Hip arthrosis, also known as coxarthrosis, is one of the most serious diseases of a modern person, often leading to disability. Its first manifestations - mild lumbar pain - are usually ignored. The patient usually seeks professional medical help when medication is no longer effective and arthroplasty is required.
Causes
Hip arthrosis is caused by a combination of various adverse conditions. Microtraumas and total injuries account for about one-fifth of all cases (10-20% on average).
Other causes of hip arthrosis include:
- Excessive loads.
- Heart attack or aseptic necrosis of the hip joint.
- Prolonged stress, prolonged depression.
- Overweight.
- Inheritance.
- Congenital disorders and underdevelopment.
- Inflammatory processes in the joints.
- Hormonal background defect.
Excessive loads
Until recently, it was believed that excessive physical exertion, many hours of walking, hard work (as a loader) were the main causes of arthrosis. But this is not the case.
A healthy joint that has never been injured is perfectly tolerant of stress, especially at a young age, and nothing happens to it.
But once, even in childhood, there were microtraumas, such a joint marked the development of coxarthrosis. Because of this, the disease occurs in 20-30% of cases.
Heart attack
This is a violation of blood flow to the joint. In other words, the disease is called aseptic necrosis of the hip joint, which usually occurs after injury.
In addition to injury, the cause of a heart attack may be:
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- Frequent injections of corticosteroids.
- Unexpected shock (severe stress).
- Excessive, one-time load when one is not ready for it.
Heart attacks quite often become one of the causes of coxarthrosis morbidity - in 10-30% of cases.
Prolonged stress
Few believe in psychosomatics. However, prolonged experiences, depression, a lack of understanding of the family, and the various phobias that underlie it are a direct path to joint problems, not just hip problems. The incidence of arthrosis is therefore very high - up to 50.
The mechanism of triggering the disease in this situation is simple. During prolonged depression, the patient's body produces stress hormones that belong to the group of corticosteroids. The longer a person is in this condition, the higher their concentration in the blood. Corticosteroids inhibit the production of hyaluronic acid, which is a major component of synovial fluid. If it is not produced enough or its composition changes, the cartilage becomes poorly moisturized, dries out, and is covered with a small mesh of small cracks.
Stress hormone reduces capillary permeability while damaging blood circulation in the joints.
Overweight
is another factor among other causes of hip joint (coxarthrosis) joint.
Overweight people put tremendous stress on their joints, especially on the ankles, knees and hips.
As long as they are young, everything works within normal limits. But as you age, staying at the same weight, joint problems grow like a snowball.
Inheritance
If one of your relatives had osteoarthritis, you don't need to get sick at all. However, the occurrence of "wounds" is influenced by the characteristics of the metabolism, the structure of the cartilage, and can be inherited. This includes the weakness of the muscular device. Because of this, coxarthrosis is only achievable in 10% of cases. And it is far from happening. The most important thing is to regularly examine and check the condition of the joints.
Congenital anomaly
This is usually treated in early childhood, allowing the child to grow up and use the limb normally. However, the presence of an anomaly always carries a risk of developing coxarthrosis, especially if you do not monitor the condition of the joints. The incidence rate is low - only 5. It should not be overlooked that only the combined use of several causes leads to hip arthrosis.
Arthritis
This process is commonly referred to as arthritis. The disease provokes the occurrence of secondary coxarthrosis in 2-3% of cases. The inflammatory process alters the quality of the intraarticular fluid. It becomes more viscous and eliminates its direct functions. As a result, the cartilage rubs the cartilage, gradually collapsing.
In addition to the causes that directly or indirectly affect the incidence of coxarthrosis, hormonal changes in menopause, metabolic diseases (diabetes), nerve diseases (in which sensitivity of the lower extremities is lost), and osteoporosis can be mentioned.
Symptoms
Hip arthrosis manifests itself in different ways. In the first stage of the development of the patient's pathology, almost nothing disturbs, except for the weak unpleasant, sometimes painful, independently experienced feelings.
