Reasons
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is caused by a combination of different, unfavorable circumstances. Microtraumas and full-fledged injuries make up about a fifth of the total number of cases (on average 10–20%).
Other causes of hip osteoarthritis include:
- Excessive loads.
- Heart attack or aseptic necrosis of the hip joint.
- Prolonged stress, prolonged depression.
- Overweight.
- Heredity.
- Congenital anomalies and underdevelopment.
- Inflammatory processes in the joints.
- Hormonal background failure.
Overload
Until recently, it was believed that excessive physical exertion, hours of walking, hard work (as a loader) were the main cause of osteoarthritis. But it is not so.
A healthy joint, which has never been injured, perfectly withstands any stress, especially in youth, and nothing happens to it.
But if once, even in childhood, there were microtraumas, then such a joint is a candidate for the development of coxarthrosis. For that reason, the disease occurs in 20-30% of cases.
Heart attack
This is a violation of blood flow in the joint. In other words, the disease is called aseptic necrosis of the hip joint, which usually occurs after an injury.
In addition to injury, a heart attack can be caused by:
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- Frequent injections of corticosteroids.
- Unexpected shock (strong stress).
- Excessive, one-time loads when a person is not ready for them.
Heart attack very often becomes one of the causes of morbidity of coxarthrosis - in 10-30% of cases.
Prolonged stress
Few people believe in psychosomatics. However, long-term experiences, depression, misunderstandings in the family and various phobias that occur in this background are a direct path to joint problems, not just the hip. The incidence of osteoarthritis for this reason is very high - up to 50.
The mechanism of disease initiation in this situation is simple. During prolonged depression, the patient’s body produces stress hormones that belong to the corticosteroid group. The longer a person is in this condition, the higher the concentration in the blood. Corticosteroids inhibit the production of hyaluronic acid, which is the main component of joint fluid. If it is not produced enough or its composition is changed, the cartilage is slightly moistened, dried, covered with a network of small cracks.
Stress hormone reduces the permeability of capillaries, and at the same time interferes with blood circulation in the joints.
Overweight
It is an additional factor among other causes of osteoarthritis of the hip joint (coxarthrosis).
People who are overweight put enormous stress on the joints, especially the ankles, knees and hips.
As long as they are young, everything seems to work within normal limits. But with age, staying at the same weight, joint problems will grow like a snowball.
Heredity
If one of your relatives had osteoarthritis, you don't need to get sick at all. However, the appearance of "ulcers" is influenced by the properties of metabolism, cartilage structure and they can be inherited. It also includes weakness of the muscular apparatus. For this reason, coxarthrosis can only be acquired in 10% of cases. And it is far from the fact that it will happen. The main thing is regular examination and monitoring of 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 is always a risk of getting coxarthrosis, especially if you do not monitor the condition of the joints. The incidence rate is small - only 5. It should not be overlooked that only a number of reasons lead to the appearance of osteoarthritis of the hip joint.
Inflammation of the joint
This process is commonly referred to as arthritis. The disease provokes the appearance of secondary coxarthrosis in 2-3% of cases. The inflammatory process changes the quality of the intra-articular fluid. It becomes more viscous and ceases to perform its direct functions. As a result, the cartilage rubs against the cartilage, gradually collapsing.
Among other reasons, which directly or indirectly affect the occurrence of coxarthrosis, hormonal changes in menopause, metabolic diseases (diabetes), nervous diseases (in which the sensitivity of the lower extremities is lost), osteoporosis can be mentioned.
Symptoms
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint manifests itself in different ways. In the first stage of pathology development, the patient is bothered by almost nothing, except for weak unpleasant, sometimes painful, independent passages, sensations.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip joint are specific and allow a preliminary conclusion (for diagnosis) already in the examination phase:
- Groin pain. This is the main symptom of the disease. If you feel something is wrong in this area while moving, try to see a doctor as soon as possible. Pain in the groin usually travels along the front or side of the thigh, and can also radiate to the buttocks or knee. It is extremely rare for pain in osteoarthritis of the hip joint to reach the middle of the calf muscle. The patient feels discomfort the moment he sinks into a chair or gets up or after a long walk.
