these methods of influence are practiced only after the acute inflammatory process has been eliminated.
Balneotherapy for coxarthrosis.
Patients with coxarthrosis may benefit from balneotherapy treatments, particularly mud baths.Such procedures can be carried out in regular clinics, private clinics, rehabilitation centers and sanatorium-resort institutions.Mud baths are widely used in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.In osteoarthritis of the hip joint, mud treatment helps to reduce the inflammatory process, relieve unpleasant symptoms and slow down degenerative processes.The effectiveness of these procedures is confirmed by research conducted by German scientists.In their article published in 2019, experts noted that a mud bath treatment for coxarthrosis helped:
- improve the motor functions of the joint;
- significantly reduce the severity of pain (the effect persisted for 3 months after the end of therapy);
- slow down the progression of the disease.
However, it is worth considering that all physiotherapeutic and balneological procedures for coxarthrosis can only be carried out with the approval of the treating doctor.Such treatment of the joint should be combined with taking prescribed medications and compliance with all restrictive recommendations.