The symptoms of hip arthrosis are specific and allow a preliminary conclusion (diagnosis) already at the stage of the examination:
- Inguinal pain. This is the main symptom of the disease. If you feel something is wrong in this area while on the move, try to see a doctor as soon as possible. Lumbar pain usually travels to the front or side of the thigh and can radiate to the buttocks or knees. It is extremely rare for pain in the arthrosis of the hip to reach the middle of the calf muscle. The patient feels uncomfortable when descending or getting up from a chair or after a long walk.
- Limited mobility. This symptom indicates that arthrosis (coxarthrosis) of the hip joint is already progressing. If you ask such a patient to sit in a “chair, ” that is, in the back, you probably won’t be able to do that.
- Crunch of the hip joint while walking. It does not appear immediately, but as the arthrosis progresses and the cartilage is destroyed. The difference from the usual cracking of a healthy joint is a fairly dry sound and pain syndrome with mild to moderate intensity.
- Shortening of the diseased limb. It occurs when the disease is already sufficiently advanced.
- Limp, a sore leg due to partial or complete destruction of cartilage.
- Muscle atrophy of the affected leg. They look visually dry and unhealthy.
- Pain in the knee joint due to muscle atrophy.
Diagnostics
This moment is not too long for the patient. After visual examination and interrogation of the patient, he prescribes a referral for blood donation - general analysis, biochemical and rheumatic examination. This is done to rule out the inflammatory process in the body. In arthrosis, all indicators are close to normal.
The next step is instrumental testing:
- X-ray and / or CT.Computed tomography shows the joints a little better.
- MRI. He is appointed first. Such a survey is as informative as possible.
- Ultrasound of the joints.A sign of coxarthrosis in this study is a clear thinning of the cartilage. However, the accuracy of the result depends to a large extent on the qualifications of the professional deciphering the data obtained. Therefore, it is prescribed in rare cases to diagnose the disease.
Consequences
If arthrosis of the hip joint is not treated, in the hope that "perhaps it will go away on its own, " the disease actively progresses. The consequences of such indifference to oneself are expressed in muscle atrophy and a clear shortening and dehydration of the diseased limb, at some point one will not be able to move independently. Pain syndrome becomes a constant companion for such a patient, even strong painkillers cannot alleviate it. The only way out of this situation will be a joint prosthesis - endoprosthesis.
If an elderly patient is diagnosed with coxarthrosis, treatment should be initiated immediately. The sedentary lifestyle that always occurs in the patient due to constant severe pain significantly shortens life.
Conventional treatment
Can be divided into medical and surgical. The second is used when the first does not result in a significant improvement with prolonged use.
Early stages of coxarthrosis are quite treatable:
- Medications.
- Manual therapy.
- Drag on a special table.
- with PIR (relaxation after measurement).
- Therapeutic massage.
- Hirudotherapy.
- Physiotherapy.
Medications
The role of drugs is multifaceted. Not only tablets are used, but also ointments, intraarticular injections. Tablets (capsules, sachets) are prescribed to relieve pain (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), to improve the nutrition of cartilage and to improve the quality of intra-articular lubrication (chondroprotectors), to relieve muscle cramps (muscle relaxants).
Ointments and creams have the weakest effect, warming and irritation. Their effect is close to placebo. At the moment of rubbing, the patient’s body produces endorphins - pleasure hormones - that are quite effective in relieving pain.
Intraarticular injections of hip arthrosis are very rare. This is due to the narrow joint space, which is quite difficult to access even with the use of special aids. The procedure is performed through the groin and is so complex that ninety-nine percent of physicians prefer to inject the drug into the periarticular sac by punching the side of the thigh.
By injection:
- Relieves high-intensity pain syndrome (corticosteroids).
- Nourishes cartilage (chondroprotectors).
- Improves the quality of the lubricant (hyaluronic acid substitutes - injected through the groin).
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are given orally for mild to moderate pain. They also effectively quench inflammatory processes.
Manual therapy
Treatment by an experienced professional can recover patients with moderate coxarthrosis. The doctor's job is to restore joint mobility and relieve pain. Manual therapy is divided into manipulation (single effect on the joint) and mobilization (4 courses per year, 3-4 times each).
Mobilization ofallows you to stretch the affected limb with minimal pain. Increase joint space, relax tight muscles. Manipulation is allowed only in the early stages of the disease.