- Limited mobility. This symptom signals that osteoarthritis of the hip joint (coxarthrosis) is already progressing. If you ask such a patient to sit "in a chair" or backwards, it is unlikely that they will be able to do so.
- Cramps of the hip joint when walking. It does not appear immediately, but as the arthrosis progresses and destroys the cartilage. Its difference from the usual contraction of a healthy joint is a rather dry sound and a pain syndrome of low or moderate intensity.
- Shortening a diseased limb. It occurs when the disease is already advanced enough.
- Lameness, falling on a sore leg due to the fact that there is partial or complete destruction of cartilage.
- Muscle atrophy of the affected leg. Visually it looks dry and unhealthy.
- Pain in the knee joint due to muscle atrophy.
Diagnostics
This moment is not too long for the patient. After a visual examination and examination of the patient, the doctor prescribes a referral for blood donation - general analysis, biochemistry and rheumatic test. This is done to rule out an inflammatory process in the body. In osteoarthritis, all indicators are close to normal.
The next step is instrumental reviews:
- X-ray and / or CT.Computed tomography shows the joints a little better.
- MRI. First appointed. Such a survey is as informative as possible.
- Ultrasound of joints.A sign of coxarthrosis in this study is clear cartilage thinning. However, the accuracy of the results largely depends on the qualifications of the expert who deciphers the data obtained. Therefore, it is prescribed in rare cases to diagnose the disease.
Consequences
If osteoarthritis of the hip is not treated, hoping that “it may go away on its own, ” the disease will actively progress. The consequences of such indifference to oneself are expressed in muscle atrophy and the obvious shortening and drying of the diseased limb, at some point the person will not be able to move independently. The pain syndrome will become a constant companion for such a patient, even strong painkillers cannot alleviate it. The only way out of this situation will be joint replacement surgery - endoprosthetics.
If coxarthrosis is diagnosed in an elderly patient, treatment should be started immediately. A sedentary lifestyle, which inevitably occurs in the patient due to severe constant pain, significantly shortens life.
Traditional treatment
Can be divided into medical and surgical. The second is used in the case when the first does not bring significant improvements with prolonged use.
Coxarthrosis in the initial stages is quite treatable:
- Medications.
- Manual therapy.
- Tows on a special table.
- With PIR (relaxation after measurement).
- Therapeutic massage.
- Hirudotherapy.
- Rehabilitation gymnastics.
Medications
The task of drugs is ambiguous. Not only tablets are used, but also ointments, intra-articular injections. Tablets (capsules, sachets) are prescribed to relieve pain (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), improve nutritious food and improve the quality of intra-articular lubrication (chondroprotectors), relieve muscle cramps (muscle relaxants).
Ointments and creams have the weakest effect and are used for warming and irritation. Their effect is close to placebo. At the moment of rubbing, the patient's body produces endorphins - pleasure hormones and they are quite effective in relieving pain.
Intra-articular injections for osteoarthritis of the hip are very rare. This is due to the narrow joint space, which is quite difficult to enter, even with the use of special auxiliary equipment. The procedure is done through the groin and is so complex that ninety-nine percent of physicians prefer to inject the drug into the periarticular sac by performing a puncture on the side of the thigh.
Injection:
- Alleviate high intensity pain syndrome (corticosteroids).
- They feed on cartilage (chondroprotectors).
- Improves the quality of lubricants (hyaluronic acid substitutes - injected into the groin).
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are given orally for mild to moderate pain. They also effectively extinguish inflammatory processes.
Manual therapy
Treatment by an experienced specialist can put patients with moderate coxarthrosis on their feet. The task of the doctor is to restore joint mobility, relieve pain. Manual therapy is divided into manipulation (individual effect on the joint) and mobilization (4 courses per year, 3 to 4 sessions each).
Mobilization allows you to stretch the affected limb with minimal pain. Increase joint space, relax tense muscles. Manipulation is allowed only in the early stages of the disease.
