Throughout life, the joints of the legs experience a lot of stress. The hip joint is a large ball-and-socket joint that provides the ability to move independently. The appearance of painful sensations, stiff movements, limping gait makes a person think about the appearance of pathology.
In recent years, the number of people under 30 who are diagnosed with osteoarthritis has increased dramatically. This statistic is extremely disappointing, as the disease progresses steadily and can lead to serious disability and impairment. To protect yourself from the development of side effects, you should immediately start treatment and follow all medical recommendations.
Arthrosis of the hip joint causes a lot of inconvenience to its owner. If there is discomfort in the joint area, it is necessary to consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment. Delayed treatment can cost the patient the ability to walk independently.
What is arthrosis?
Arthritis is a rheumatological disease based on degenerative and dystrophic changes in the joints. At the same time, the pathological process involves not only the joint surfaces, but also the ligament apparatus and the capsule. The joints of the hands, feet, and knees are most often affected, but the most serious disease is arthrosis of the hip joint. As it develops, the risk of developing total disability due to severe movement restrictions increases.
The basis of articular cartilage consists of collagen molecules and proteoglycans: they give the joint strength and elasticity, make it resistant to various types of loads. Under the influence of external factors, the amount of collagen and proteoglycans decreases, which leads to depletion and gradual destruction of cartilage tissue. Arthrosis develops under the influence of the following factors:
- mechanical injury;
- inflammatory processes in the joints;
- excessive load on the lower limbs;
- obesity;
- age-related changes in the body (in people over 55);
- menopause (in women);
- malnutrition with a deficiency of protein products and calcium;
- hereditary predisposition;
- transferred joint operations.
How does arthrosis of the hip joint manifest itself?
Arthrosis develops gradually, so it is quite difficult to detect its initial manifestations. The patient may ignore the symptoms of the disease, mistaking them for fatigue or overwork. Exacerbation of discomfort may occur after an injury. Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pain in the affected limb. It is dull, painful in nature, constant throughout the day. Unpleasant sensations increase during physical activity (exercises, running or walking), decrease at rest. When the hip joint is affected, the pain radiates to the groin, perineum and thigh. The joint may also begin to "react" to changes in weather conditions or atmospheric pressure.
- Atrophic muscle changes. When walking, the patient unconsciously spares the affected limb, which results in less strain on the gluteal and thigh muscles. This is accompanied by their atrophy and volume reduction. This is especially noticeable in unilateral arthrosis.
- The appearance of a crunch during movement in the joint. This sound resembles the rustling of a plastic bag and becomes louder after a long period of immobility (night sleep). In medicine, this term is called "crepitus". The appearance of a crunch is associated with a violation of the mobility of the joint.
- An increase in the volume of the affected joint. This happens as a result of the formation on the bone surfaces of the smallest spikes - osteophytes. Such a reaction occurs as a compensatory response to an increase in the load on the bone surface (with thinning of the cartilage).
Medical treatment of arthrosis
Currently, it is not possible to completely prevent the destruction of cartilage tissue. Therefore, the treatment of arthrosis with the help of drugs is aimed at reducing pain and slowing the progression of the disease. The following groups of drugs are most often used in therapy:
- Non-narcotic analgesics and analgesics with mixed action. They help reduce pain and are available in tablets or ampoules for intravenous administration.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of topical ointments or creams are also used to control pain. They are also prescribed if arthrosis is accompanied by inflammation of the synovial membrane of the joint.
- Chondroprotectors are drugs that slow the progression of the disease and improve joint function.
Exercise therapy and physiotherapy methods
In the fight against the disease, non-pharmacological means are also widely used. Doctors prescribe exercises for patients to strengthen muscles and prevent the development of joint immobility. The nature of the exercises and the frequency of their performance are determined individually for each case. The treatment of arthrosis also includes such physiotherapeutic procedures as:
- transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation;
- acupuncture;
- magnetic therapy;
- electrophoresis with analgesics;
- laser therapy;
- massage.
To reduce the load on the affected limb, the patient is also advised to use canes or a walker. It will be helpful to wear a hip brace, a special device that helps restore leg function and avoid further damage to the joint.
surgery
Endoprosthetics are prescribed in cases where conservative methods of treating arthrosis of the hip joint are ineffective. The goal of the operation is to eliminate the pain syndrome and restore the motor function of the limb. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia in a specialized hospital, after which the patient has a long rehabilitation. The most favorable prognosis for childbirth is in patients aged 40 to 75 years with a body weight of up to 70 kg: in them, the probability of rejection of the endoprosthesis is minimized, which makes the treatment of arthrosis extremely effective. On average, the prosthesis lasts about 10-12 years, but there are cases of successful use with minimal wear for 20-25 years.