Dragging on a special table also gives some results, but significantly loses manual therapy. Unlike the doctor's hand, the machine (device) does not feel the patient and can cause damage if used incorrectly.
PIR
Post-isometric relaxation means an active interaction between the patient and the treating physician. The method means that the patient relaxes / strengthens certain muscle groups as instructed by the person skilled in the art. At this point, the doctor stretches his ligaments and joints.
This treatment for coxarthrosis helps relieve muscle cramps. The method is effective in grade I and II coxarthrosis.
Massage
If you decide to use this method, you will need to find a highly qualified professional. Otherwise, it may worsen instead of alleviating the condition. The method is effective as an adjunct in coxarthrosis I. and II.
Massage coxarthrosis should not cause pain. During the procedure, the feelings are pleasant, you need to feel relaxation and comfort.
Please note that massage has contraindications. Do not self-heal.
Hirudotherapy
Treatment with leeches helps in the early stages of arthrosis of the hip joints. The saliva of this worm improves blood circulation, cartilage elasticity, and itself contains many useful substances. It acts as a chondroprotector, only softer.
Leeches are located not only on the sore thigh, but also on the sacrum, lower abdomen and lower back. You must take 2 courses a year, 10 times.
Physiotherapy
Without dosed physical exercise, no disease can be cured or relieved. Hip arthrosis is no exception. If it does not strengthen the muscles, its atrophy is inevitable, while the condition of the cartilage is doubled.
It is advisable to study in special groups under the supervision of professionals. The medical complex is selected by the physician based on the examinations, the degree of coxarthrosis, and the patient’s physical abilities.
Endoprosthetics
Surgery is performed in stages III and IV of coxarthrosis, when conservative treatment gives minimal results or is not effective at all. It is the surgeon’s job to replace both the joint head and the acetabulum with artificial implants with a small incision in the thigh.
Such operations are now in progress. Imagine what awaits you if you ignore the first signs of coxarthrosis, imagine the course of the operation (in short):
- The patient is anesthetized.
- An incision is made in the thigh, soft tissue is cut out, nerves are pulled back
- Remove the joint from your bed. In simple words, the doctor makes an artificial displacement to get his head.
- The head of the joint is removed with part of the bone.
- The acetabulum is purified.
- The endoprosthesis, an artificial joint head, is placed in the bone, or rather "clogged. "
- An artificial acetabulum is inserted.
- The joint is relocated. The doctor checks his mobility by moving the limb in different directions.
- The wound is disinfected and sutured.
A fairly long rehabilitation period and adherence to a certain order is required after surgery.
Traditional methods
Lovers of self-healing should note that coxarthrosis is a disease that can only be treated by a doctor. All folk methods in the form of rubbing, body lotions and other "unusual things" do not lead to anything good.
However, some prescriptions for traditional medicine can be complementary tools for the first stage of the disease:
- Cabbage leaves.It is used to relieve pain and relieve the "torsion" of a sore joint without taking painkillers. At night, tie a few cabbage leaves to your thighs after rubbing pure honey into the skin. Wrap plastic wrap and some heat on top. In the morning, remove, rinse the remaining honey with cold water and repeat the compress. Repeat until the pain subsides.
- Honey and turnip ointment.Similar in effect to cabbage leaves. You just have to cook. The ratio of turnips to honey is 1/1. Wrap the root vegetables in a meat grinder, add honey, stir. Pour 50 ml of vodka or alcohol. Stir again. Rub the affected joint until the pain disappears.
- Spas.Cooking requires pine branches (a couple of large branches), turpentine turpentine (1 teaspoon), bath salt (1 kg) and cut Jerusalem artichoke tubers (3-4 pieces). Fill with hot water and let cook. When the water is pleasant for bathing, remove the branches and Jerusalem artichokes and begin the procedure. After finishing, apply iodine netting to the sore thigh or rub the honey, put on some warmth and lie down.
Hip arthrosis is a serious disease that occurs when used for a number of reasons.
In order not to become disabled, not to wait for the consequences, to participate in annual examinations, consult a doctor for the first discomfort in the groin area.