Towing on a special table also gives certain results, but it loses significantly from manual therapy. The device (device), unlike the doctor's hands, does not feel the patient and if used improperly, can be harmful.
PIR
Postisometric relaxation involves active interaction between the patient and the attending physician. The meaning of the method is that the patient relaxes / tenses certain muscle groups according to the instructions of the expert. At this point, the doctor stretches the ligaments and joints.
This treatment for coxarthrosis helps relieve muscle cramps. The method is effective for coxarthrosis of I and II degree.
Massage
If you decide to use this method, you need to find a highly qualified professional. Otherwise, instead of alleviating the condition, you can make it worse. The method is effective for grade I and II coxarthrosis as an adjunct.
Massage for coxarthrosis should not cause pain. Feelings during the procedure are pleasant, one should feel relaxed and comfortable.
Please note that there are contraindications to massage. Don’t engage in self-medication.
Hirudotherapy
Treatment with leeches helps in the early stages of osteoarthritis of the hip joints. The saliva of this worm improves blood circulation, cartilage elasticity, and itself contains many useful substances. It acts like a chondroprotector, only softer.
Leeches are placed not only on the painful thigh, but also on the sacrum, lower abdomen, lower back. You need to attend 2 courses of 10 sessions per year.
Rehabilitation gymnastics
No disease can be cured or alleviated without a dose of exercise. Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is no exception. If you do not strengthen the muscles, their atrophy is inevitable, while the condition of the cartilage will double.
It is desirable to study in special groups under the supervision of specialists. The medical complex is selected by the doctor based on the examination, the degree of coxarthrosis and the patient's physical capabilities.
Endoprosthetics
Surgery is performed on III and IV degree of coxarthrosis, when conservative treatment gives minimal results or is not effective at all. The surgeon's task is to replace the articular head and the acetabulum with artificial implants with a small joint on the thigh.
Such operations are now underway. To imagine what awaits you if you ignore the first signs of coxarthrosis, imagine the course of the operation (in brief):
- The patient is anesthetized.
- An incision is made in the thigh, soft tissues are cut, nerves are pulled.
- The wrist is being removed from its bed. In simple words, the doctor makes an artificial dislocation to get the head.
- The head of the joint with part of the bone is removed.
- the acetabulum is cleansed.
- Endoprosthesis, an artificial joint head, is inserted into the bone, more precisely, "clogged".
- An artificial acetabulum is inserted.
- The joint is repositioned. The doctor checks his mobility by moving the limb in different directions.
- The wound is disinfected and sutured.
After the operation, a fairly long period of rehabilitation and adherence to a certain regime is required.
Traditional methods
For fans of self-medication it should be noted that coxarthrosis is a disease that should be treated only by a doctor. All folk methods in the form of rubbing, lotions and other "unusual things" will not lead to anything good.
However, some traditional medicine recipes can be used as an adjunct to first degree disease:
- Cabbage leaves.It is used to relieve pain without taking analgesics and to relieve "torsion" from a sore joint. At night, tie a few cabbage leaves to the thighs, after rubbing pure honey into the skin. Wrap it on top with plastic wrap and something warm. Remove the honey in the morning, rinse with cold water and repeat the compress. Repeat until the pain subsides.
- Honey beet fat.Similar in action as cabbage leaves. You just have to mess around to cook it. The ratio of beets and honey is 1/1. Twist the root vegetables in a meat grinder, add honey, stir. Pour 50 ml of vodka or alcohol. Stir again. Rub into the affected joint until the pain disappears.
- Medicinal baths.For cooking you need pine twigs (several large branches), turpentine turpentine (1 teaspoon), bath salt (1 kg) and washed artichoke tubers chopped into pieces (3-4 pieces). Pour over hot water and let it boil. When the water is comfortable for bathing, remove the branches and artichoke and start the process. When finished, apply iodine mesh to a sore thigh or rub honey, put on something warm and go to bed.
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is a serious disease that occurs when a number of causes are combined.
In order not to become disabled, do not wait for the consequences, undergo annual examinations, visit a doctor at the first feeling of discomfort in the groin area.